A new documentary offers a unique exploration of Tobe Hooper’s 1974 shocker, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, through the distinct lenses of five diverse commentators. Rather than a conventional behind-the-scenes feature, the film structures its analysis into five segments, each dedicated to a different voice.
The contributors include comedian Patton Oswalt, Japanese filmmaker Takashi Miike, director Karyn Kusama, academic Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, and author Stephen King. The film weaves together their personal encounters with the movie and broader reflections on cinematic craft and the nature of fear.
Miike recounts first seeing the film as a teenager after being turned away from a Charlie Chaplin screening. Heller-Nicholas draws a visual connection between the film’s distinct, faded color tones and the Australian landscape familiar from other films of the era. King’s segment, while perhaps offering fewer surprises, leverages his extensive history with film adaptations of his own horror works.
While the documentary may not present revolutionary new theses, it effectively employs a rich selection of film clips to enhance the viewer’s appreciation of Hooper’s masterpiece and the horror genre at large. The film is scheduled for release on digital platforms on October 27.
