The Texas Chain Saw Massacre: 40th Anniversary Collector’s Edition | Blu-Ray Review

There’s no denying the cultural magnitude of Tobe Hooper’s 1974 grindhouse classic The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Inspiring legions of seminal directors, as well as providing the framework for a growing horde of derivative copycats (not to mention a gaggle of flaccid sequels, prequels, and rehashes), it’s now reached its 40th year anniversary. Necessitating a half-year transfer process, the brand new 4k transfer was showcased at genre fests such as 2014’s SXSW & Fantasia Film Fests and a prestige re-showing at Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight. Though decades of horror films have refurbished Hooper’s methods to such a degree that the more infamous episodes of violence may seem less horrific by today’s torture porn standards, the film has lost none of its ambient potency. In all the glorious reconstitutions, no one has been able to outdo the gritty, grainy, and bizarre levels of unease accomplished here.

By now, we all know the well-tread story. A group of five teenagers driving through Texas get accosted by a family of murderous, chainsaw wielding cannibals living in the woods. The story, cobbled together from various headlines of real-life instances, but most of the outlandish bits borrowed from the case of Ed Gein, is presented realistically. In fact, what remains most terrifying about Chainsaw is how horrifyingly possible it all seems. Visiting the abandoned country home that two of their group members actually grew up in, Sally (Marilyn Burns) and her paraplegic brother Franklin (Paul A. Partain), first check out the graveyard where grandpa is buried. A newscast has already informed us that grave robbers have been unearthing corpses there, so the siblings wants to make sure everything is in its right place before plunging down memory lane. They’re joined by Kirk (William Vail), Jerry (Allen Danziger), and Pam (Teri McMinn), who all more or less agree to pick up a strange hitchhiker (Edwin Neal), which results in a bizarre and unsettling interaction. A need for gas finds Pam and Kirk unwittingly toddling off to the neighboring property from the old childhood home, and that’s where we meet the rest of the hitchhiker’s family, including Leatherface (Gunnar Hansen).

While there’s a definite lull in the action, namely after the first three of their crew are dispatched while the siblings have to wander around in the dark a bit looking for their missing friends, Hooper’s film has lost little of its vitality. Opening on the grisly shot of the decomposed corpse that has been propped up over the desecrated cemetery, the film is an example of the spectacular power of texture. For as cheap as the film was to make, a lot of love went into the production design, and its exactly what sets the film apart from the bright, glossy predecessors that try instead to instill chills by giving us increasingly hysterical, batshit crazy villains. And the clan at the heart of the tale here is indeed a wasp’s nest of redneck weirdness, but Hooper manages to capture just the right amount of dysfunction so as to remain unnerving without swerving into utter ridiculousness.

DVD Review

For fans of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, this will most likely represent the ultimate package of the classic title. Loaded with hours of extra features, and a phenomenal Blu-ray transfer, it’s a definite glut. Optional commentaries are available from Hooper, Gunnar Hansen, and cinematographer Daniel Pearl as well as an additional track from Marilyn Burns, Allen Danziger, Paul A. Partain, and Production Designer Robert Burns. Additionally, new commentary tracks from Hooper, Pearl, Editor Larry J. Carroll, and Sound Recordist Ted Nicolaou are also available. Plus, there’s a whole Collector’s Edition Bonus Disc of extra features.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre – The Shocking Truth:
An hour plus documentary on the making of TCSM is a rather informative look at all the behind the scenes drama that transpired after the success of the film. Cast and crew interviews are spliced together while some rather heavy-handed narration interjects at times.

Flesh Wounds – Seven Stories of the Saw:
Seven curious aspects about the film are laid out here for added depth in this hour plus feature, including cinematographer Daniel Pearl, the house itself, actor Edwin Neal, a memoriam of deceased cast and crew (Paul Partain, Jim Siedow, Robert Burns), the makeup effects created by Dr. W.E. Barnes, the 30th anniversary celebration of the film at the 2004 Cinema Wasteland celebration, and a snippet on actor Gunnar Hansen.

The Business of Chainsaw: An Interview with Production Manager Rod Bozman:
This was one of Bozman’s first credits, who would go on to work on The Stepford Wives and a couple Jonathan Demme titles. Bozman discusses that due to the low budget, everyone had multiple jobs on set. A sixteen minute interview.

Tour of the Home:
Actor Gunnar Hansen takes us on a tour of the TCSM home from 1993. An eight minute item.

Off the Hook with Teri McMinn:
Actress Teri McMinn discusses her experiences filming the infamous hook scene, a seventeen minute interview.

New Deleted Scenes & Outtakes:
Several deleted scenes are included, apparently never before seen. The production audio is missing, so these are all silent. Fifteen minutes of footage.

Grandpa’s Tales: An Interview with John Dugan:
Actor John Dugan, a young man that played grandpa, discusses his experiences and affiliation with the project in this sixteen minute interview.

Cutting Chain Saw: An Interview with Editor Larry J. Carroll:
In this eleven minute interview, Carroll discusses his appreciation for the film, and hypothesizes what Hooper could have achieved had he never headed to Hollywood shortly after.

Deleted Scenes & Outtakes:
These are deleted scenes that have apparently already been available elsewhere. Some music has been placed over these scenes, twenty five minutes in length.

Blooper Reel:
A two minutes reel is rather grainy and inconsequential.

Outtakes from “The Shocking Truth:”
About eight minutes of outtakes are included from the extra documentary feature also on this disc.

Horror’s Hallowed Grounds: TCSM:
A 2006 episodes from this televisions series visits various filming locations from the film.

Dr. W.E. Barnes Presents “Making Grandpa:”
A still gallery of Barnes’ makeup process for the character of Grandpa.

Still Gallery & Trailers:
A still gallery, plus three trailers (one being the 40th anniversary), three TV spots and two radio spots are also included on the disc.

Final Thoughts

For what it is, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre remains one of the most notable titles of its ilk. Time and pained effort was put into creating a terrifying film that doesn’t shirk away from distinct characters, with actors giving performances that remain markedly above the caliber we’re used to seeing in a variety of knock-offs. It may be time to revisit Hooper’s film if you haven’t seen it for a while.

Film: ★★★½/☆☆☆☆☆
Disc: ★★★★/☆☆☆☆☆