Is this really seen as the greatest horror movie ever?

lynchy101

Ok,so I finally got around to watching the orginal Texas Chainsaw Massacre.Most of the movie was decent,granted the effects were a bit iffy but it being made in 1974 that was to be expected.

Then the ending.****ing Hell.

Bare in mind this is considered one of the best horror movies of all time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVpx3Ai6ZZQ

Sad Professor

I watched it for the first time a while ago. I thought it was great. Disturbing and darkly comic in equal measure. It's probably lost much of its impact, but it was a very influential film.

The King of Moo

I think it's a great film. It has a real, sustained sense of menace.

I think the problem is that it has such a big reputation that it finds it hard to live up to it.

I would put a few horror films above it as the best ever though: Night of the Living Dead and The Haunting, just off the top of my head.

pixelburp

It's something of a pivotal movie in the genre, and caused a lot of ripples on its initial release, but it's only ever going to disappoint a lot of people who see it without the context of the original environment in which it was released.

And besides, 'greatest horror ever'? Naw; more than most genres, horror is way too subjective & personal to create a definitive list that'll work across the board. Everyone's fears are different.

dominiquecruz

I watch this at least once a year; it's not only my favourite horror film, but I think it's the most terrifying. There is something so macabre about the whole thing. A sweltering summer's day out in middle America, a group of kids and a family that's a bit tapped.. It just has a really sinister atmosphere, even before we encounter leatherface and co.

It takes some very depraved turns, and considering it was first marketed as a true story, you can understand why so many found it disturbing. I love the way it's shot - it hasn't aged too well, but I think that almost adds to the creepiness.

jpm4

What's wrong with the ending? It is a nasty, festering, repugnant classic of the horror genre and I still think it holds up quite well. It says a lot that a film with no gore/blood to speak of caused such a stir back in the day. The dinner table scene still stands out to me as very disturbing.

Galvasean

"Grandpa, you're the best!"

Sugarlumps

dominiquecruz wrote: »

I watch this at least once a year; it's not only my favourite horror film, but I think it's the most terrifying. There is something so macabre about the whole thing. A sweltering summer's day out in middle America, a group of kids and a family that's a bit tapped.. It just has a really sinister atmosphere, even before we encounter leatherface and co.

It takes some very depraved turns, and considering it was first marketed as a true story, you can understand why so many found it disturbing. I love the way it's shot - it hasn't aged too well, but I think that almost adds to the creepiness.

Spot on.

foxyboxer

One of the greatest yes. It ellicits genuine fright in such a way that it could happen to anyone.

When a horror movie get's you using your imagination to fill in the blanks for the implied violence then it's very disturbing as a viewer as everyone will imagine it differently.

Dodge

I first watched this on my own late one night, lying on the sofa. During a particularly tense moment I heard a knock at the back window (right behind me). I was in the kitchen with a knife in my hand before I turned to check. Turned out to be a zip on a hoody being dried outside.

The power of the film is all suggestion. There's very little 'horror' actually shown. You know horrible stuff is going on, but you never quite certain what. There seems to be constant screaming. Or at least constant enough so that quieter bits are even more chilling

Terrific film IMO, but I'm not a fan of most horror films

OldeCinemaSoz

"This saw is family!"

have you seen TCM2? it's not a patch on the original
if i say so myself, but it is directed by Tobe Hooper and,
while much maligned, offers up some quite memorable dark delights.

Tindie

I did enjoy this movie and it did make me jump a few times. it was not as gory or bloody as the remake. it still had the same impact as the remake even without the blood and gore.

The one thing that really got mad was that guy in the wheelchair is, he as got to be one of the most annoying people on this earth, i just could not stand him at all..

I did enjoy the hitchhiker part which was really good but I do prefer the remake scene as it was shocking and Leather Face was really scary in the movie, did make me jump in one scene also there were few creepy moment around dinner table.

The remake did have spine -chlling ending but this ending was really good too, as it show how mad you can get after being in such a really bad nightmare.
8/10

I have seen the Whole Series, I only liked This and Remake, I hated all the others movies in the series. 2,3,4

charlie_says

Just finished watching it.

Woah. That was some dark sh1t. Fantastic psychological horror.

The final few minutes were excellent, although I did think

she was going to have to one last meal of her friends before she was killed, quite surprised she escaped.

You guys should check out Calvaire (The Ordeal, an apt title if there ever was one) which is another bizarre horror masterpiece. It's pretty funny in a strange way too, but maybe I need help :pac:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407621/

Trailer is rubbish, likely to put people off imo.

FlashD

Yeah. its up there with the best.

I remember seeing it in an irish cinema when the censor decided to finally give it a release, can't remember the year.......it was banned for few decades in Ireland.

Watched it with packed house, i'll never forget that scene that goes on for ages where the kids are going round in circles in the bushes at night to the sounds of screaming and chainsaws. They make it to the petrol station and then the sick truth sinks in.

It just seemed to go on and on, absolutely relentless, had the whole audience in fits of laughter at one stage. :pac:

I always wondered what happened to the truck driver at the end.