The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

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The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

R

Released Oct 1, 1974

1h 23m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

84%

Tomatometer

86 Reviews

82%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

When Sally (Marilyn Burns) hears that her grandfather's grave may have been vandalized, she and her paraplegic brother, Franklin (Paul A. Partain), set out with their friends to investigate. After a detour to their family's old farmhouse, they discover a group of crazed, murderous outcasts living next door. As the group is attacked one by one by the chainsaw-wielding Leatherface (Gunnar Hansen), who wears a mask of human skin, the survivors must do everything they can to escape.

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Critics Consensus

Thanks to a smart script and documentary-style camerawork, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre achieves start-to-finish suspense, making it a classic in low-budget exploitation cinema.

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Tom Huddleston

Time Out

As much as any surrealist arthouse flick, Texas Chain Saw feels like a nightmare made real, an inescapable but entirely authentic vision of pure hell.

Rated: 5/5

Dec 12, 2024

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Adam Kempenaar

Filmspotting

What makes it so terrifying is how awfully real it all feels.

Rated: 4.5/5

Oct 25, 2024

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Alexander Walker

London Evening Standard

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre brings genuine horror back to the cinema. Be warned: its Gothic realism reminds us how rarely screen mayhem actually evokes real fear and revulsion in these times when "murder by numbers" is an everyday news item.

Sep 30, 2024

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Joe Lipsett

Horror Queers Podcast

A visceral nightmare that you can smell as much as see. The sound design, editing and unrelenting extended climactic chase are harrowing and unnerving. A classic, but not one I can revisit often

Rated: 4.5/5

Oct 9, 2024

Full Review

Joonatan Itkonen

Toisto.net

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a perfect horror film. In many ways, it might just be a perfect film, full stop. At 82 nail-biting minutes, there isn't a wasted second in this nightmarish thrill that is as horrifying today as it was 50 years ago.

Rated: 5/5

Oct 7, 2024

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Brennan Klein

Screen Rant

Tobe Hooper's The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a 50-year-old movie, but the horror classic has lost none of its devastating power in the interim.

Rated: 5/5

Oct 2, 2024

Full Review

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Cristian

The theater service wasn’t great (didn’t scan our tickets), but the serving staff was helpful but both of mine and my friend both had sodas filled with mostly just ice. Theater seats could definitely use some help, it’s very difficult when you have to use the restroom because there’s no walking room in emergency which causes much discomfort drawing attention trying to use bathroom quietly and quickly. These are the reasons I mostly go to Cinemark. I would love to help if there’s opportunities.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/05/24

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Randy

I first saw the Texas Chsinsaw massacre when I was 10 or 11 at a drive in. It still holds up It was the first "slasher film" and even after 50 years it's still one of the best

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/27/24

Full Review

Juandi

I’m a huge fan of the remake so the original doesn’t compare to me. I missed that train. But I can appreciate it for what it did for the horror genre.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/17/24

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Adam S

It's a classic for a reason... still holds up

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/09/24

Full Review

Christine

Its a classic & was a lot of fun to see on the big screen.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/07/24

Full Review

ClassicHorrorFilmFan

This was my first time seeing the film and I’m glad to have been able to see it on the big screen. My heart was beating out of my chest!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/07/24

Full Review

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Tobe Hooper

Director

Marilyn Burns

Sally Hardesty

Gunnar Hansen

Leatherface

Allen Danziger

Jerry

Paul A. Partain

Franklin Hardesty

William Vail

Kirk

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The Texas Chain Saw Massacre: Exclusive Trailer - 50th Anniversary

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The Texas Chain Saw Massacre: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

When Sally (Marilyn Burns) hears that her grandfather's grave may have been vandalized, she and her paraplegic brother, Franklin (Paul A. Partain), set out with their friends to investigate. After a detour to their family's old farmhouse, they discover a group of crazed, murderous outcasts living next door. As the group is attacked one by one by the chainsaw-wielding Leatherface (Gunnar Hansen), who wears a mask of human skin, the survivors must do everything they can to escape.

Director: Tobe Hooper
Producer: Tobe Hooper
Screenwriter: Tobe Hooper, Kim Henkel
Distributor: New Line Cinema, Pioneer Entertainment
Production Co: Vortex
Rating: R
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 1, 1974, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Oct 1, 2024
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 30, 2014
Runtime: 1h 23m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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