The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

Movie Details:

Cast & Characters:

• Marilyn Burns as Sally Hardesty
• Allen Danziger as Jerry
• Paul A. Partain as Franklin Hardesty
• William Vail as Kirk
• Teri McMinn as Pam
• Edwin Neal as hitchhiker
• Jim Siedow as old man
• Gunnar Hansen as Leatherface
• John Dugan as grandfather
• Robert Courtin as window washer
• William Creamer as bearded man
• John Henry Faulk as storyteller
• Jerry Green as cowboy
• Ed Guinn as cattle truck driver
• Joe Bill Hogan as drunk
• Perry Lorenz as pick up driver
• John Larroquette as narrator

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…

About The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Movie:

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is an American independent horror film produced, co-composed, and directed by Tobe Hooper, who co-wrote the screenplay with Kim Henkel. The film stars Marilyn Burns, Paul A. Partain, Edwin Neal, Jim Siedow, and Gunnar Hansen.

Plot Summary

The story follows a group of friends—Sally Hardesty, her brother Franklin, and their friends Jerry, Pam, and Kirk—who embark on a road trip to visit an old homestead in rural Texas. On their journey, they encounter a series of unsettling events, including picking up a hitchhiker who behaves erratically and attacks them.

After running low on gas, the group stops at a gas station but finds no fuel available. They decide to explore an abandoned farmhouse nearby, where they inadvertently stumble into the territory of a family of cannibals. The most notorious member of this family is Leatherface (Hansen), a hulking figure who wears a mask made from human skin and wields a chainsaw.

As the friends fall victim to Leatherface and his family, the film escalates into a harrowing survival horror scenario. Sally ultimately becomes the sole survivor, enduring horrific encounters as she fights for her life against Leatherface’s relentless pursuit.

Production Details

Filmed on a budget of less than $140,000 (approximately $700,000 adjusted for inflation), The Texas Chain Saw Massacre was shot primarily in Texas with a cast of relatively unknown actors. Due to its graphic content and violence, Hooper faced challenges in securing distribution; however, it was eventually acquired by Bryanston Distributing Company.

The film was released in the United States on October 11, 1974. Despite initial mixed reviews from critics, it became highly profitable, grossing over $30 million at the domestic box office and selling over 16.5 million tickets in its release year.

Reception and Legacy

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential horror films ever made. It is credited with originating many elements common in the slasher genre, such as the use of power tools as murder weapons and the characterization of killers as masked figures. The film’s raw depiction of horror and its commentary on societal issues have contributed to its lasting impact.

In 2024, it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” The film has spawned a franchise that includes sequels, prequels, remakes, comic books, and video games, further cementing its status in horror cinema history.

Budget & Box Office Collection: