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The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

  • 1974
  • R
  • 1h 23m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
198K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,380
130
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Five friends head out to rural Texas to visit the grave of a grandfather. On the way they stumble across what appears to be a deserted house, only to discover something sinister within. Something armed with a chainsaw.
Play trailer1:39
3 Videos
99+ Photos
B-HorrorPsychological HorrorSlasher HorrorSplatter HorrorTeen HorrorHorror

Five friends head out to rural Texas to visit the grave of a grandfather. On the way they stumble across what appears to be a deserted house, only to discover something sinister within. Some... Read allFive friends head out to rural Texas to visit the grave of a grandfather. On the way they stumble across what appears to be a deserted house, only to discover something sinister within. Something armed with a chainsaw.Five friends head out to rural Texas to visit the grave of a grandfather. On the way they stumble across what appears to be a deserted house, only to discover something sinister within. Something armed with a chainsaw.

  • Director
    • Tobe Hooper
  • Writers
    • Kim Henkel
    • Tobe Hooper
  • Stars
    • Marilyn Burns
    • Edwin Neal
    • Allen Danziger
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.4/10
    198K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,380
    130
    • Director
      • Tobe Hooper
    • Writers
      • Kim Henkel
      • Tobe Hooper
    • Stars
      • Marilyn Burns
      • Edwin Neal
      • Allen Danziger
    • 1.2KUser reviews
    • 311Critic reviews
    • 91Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 wins & 2 nominations total

    Videos3

    Official Trailer - 50th Anniversary
    Trailer 1:39
    Official Trailer - 50th Anniversary
    The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: 40th Anniversary
    Trailer 1:40
    The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: 40th Anniversary
    The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: 40th Anniversary
    Trailer 1:40
    The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: 40th Anniversary
    The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
    Trailer 0:31
    The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

    Photos331

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    + 325
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    Top cast18

    Edit
    Marilyn Burns
    Marilyn Burns
    • Sally
    Edwin Neal
    Edwin Neal
    • Hitchhiker
    Allen Danziger
    Allen Danziger
    • Jerry
    Paul A. Partain
    Paul A. Partain
    • Franklin
    William Vail
    William Vail
    • Kirk
    Teri McMinn
    Teri McMinn
    • Pam
    Jim Siedow
    Jim Siedow
    • Old Man
    Gunnar Hansen
    Gunnar Hansen
    • Leatherface
    John Dugan
    John Dugan
    • Grandfather
    Robert Courtin
    • Window Washer
    William Creamer
    • Bearded Man
    John Henry Faulk
    John Henry Faulk
    • Storyteller
    Jerry Green
    • Cowboy
    Ed Guinn
    Ed Guinn
    • Cattle Truck Driver
    Joe Bill Hogan
    • Drunk
    Perry Lorenz
    • Pick Up Driver
    John Larroquette
    John Larroquette
    • Narration
    • (voice)
    Levie Isaacks
    • Radio Announcer
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Tobe Hooper
    • Writers
      • Kim Henkel
      • Tobe Hooper
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      There were lines of gibberish written in the script for Leatherface. Tobe Hooper would sit with Gunnar Hansen and tell him what the lines meant, and the actor had to figure out a way to say that without actually speaking. In the scene where the Old Man comes home and starts yelling at Leatherface about the door, Hansen remembers a take where he communicated a little too verbally. Hooper told him "there was too much intelligence in the character," and the shot was redone. "My one chance to have a line," says Hansen.
    • Goofs
      When Leatherface chases Sally into the house the first time and she escapes through an upstairs window, he corners her on the stairs and she leaps out a window off the hallway on the second floor. However, when Leatherface appears in the empty window frame after she jumps, he's standing in an attic window with a gable.
    • 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 the discovery of one of the most bizarre crimes in the annals of American history, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

    • 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
    • Alternate versions
      Restored version released in 1998 on DVD includes outtake and alternate footage.
    • Connections
      Featured in Studio S: Vem behöver video (1980)
    • Soundtracks
      Fool for a Blonde
      Roger Bartlett & Friends

    User reviews1.2K

    Featured review
    10/10

    The one... the only... The Texas Chainsaw Massacre!

    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.
    • mister_pig
    • May 15, 2003
    • Permalink

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    • Wasn't the movie based on a true story?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 11, 1974 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • La masacre de Texas
    • Filming locations
      • Bilbo's Texas Landmark - 1073 State Highway 304, Bastrop, Texas, USA(gas station and BBQ shack)
    • Production company
      • Vortex
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $140,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $30,859,000
    • Gross worldwide
      • $30,920,518
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 23 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
      • Dolby Atmos
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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