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The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

R  |   |  Horror, Thriller  |  4 October 1974 (USA)
7.5
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Ratings: 7.5/10 from 88,203 users   Metascore: 75/100
Reviews: 810 user | 267 critic | 5 from Metacritic.com

Five friends visiting their grandfather's house in the country are hunted and terrorized by a chain-saw wielding killer and his family of grave-robbing cannibals.

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On TV

Airs Sat. Oct. 10, 9:30 PM on TMC

ON DISC

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
Allen Danziger ...
Paul A. Partain ...
William Vail ...
...
Pam
...
Jim Siedow ...
...
John Dugan ...
Robert Courtin ...
William Creamer ...
John Henry Faulk ...
Jerry Green ...
Cowboy
Ed Guinn ...
Joe Bill Hogan ...
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Storyline

En route to visit their grandfather's grave (which has apparently been ritualistically desecrated), five teenagers drive past a slaughterhouse, pick up (and quickly drop) a sinister hitch-hiker, eat some delicious home-cured meat at a roadside gas station, before ending up at the old family home... where they're plunged into a never-ending nightmare as they meet a family of cannibals who more than make up in power tools what they lack in social skills... Written by Michael Brooke <michael@everyman.demon.co.uk>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

The idyllic summer's day that became a nightmare of fear and blood... [UK Video] See more »

Genres:

Horror | Thriller

Certificate:

R | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

4 October 1974 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Headcheese  »

Box Office

Budget:

$83,532 (estimated)

Gross:

$30,859,000 (USA)
 »

Company Credits

Production Co:

 »
Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

| (new longer Version) | (Unrated Edition)

Sound Mix:

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The film's distributors Bryantson Pictures were allegedly discovered to have Mafia connections. See more »

Goofs

When the Hitchhiker has been thrown out of the van and proceeds to chase after, and smear blood on the side of the van, at one point the camera cuts to the inside of the van to show the hitchhiker blowing raspberries through the window at the teenagers. During these perspectives, a clapper board, and a crew member wearing a red t-shirt, can be seen reflected in the window. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Narrator: The film which you are about to see is an account of the tragedy which befell a group of five youths, in particular Sally Hardesty and her invalid brother, Franklin. It is all the more tragic in that they were young. But, had they lived very, very long lives, they could not have expected nor would they have wished to see as much of the mad and macabre as they were to see that day. For them an idyllic summer afternoon drive became a nightmare. The events of that day were to lead to ...
See more »

Crazy Credits

Opening credits prologue: The film which you are about to see is an account of the tragedy which befell a group of five youths, in particular Sally Hardesty and her invalid brother, Franklin. It is all the more tragic in that they were young. But, had they lived very, very long lives, they could not have expected nor would they have wished to see as much of the mad and macabre as they were to see that day. For them an idyllic summer afternoon drive became a nightmare.

The events of that day were to lead to the discovery of one of the most bizarre crimes in the annals of American history, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

AUGUST 18, 1973 See more »

Connections

Referenced in Neighbours: Episode #1.826 (1988) See more »

Soundtracks

Daddy's Sick Again
Arkey Blue
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
The one... the only... The Texas Chainsaw Massacre!
16 May 2003 | by See all my reviews

Let me begin by saying that there are precious few movies that can actually scare the crap out of you, and this is one of them. The tension that this movie generates is overwhelming at times, and if you watch it with someone who's never seen it before, be sure to keep your eye on them. You'll probably notice a look of disbelief on their unsuspecting face.

Anyone who doesn't like being scared will end up being unable to finish this movie. People who have a taste for the brutally bizarre will probably hit play again after the credits roll. In light of all this, I must also say that in some respects, TCM's bark is much worse than it's bite. Being banned in so many countries for so long, and having a title that includes the phrase 'Chainsaw Massacre', has seemingly led many people to believe that there is an undue amount of gore in it. However, there simply isn't. Gore is not where the scares are in this one. The scares come from the absolutely brutal and bizarre scenarios that befall poor Sally Hardesty.

In closing, I'd also like to go out on a limb and make the following grandiose statement: TCM is the greatest horror film of all time! Not bad for Tobe Hoopers' first effort.


73 of 94 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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That chase scene... drew-soto
Most OverRated Horror Movie... EVER lrrymccmmn
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This film is not as graphic as its reputation makes it out to be. foreignlanguageenthusias
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