It’s best to watch this outstanding, masterful film without knowing too much about it. For this reason, I’m not going to describe the plot beyond the obvious – a group of friends travelling around Texas stumble upon some really grisly people.
The best thing about the film is the way it creates a harrowing, unforgettably horrible experience for the viewer without showing much blood. You’d think from the title the film would splash tones of red gore at the screen. Instead, the terrors are far more sophisticated, and director Tobe Hooper intelligently uses sound effects and visual suggestion to create a truly terrifying spectacle.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), directed by Tobe Hooper, is released on blu-ray and DVD in the UK by Second Sight, Certificate 18.