Smell the Movies
Smell the TV
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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| Year: | 1974 |
| Country of origin: | USA |
| Director: | Tobe Hooper |
| Genre: | Redneck terror |
| Starring: | Marilyn Burns, Allen Danziger, Gunnar Hansen |
| Rating: | 5/5 |
| IMDB link: | http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072271/ |
| Tagline: | The idyllic summer's day that became a nightmare of fear and blood... |
| Favourite line: | "Shut up you bitch hog!" |
Searing, effective and terrifying study of isolation and fear, which is extremely harshly done by with the tag of 'video nasty'.
1984 saw the labelling and banning of many movies in the UK, some of which were risible dross (though usually great!) and, for some reason, Chainsaw Massacre was included in the cull. I suppose it's easy to see why, with the shock-tactics title drawing the unwarranted attention of the kill-joys at the BBFC.
So is the film any good?
Well, it has to be said that, for a film of near 35 years old, this is striking, nerve-shredding movie making, that hurls the viewer into a world of sadistic perversion and rampant terror.
Brimming with suspense, and a soundtrack that raises the hairs on the back of the neck in an instant, few films have managed to capture what genuine, paralyzing horror must be like in quite the way this masterpiece does.
And there really is no other way to describe this movie other than that ultimate superlative.
Hooper's direction is superb, with much use made of shaky hand held photography as well as bizarre angles and agonising close-ups.
The first appearance of Leatherface is one of cinema's genuine triumphs, as the audience is left gasping by the sheer brutality of his initial act.
Provocative, intelligent and utterly disturbing, this is a masterclass in horror movie-making.
Superb.
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