Oh, this was a good one!
For #19, I picked an inarguable classic that hit its 50th anniversary this year: 1974’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre!
According to Wikipedia, this movie is considered “the first of the 1970s slasher films” as well as the origination of many ensuing horror tropes. It’s also the first of a bloody franchise I probably won’t be continuing – though maybe I’ll check out the sequel, who knows. I’m not usually a fan of gratuitous gore, and I only picked this one up knowing how iconic it was.
And wow, I wasn’t expecting to get as sucked into this as I was.
TTCM opens with a false claim about the movie being true, an attention-grabbing ploy by the director. Looking into its creation, it’s quite the messy story – hell, they literally cut Sally’s finger in the later scenes because they couldn’t make the fake blood work! Here’s an ad-ridden article going into detail on all of that nonsense. And, as previously referenced on day 3, I’ll once again bring up Dead Meat’s YouTube channel. They have another great video on this movie!
TCM has a slow, cinematic start. With its long shots and prolonged unsettling atmosphere, even the slaughterhouse set-up at the beginning isn’t enough to prepare you for what’s to come!
But hey, even for the 70s, these teens don’t handle creepy hitchhikers well – probably should’ve kicked him out when he cut himself instead of waiting until he cut someone else! And maybe don’t wander into a random creepy house??
Anyway! While TCM maintains its creepy air and never lets it dissipate, the fantastic isolated camera work lets the audience discover eerie settings alongside the characters. And the time period and setting really lend to its sense of isolation! Ugh, so creepy – I had to watch this one in the middle of the day with my dogs snoozing on the couch next to me!
Knowing my horror icons, I was eagerly anticipating/dreading the arrival of Leatherface. But even the promise of a silent cannibal wasn’t enough to prepare me for his size! Making your villain so massive that he can just grab the girl and haul her away as she kicks and screams… now that’s scary!
Sally is thrust into her role as “sole survivor” with shocking speed, and her chase scenes are so terrifying because you know there’s nothing you could do differently in her scenario! Yeah, maybe she could stop yelling so much and letting Leatherface know where she is, but in this case I can cut her some slack! I was just desperately hoping someone in this godforsaken place had a gun!
With an even scarier plot twist near its end, TCM doesn’t pull punches! Gah, that dinner scene! Like Sally, the viewer’s fear and anticipation are drawn out in torturous degrees as you’re praying for her to get out of there! When she finally does, it’s so great to watch her book it, even though I was whispering “check the car, just check the car!”
It was the ending that absolutely sold me on this movie, solidifying it as a favorite! I was bouncing on my feet for those last five minutes, urging Sally to keep going! And holy shit was that final shot satisfying and iconic as hell! I love a good final girl!
