When thinking of classic slasher horror films, one might first think of hits like John Carpenter’s Halloween, Sean Cunningham’s Friday the 13th, or one of many projects by Wes Craven, such as A Nightmare on Elm Street \ or Scream. However, there is a movie that came out before any of these, one that is much less remembered, but arguably the most influential; that being Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre . 

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, despite initial mixed reviews, was revolutionary for the time in more ways than one. The movie was made with a small budget and filmed on a 16 mm camera, giving it an almost grainy, documentary look to it as opposed to looking cheesy or outright fake. This, on top of it being loosely based on the real life crimes committed by Ed Gein, makes it all the more unsettling, and almost uncanny at times. Additionally, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre also was the first ever film to adopt the concept of the “final girl” in horror; the concept of a girl who is usually introduced in one of the first scenes of the film, is the lone survivor in the end, and usually ends up making smart decisions to survive, contrary to the usual “stupid decisions” characters tend to make in many forms of horror. This trope is now arguably the most famous one, as nearly all slashers follow this blueprint now.

Another unique aspect of this film is its direction in cinematography, with many scenes being almost breathtaking in how they are shot, even 51 years later. Scenes of note include; the first scene with the corpse in the grave, the scene with Pam walking into the house, and the scene with Kirk walking as the sun sets in the back. Daniel Pearl’s genius is a significant part of why this movie is still well renowned, and considered not only one of the greatest horror movies, but also one of the greatest films of all time, still keeping many like myself on the edge of the seat even on multiple rewatches.

Like many movies, the film also tackles much larger themes than at first glance, but in the case of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, it is seemingly unexpected, due to the setting and main plot points. The first is the reflection of 1970’s America; with threats of real-world violence amplified by the many serial killers of the era such as Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, and even Jeffery Dahmer beginning in the late 70s, along with other notable events such as the endless letters sent from the Zodiac Killer, even though his last confirmed murder was in the late 60s. While real people who do heinous and violent crimes inspired many horror films during the time, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was one of the first to do it, and it was a direct attack on the cultural unrest of the United States at this time. Leatherface, the one actually doing the killing, is heavily inspired by the horrific crimes committed by Ed Gein. Arguably, his most recognizable trait is taking his victims, and wearing their faces as masks, something that Gein was notorious for, especially seeing that most of the time, they were in fact the face of female victims.

Additionally, the film has themes of domestic abuse; Leatherface is seen doing typical housewife chores, preparing the food, tending to the house, and doing what his brothers tell him to. However, as soon as Leatherface makes a mistake, he is beaten and verbally abused, and because of this, his character — despite being this tall brute —  almost acts like a scared animal, waiting for his next command. Throughout the 70s, the rise of second-wave feminism was huge, challenging the conventional thought of motherhood, and being a “stay-at-home” wife. In addition to this push for reform, came much insecurity from men with heavy conservative views, seeing women in the workplace, and doing more than living life exclusively in the home. Leatherface not only embodies the life of a traditional “housewife”, but also shows the anxiety that existed during a time when the women in these traditional roles were treated unfairly, possibly hinting that his character was a portrayal of why the world needed social reform during this time.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a pivotal film in not only the horror genre, but for movies in general, it is suspenseful, disturbing, breathtaking, thrilling, and most importantly, just a great time for anyone who enjoys horror. 51 years later, the film holds up beautifully, aging like fine wine. Overall, this film gets a 4.5/5 from me, and I would recommend the watch, especially around the Halloween season.