Home
search
more | tips
IMDb > The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 25 | slideshow) Videos
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) -- Five friends visiting their grandpa's old house are hunted down and terrorized by a chainsaw wielding killer and his family of grave-robbing cannibals.

Overview

User Rating:
7.5/10   28,787 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
No change in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Tobe Hooper
Writers:
Kim Henkel (story) and
Tobe Hooper (story)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Texas Chain Saw Massacre on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
1 October 1974 (USA) more
Genre:
Horror | Thriller more
Tagline:
The idyllic summer's day that became a nightmare of fear and blood... [UK Video] more
Plot:
Five friends visiting their grandpa's old house are hunted down and terrorized by a chainsaw wielding killer and his family of grave-robbing cannibals. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
1 win more
User Comments:
A classic simply put more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Headcheese (USA) (working title)
Leatherface (USA) (working title)
Stalking Leatherface (USA) (alternative title)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (USA) (alternative spelling)
more
Runtime:
83 min | Germany:75 min (new longer Version)
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
West Germany:(Banned) | New Zealand:R18 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) (re-rating: 2004) | Sweden:15 (re-rating: 1994) (cut) (re-rating: 2001) (uncut) | Sweden:15 (re-rating) (2001) (uncut) | UK:18 (re-rating: 1999) | Canada:18+ (Quebec) (original rating: 1974) | UK:R (original rating: 1975) | Finland:(Banned) (1984) | Finland:K-18 (1996) | UK:(Banned) (original rating) | Italy:VM14 (re-rating) (2003) | Italy:VM18 (original rating) | Brazil:18 (1998) | Brazil:(Banned) | Australia:(Banned) (original rating) | Belgium:16 (video rating) | West Germany:18 (cut) | New Zealand:R16 (re-rating) (2007) (uncut) | Singapore:M18 (re-rating) | Italy:VM18 (DVD rating) | Argentina:16 | Australia:R | Canada:R | Chile:(Banned) (re-rating) (1978) | Chile:18 (original rating) | Denmark:15 (video rating) | France:-16 (re-rating) | France:X (original rating) | Hong Kong:III | Iceland:(Banned) (original rating) | Iceland:16 (re-rating) | Ireland:(Banned) (original rating) | Ireland:18 | Japan:R-15 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:(Banned) (video rating) | Norway:18 (re-rating) (1997) (uncut) | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:(Banned) (1984) | USA:R | Singapore:(Banned) | Germany:BPjM Restricted
Filming Locations:
Austin, Texas, USA more
Company:
Vortex more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The soundtrack contains the sounds an animal would hear inside a slaughterhouse. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When the group of teenagers pick up the hitch-hiker, he goes crazy and cuts Franklin's arm, so they throw him out. As they throw him out the van-door windows are shut. In the following inside shots they're open. 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...
more
Soundtrack:
MISTY HOURS OF DAYLIGHT more

FAQ

I heard Marilyn Burns and Paul A. Partain didn't see eye-to-eye on some things?
How can I get a poster?
When was this filmed?
more
48 out of 59 people found the following comment useful:-
A classic simply put, 25 May 2003
10/10
Author: MetalCasket

This movie set the stage for the onslaught of classic modern horror of the late 70's and early 80's. Tobe Hooper's vision paints a drab and disturbing picture of a family of cannibals who hunt their victims using any means necessary for survival. Caught up in this whole mess is a group of young people, unaware of what lurks down an old back road of Texas. Hunger is our most probable urge as human beings, and this family takes this idea to the extreme. Each family member is their own character with their own feelings and their own personalities. One such character, Leatherface, stands out for the fact that he was born without a face, thus using human skin to gain an identity. This is what sets him apart from other slashers such as Michael Myers and Jason Vorhees for they hid behind masks. It's safe to say he's not the only insane one in this bunch. Every one of them are one fry short of a happy meal and I am sure they like it that way. Gunnar Hansen did a great job of playing Leatherface, sculpting a faceless killer who slew not for fun but for survival. His perfect killer image was later destroyed by other actors in later sequels. Many people refuse to watch this movie in the first place because of what they've heard and because of the title. Strangely, some even walked out of the theaters on the previews for this thing. That's just how strong this movie actually is. There's really a lot less gore in this movie than most people think. It's Tobe Hooper's great directing that pelts the viewer with suspense. The last 10 minutes of this film are some of the most exciting, terrify shots ever put on film. All because of Leatherface, many people's nightmares will be dominated by the hum of a chainsaw.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Daddy long legs...yuck mackrc420
I don't understand it... piper3893
Other 'Grainy' Classics fregiato
scary??must have minnow's heart neel_majhi
Director's cut comicspaul
Does Anyone Else Think It's Funny Everytime The Wheelchair Dude Says.... gak5
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Halloween The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Sleepaway Camp The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning Wolf Creek
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Horror section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.