“The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” first released in 1974. After drawing mixed reviews from critics, it’s now revered as an all-time horror classic more than 50 years later. 

This Texas Chain Saw Day, it’s time to remember what made the independent horror film so iconic.

The opening of “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” is one of the best in slasher history. It’s incredibly simple yet ominous.

It begins with John Larroquette’s bleak narration. The false claim that the story is true immediately sparks paranoia and fear. Then comes the last line of the crawl: “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.”

After a piercing start with text alone, the film shocks viewers again with close-up shots of decaying human flesh. These images don’t reveal what the movie is truly about, but they set a horrific precedent and tone that lingers for the rest of the runtime.

“The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” maintains its creep factor over the next 30 minutes, but does so while putting emphasis on the characters. This gives the audience time to breathe after the jarring opening, while still leaving an unwavering layer of unease. That unease erupts when Kirk and Pam wander into the infamous Sawyer house.

The introduction of Leatherface is brief. It’s also terrifying. The character appears and disappears behind a metal sliding door in the blink of an eye. The lack of build-up makes the moment even more effective. One second the house seems abandoned, and the next, its horrors are on full display.

This scene not only cements the antagonist’s arrival but also builds the Sawyer family’s twisted world. From this point, the house itself becomes a character, filled with horrors that deepen the dread.

“The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” achieves a sense of realism that few films have matched. The grit is real. The shoot took place in sweltering 100° heat. Real animal carcasses and even a real human skeleton littered the set. The low budget forced long, grueling days of filming. This discomfort shows onscreen. Characters appear authentically distressed, and the cast’s exhaustion likely enhanced the believability.

Tobe Hooper’s direction adds to the rawness. He mixes close-ups with wide shots and uses a minimalistic, documentary-like style. His choices make the violence feel real.

Leatherface himself is a creation that can never be duplicated. With his stitched-together skin mask, butcher’s apron and chainsaw, he ranks among the most horrifying villains in cinema.

The cinematography also benefits from natural light. Indoor scenes feel suffocating, while outdoor scenes burst with sunlight. This heightens the contrasting nature that the film attempts to portray, as the characters are stuck within the confines of the Sawyer family’s darkness. 

The dinner sequence combines pure horror with a streak of dark humor. Rapid cuts and transitions build chaos, while screams, howls and laughter clash. The nature of the Sawyer family’s rituals proves to be darkly comedic. It’s at-times hilarious, while also being scary just how committed they all are to the bit. 

The performances elevate the scene into legendary territory. Marilyn Burns (Sally) is constantly screaming, with emotive expressions and mannerisms to sell her distress. Edwin Neal (Nubbins Sawyer) may be the most terrifying of them all, with a character that knows no limits to his insanity. Add in Jim Siedow (Crayton Sawyer), Gunnar Hansen (Leatherface) and John Dugan (Grandpa) — and it’s the perfect mix. 

Leatherface’s final rampage closes the story with the same abruptness it began, with screams and the chainsaw’s roar colliding. Sally’s desperate escape alongside Leatherface’s dance adds yet another iconic scene to horror history. As his chainsaw swings wildly against the backdrop of sunlight, it creates a moment that’s both beautiful and mortifying.

“The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” is iconic for a reason. It features an onslaught of impressive performances, horrifying visuals and the iconic introduction of Leatherface. It does all of this in a quick 83-minute runtime. 

The sequels may have tarnished the franchise’s legacy, but this first film still remains (and will always remain) a horror classic.