By Geno McGahee
One of the most important, influential and memorable films of the horror genre is the 1974 “THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE.” I remember watching it as a kid and thinking that it looked so real. All these years later, it still has that raw look that made it feel like we were watching a snuff film rather than a big production. This was an indie title by the hopeful young director, Tobe Hooper, out of Texas. The chaos and turmoil that we witnessed in the film turned out to be nothing compared to what transpired behind the camera. This is chronicled in the documentary: TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE: THE SHOCKING TRUTH.
Written and Directed by David Gregory, this film digs deep into the history of the film, getting reflections by the cast and crew along with the tough road that the movie had in distribution. We start off with a look at the times. Horror films always reflect the times that they are produced. They follow the vibe of society, playing on the current fears, and when Charles Manson and the Manson family when on their killing spree, it sent horror into this terrifying direction. Movies like THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT and THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE were born and it made a scary time in the country even scarier. These weren’t films featuring Dracula and the Wolfman. These were films featuring scenarios that could happen.
To produce this film, a lot of talented people came together in what was an absolute grueling production, but like any indie title made with vision and ambition, there was a lot of love and heart involved. The cast and crew, despite the hardships during the long days and unbearable conditions, look back with fond memories and relive the stories that made the experience so good for them.
To the shock of most involved, the film did incredibly well, but made no money according to the mobsters that bought the rights of distribution. Gunnar Hansen (Leatherface) speaks of how his first royalty check from the movie that was making millions was only 47 dollars. Hansen was never respected by those in the later films and that is explored. Much like Kane Hodder is connected to Jason Voorhees, Hansen is forever linked to Leatherface and that is strictly off this one performance and that goes to show how good he was in the role. Other actors would take the role of Leatherface in the three follow-ups, but none have been able to even find remotely equal ground with Gunnar.
The most notable presence in the film outside of Leatherface was the late Marilyn Burns who played “Sally.” She recounts her experiences where she got beat up quite a bit and really pushed to her limits. Despite the heat, long hours, and injuries, she forged ahead and even noted that she wanted to be in a sequel where she gets out of the asylum and seeks revenge on the family.
The documentary goes into the stories, briefly, surrounding the chainsaw sequels. The three follow-ups were all plagued by problems. The sequel was not what Hooper’s vision was, but the production company mauled it and released it to negative reviews and a mediocre theatrical run. In the third entry, LEATHERFACE, the feeling was lost. Despite the connection it claimed, it had little to with the original. It was yet another case of the production company coming in and chopping it up. The movie turned out so poorly that the director demanded his name off the film before its release. He didn’t get his wish.
In the fourth entry, they thought they struck gold with Renee Zellweger and Matthew McConaughey becoming big stars right after they shot it, but it became another legal battle. The movie would end up buried and so too would the film series until 2003 when it came back in another insult to the original. It would be another ten years before anyone tried again and in 2013, TEXAS CHAINSAW 3-D made things right.
TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE: THE SHOCKING TRUTH is a great documentary, covering the trials that a young indie filmmaker goes through to make a movie on a small budget. Tobe Hooper’s road to success began with a crazed family in Texas and all these years later, his film still holds up as one of the best horror films of all time. This documentary is a must see for any fan of TCM. The many twists and turns that this movie had to go through are fascinating and the stories behind the film are very captivating.
It’s hard for me to not recommend anything to do with the original 1974 THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE. This documentary is no exception. It’s rather short at 1 hour and 12 minutes, but it is packed with TCM stories and reflections. Even if you are not a fan of horror or this movie, you will appreciate the long road that they traveled to reach the end. TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE: THE SHOCKING TRUTH is a great documentary.
Rating: 8/10
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