Tobe Hooper’s seminal 1974 Horror masterpiece The Texas Chainsaw Massacre pioneered the Modern Horror film. It was the first film to take the blood and guts exploitation visuals and combine them with a genuinely frightening set of well-written villainous hillbillies and cinema’s first tall, lumbering killer; Leatherface. Mix it with excellent effects and leave it in the burning Texas sun to give it a distinct dirty yellow coloring and you’ve got yourself a film that will inspire an entire genre and would go on to become the most successful Independent films of all time.
The films latest Blu-Ray incarnation presents an absolutely dazzling 1080p 4K restoration of the film with accompanying DTS 7.1 lossless surround audio. Watching the film, you can plainly see how much effort went into this spectacular restoration. Every frame is artefact free with all the dirt and scratches that were rampant in the earlier version have been expertly removed for a clean, crisp HD look that still retains its 16 mm feel. This is honestly one of the best looking Blu-Ray transfers that I’ve seen, and it’s one of the better sounding ones as well.
I’d gotten used to the Mono audio on my VHS copy of the film; considering it’s a 40 year old independent film that was produced for less then $300,000, I wasn’t exactly expecting an excellent soundtrack, but I was pleasantly surprised by the audio on this Blu-Ray. While the film is lacking in the soundtrack department, the enhanced diegetic music like the crunches, crashes, and the rumbling of Leatherface’s chainsaw adds an extra element of immersion and really enhances the experience.
As for the film itself, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is without a doubt one of the most important films in Horror history, and for the most part still remains an uneasy and genuinely frightening experience. However, even Leatherface isn’t immune to the ravages of time, and 40 years later the film seems much more tame in terms of gore comparison to some of it’s more modern counterparts. Many of the slasher films of the 80’s sought to emulate Texas Chainsaw Massacre but go a step further, and as a result Texas Chainsaw Massacre seems less confronting than it did upon release, and for a film that hinges on its visuals, it does leave something to be desired.
Still, it manages to grip your attention with an understated ferocity throughout, as it’s excellently paced and maintains a painfully tense atmosphere throughout. Even on multiple viewings, there’s still an element of surprise. The effects are still convincing and the film is beautifully shot; the cinematography highlighting the run-down set design and harsh nature. The soundtrack is a bit lacking, and the films main detractor is the acting. The leads, especially Marilyn Burns, give excellent performances and deeply convey they terror of their situation, but some of the supporting cast, mainly the friends killed of earlier in the film, are unconvincing at times and seem almost ironic in their delivery.
Verdict: A must buy for any horror fan. This may very well be the definitive version of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
9/10