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The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (original)- Opinions?
Here's my opinion of this movie, as stated on IMDB-
"Ah, yes. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I remember back in the day when I would ask my father about this film. He told me to wait until I was older. When I asked to see it, he seemed hesitant. But in the end, he agreed. And when I saw it, I was in a state of awe. The film delivers on all levels. It is quite disturbing, especially the dinner scene. In fact, the entire plot itself is very disturbing when you think about it. Forget about the introductory characters, as this movie truly focuses on the cannibalistic family. It has its share of surprise moments, such as the sudden appearences of Leatherface. It has plot twists. It also has that very dark and gritty feeling, even the opening scenes. All looks quaint on the roads of Texas, but even then, one gets the feeling that something is out of place. That something isn't right. And that is the reason this movie is so good. The constant sense of displacement, of being lost. The feeling that something is constantly watching you, chainsaw in hand, waiting for its next meal. Name any other film that fills you with this sense and I'll give you $100. When I watch Halloween or Friday the 13th, for example, I don't feel horrified. I don't feel lost or scared. And I definately don't fear for my life. This movie makes me feel that. It grabs you by the throat and pulls you in. And it doesn't let go. Ever. Even after multiple viewings, the dinner scene still gets to me. So, if your in the mood for a blood and guts slasher flick, skip The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. But if your in the mood for a true horror film, than watch this, and prepared to be scared in ways you never thought possible."
What's your opinion?
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I said something pretty adulatory about this on imDB too... can't remember what, exactly, & my browser keeps flopping when I try to refer. So, take it as read I liked it! Lots.
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A great, great film. This film can be summed up in one word, ATMOSPHERE. I've been privileged enoungh to see some movies that have had great atmosphere, but nothing like this.
TCM is not a slasher film in my eyes. It is a true horror film, a suspenseful fim if you would. We are not treated the visage of one killer, but a family of them, and what a family they are. The final 30 minutes of this film forever changed my movie viewing habits as a child. I saw TCM when i was just 10 or so, and after i was done, i found myself floored. While I can now sit back and marvel at the film in a more technical, analytical way, 10 years ago i measured a horror film by one measure, if it scared me. TCM scared me to death. It is truely a scary, scary film. Not nearly as bloody or gorey as it is reputed to be, it still has the ability to stay with you long after you've seen it based soley on the character's, each brought to life in maniacal, sadistic form. Leatherface, is the oddest, freakiest character ever to be presented on fim in a horror movie. Wearing a mask of human flesh, with transvestite tendancies, he is scary in more ways than one.
A great horror film for the squeamish, and not so squeamish of heart.
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Like nothing else you've ever seen, ever... I too had my melon permanently twisted by this amazing film. In the end, it almost doesn't matter that the girl escapes (sorry if that functioned as a spoiler for anyone who hasn't seen the film, but hey - where have you been?) - the sheer impact of the assault on our sensibilities is as disturbing as any killing could have been. Plus, it's not as if there haven't been a few slayings, along the way...
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RE: Texas Chainsaw Massacre...
I think probably the film's strongest merit is the way that it manages to horrify us by merely IMPLYING things. I'm sure that you could find more than one person out there who could tell you about how gruesome the "meathook scene" was (and I'm not going to give anything away either...*grin*), but if you watch the film, you'll find that you really see NOTHING actually happen. The horror of the scene is all implied, leaving your mind (which can be pretty scary in and of itself) to fashion a vision of what's just transpired.
The movie also manages to run ever further against convention by showing us a victim that a less audacious film would have allowed to survive (and I think those of you who've seen it can guess the one I'm referring to,) and at the end, the "villains" aren't the least bit defeated, merely discouraged...
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The movie is beautifully open-ended - which normally represents too much of a temptation to the moneymen, and means you're going to get a bunch of shitty sequels. But it would be a shame to spoil that terrific simplicity at the end: ol' Leatherface, swinging his chainsaw in the first hit of morning sun, a primal, Dionysiac force of nature... seriously great ending.
Of course, even the most hermetically tight endings are no proof against sequelitis - see "Psycho", a film so elegantly knotted together into an unbroken Moebius loop of madness and horror that you'd never in a million years have thought it necessary to dick around with it. But no; and so we get a bad case of the sloppy seconds (thirds, fourths, etc...). Let well enough alone, goddamnit!
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I have to agree that the atmosphere makes it a good film. It's not actually that scary or gory but I think it is just wierd and disturbing, but it works as a shocking film and has some credentials for a fascinating horrorfilm. The sequels are another matter: 2 - feebly staged with no atmosphere
3 - basically a remake only more gory and less appealing
4 - Not even gonna mention!!
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