The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Review - Off The Shelf Reviews 

The first sledgehammer killing. God almighty. It's not even the blow to the head, it's the way the twitching, spasming victim's heels dance on that wooden ramp, and the racket from that door made of aluminum siding. This is one of the few movies in which I can really appreciate the sound work.

The leather face dance at the end is so iconic.

I love Jamie Lee Curtis, but I got to hand it to Marilyn Burns, her performance in this was definitely deserving of Scream Queen status.

The sliding of that metal door and the meat hook got me when I was a kid and watched this.

The first time I saw this film I was staying with my aunt. She lived on an old dirt road with only a farm house across the street & empty land all around. Couldn't have asked for a better situation.

~ I don't like when people call any aspect of this movie "tame." There's nothing tame about it. There is restraint with the depiction of events, but this is as brutal and hard hitting as anything that has ever followed it.

For some reason, I never found this movie scary but I did find it creepy and disturbing. All the way through it there is a very cold dark feel to it.

Franklin had the best lines: "Looks like we picked up Dracula." and "A whole family of Draculas.". Among horror characters, Franklin is up there with Shelly.

This is a film like no other. You don't watch it, you survive it.

"the story follows a group of teens" if i had a penny for everytime i heard that about a movie...

I've actually stopped at that store and ate barbecue. Still looks the same.

No amounts of garbage remakes, reboots , sequels prequels etc will come even remotely close to this great and classic movie.. RIP Mr. Hooper

Raw, intense, visceral, brutal...... TCM is absolute horror brilliance. Great review guys!

Been on a major binge. These are perfect for the gym lol. Keep kicking ass guys.

That meat hook scene is one of the best ever in horror bc like the hobbling scene from misery it shows just enough to get the point across but it's the acting and how much the gore ISNT over the top that it just makes you FEEL how bad that must hurt

My favorite part of this movie was the chainsaw chase. It felt like it went on forever, but in a good way! It's cool how during the chase, there was no intense music or anything, just the sound of the chainsaw and screaming, but damn did you feel the terror!

One of the best film, period.

Gunnar Hansen was renowned for being one of the nicest actors, RIP. I've noticed how easily characters clothes rip in 70's horror movies! Halloween is usually 1# on most lists!

“Where you headed, man?” -“South.” That’s for damn sure!

The film also, metaphorically, addresses the state of the US in the mid-70s: the patriarch is Nixon-like in look and behaviour, a fuel crisis, soaring unemployment, the value of life/life as 'meat' or a commodity in the aftermath of Vietnam. That's alongside the exquisite cinematography, sound, and general attention to detail on no budget. One of a small handful of cinematic masterpieces that seem to lose none of their impact over time.

Great review as usual. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is the best horror film in my estimation. It feels authentic, whether it's in the unintentional funny scenes or the more suspenseful ones, it has this unnerving vibe throughout. And best of all, it has no famous actors and no musical score. The only film that comes near this masterpiece is The Blair Witch Project.

It's never developed in the plot, but to me, when the hitchhiker burns Franklin's photo, it's like he's performing an occult ritual. 13:57

this is the perfect stuff to listen to in earphones whilst cooking dinner. i love these reviews. may i suggesta review of jeepers creepers ?

The original is better than the remake

I live in South Texas not far from where this movie was filmed and I can tell you that heat is such a huge part of this movie, every summer we have a month or more of 100 plus temps and it’s agonizing, it will be over 90 degrees at night still. So many of the natural elements in this film are what makes this so realistic.

24:55 jerry was about to leave after knocking first time then notices the towels on front porch, thinks kirk and pam are playing games, goofing on him

Definitely one of the best horror films ever. Amazing review, guys.

26:25 That close up shot of “leather face” where you can see his bubba-teeth through the mask was the most unnerving shot in the entire film for me.

I've actually met the hitchhiker at a con once. apparently, the mole he's got on his forehead was literally a raisin they taped to his head

guys i saw this at a sleep over in america when i was 13, and i was so creeped out......the hitch hiker scene scare the crap out of me......leather face bashing his first kill then slams that metal door shut.....just insane stuff u dont see in any sequels.

When I watched this film the first time I was disturbed and wondered if the director had mental problems.

There is an interesting gut wrenching detail in the film not alot of people catch on to. TXCM is my fav horror movie, it has haunted me, gave me nightmares and as a guy who has wanted to make films it has inspired me to no end, Ive seen the film many times, i even go shopping right on the same land where it was filmed, its a shopping mall now. So back to my observation, when the “chef” gets Sally in his Gas-station and kinda knocks her out, he ties her uo and then reaches over to his bathroom, grabs the rag used for wiping his ass, covered in stains , and stuffs it in her mouth. I mean... ughhhhhh. That alone is a tiny detail horrifically realized in a movie that had every reason to fail, that to this day could still shock and awe over some minor over looked detail. Its a masterpiece. Great conversation/ episode, guys.

This scared the bejeezus out of me and i watched it when i was 23 in 2007. It really, really chilled me.

The first minute of this movie is among the finest minutes ever filmed. I was hooked for life from that moment.

wow i didn't know GEORGE CARLIN WAS REVIEWING MOVIES NOW

The movie works like a nightmare. WHY THE HELL IS HE RUNNING TOWARDS THE DOOR? When the brunette is inside the bone room... man, it is right out of a disturbed mind! And later, when the blonde seeks refuge in the gas station, the Oven behind the door... It is filmed like a nightmare.... absolutely disturbing!

Leatherface: TCM3 Director’s Cut is worth watching. It keeps most of the gore the MPAA demanded they take out and the DVD includes the original ending.

This film is more frightening than any Nightmare on Elm Street or Friday the 13th entry, and most modern horror films. I saw it when I was 17 and it disturbed me for quite a few days later, which no film had done in quite the same way. I was a big Hellraiser fan, but those were just fun for me. I think it's ridiculous that it was banned for so long in so many places, but I get what bothered people back then, because it bothered me in the 90s when I first saw it. It felt like I was watching something taboo, which - considering how often it had been banned - I guess I was, in a way. It's one of my favorite horror films, yet one that I've revisited far less often than a Freddy or a Jason movie.

PG movies used to have people's faces melting like in Raiders of the Lost Ark

The Best! LOL! 42:42 .. Hitchhiker had about :15 seconds to just lower his arms & hands and jump out of the way.. But noooooooo!!!😂

Just discovered your channel and my god you guys are great. I love how you guys can have different views and love the other extra info. You guys rule

Great review, Wayne Bell and Tobe Hooper's musical score truly adds to the eerie and disturbing tone.

Well. I am now compelled to watch this flick for the 40ish something time.

One of the best horror movies ever made ( this and exorcist) and it’s remarkable that both films have very little blood, one of your best reviews lads OTSR 👊👊

The most disturbing scene for me was when Kirk was shaking on the ground from Leather face’s blow. 😳😳😳

*LOOK WHAT YOUR BROTHER DID TO THE DOOR!*

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Exorcist and The Blair Witch Project are the only movies I remember being actually scared of the VHS tapes after I watched them.

Finally someone who reviews This movie proper a tip of the hat to you guys for not fanboying about it

One thing that this movie (and, surprisingly, the fourth one) did that creeped me out is how, aside from not being supernatural, it dragged people not involved in the main conflict into it. The truck driver, the elderly couple at the end of four. It wasn't your typical "Well as long as you stay away from the place with the history of people dying you're fine" schtick. Even if you just got lost on a back road going to a wedding you could potentially be screwed.

is it christmas already? literally been on an otsr binge for the last few days. Just finished an older review (das boot) and refreshed to see this! Fucking stoooooked! Great choice in review guys! Thanks for keeping up the content!

One of the greatest horror movies ever. Scared the absolute shit out of me as a teenager. Gave me a lifelong fear of chainsaws

Just realized how weird the expression "blowing a raspberry" is if you aren't a native speaker. I had to look it up and got no real result at first. It really makes little sense given what it actually means lol we just say "make a farting sound by mouth" haha ;)

Unnerving is a great word to sum up this movie. That kind of 70's horror documentary tone is what I think really sets this apart from all other horror films. That meat hook scene is still one of the toughest sights to sit through. Also, this was the first time I ever noticed Leatherface's mask change during that dinner scene. He's wears makeup, and the face itself seems smoother and more feminine. Since Ed Gein was such a noted inspiration, I wouldn't be surprised if Tobe Hooper intended this to be the visage of Leatherface's mother.

This movie tops Halloween without having the benefit of coming after Halloween

The film as a grainy realism about it that only films from the 70s possess, its brilliantly filmed with an excellent musical score adding to the terror and pace of the film, and in leather face we have one of horrors greatest and iconic characters, a classic horror from the 1970s.

For me the hottest feeling movies have to be C.H.U.D. (1984 - filmed in tiny, dirty basements during a Historic heatwave in NY - everyone's sweating bullets in that movie) and, of course Do the Right Thing (1989) - which is just sweltering heat the whole way through.

This movie taught me a good lesson that is not to go on to a strangers property let alone in to the house with out being invited in.

My favourite Tobe Hooper film is 'Lifeforce' aka 'Space Vampires'.

Hey lads, I felt a recap of this was in order with the new game being out and I'm really enjoying it I hope you guys are enjoying it aswell. 👊

Your imagination just runs wild with this film. You don't see anything but you would swear to god that you did.

I've actually heard Gunnar Hansen say in one commentary, that the hammer was paper mache.

always great, I love your longer videos. any more texas chainsaw reviews to come??

In one scene they cut her for real and when the chainsaw maniac kills the guy in the wheelchair scene she said it still scares her to this day it was on a tv program

My dudes. Love this channel. I was surprised to see you haven't reviewed James Cameron's best movie yet, The Abyss. Pretty please??

I live in Wisconsin home of Ed Gein and Jeffery Dahmer. This is how u make a horror movie. Kind of crazy it got banned so much. Very little blood in it. It's all in your mind.

Utterly Horrifying and Beautiful at the same time, the people who see it the way it was meant to be taken in realise what a genuinely horrifying nightmare of a creation it was, Gunnar Hansen was amazing as Leatherface , a nightmarish abomination of a human being, how strange he moved and the bizarre noises he made, utterly horrifying.

Welcome to the family, son

I've never watched any of the remakes, sequels or prequels of this movie. I don't want it explained to me how the family got to be how they were. It takes away the mystery of the first film.

You guys make great videos. I've watched a few of them already. Definitely subbed. You deserve more recognition.

What I love about this film is that Leatherface is as Scared of the Teens as they are of him. They are invading his home so he just Foes what wed all do. The way hes abused and treated as House Mum always had me Howling. First time I saw this I was 18 and it was 1999, it was an experience. I was half Disturbed half pissing my self laughing especially ehen the older brother starts smacking her with the broom in the car.pmsl

As St. Patrick's day is next week, I want Off the Shelf Reviews to review Leprechaun the horror movie

Look what you did to the door!

If you can get them, can you review two movies made from Clive Barker stories: Rawhead Rex and The Midnight Meat Train.

Definitely on my top ten list of all time.

Tucker and Dale vs Evil needs to be reviewed

This is in my top 5 films of all time. And it is the best horror film ever made. Exorcist is incredible but loses points due to the obvious supernatural element. TCM is a rusty nail, a fly on the wall look at a (as far as the viewers are concerned) absolute nightmare fuelled occurrence that could actually happen in real life. The acting is excellent. The heat and conditions were evident in the final product plus that incredible set design with the bones in that living room will always be insane. Now Tobe Hooper never did better than this. He had a later style that fans love and that's fair. But he never replicated the force of this film unfortunately. The lack of gore was a strength and allowed our imaginations to decide and perceive how horrific the circumstances were. Unlike the new Netflix film that tries to impress us with CGI gore which looks great but is cheap in its effectiveness. The intro scene with the morbid display of red and black shots of the Sun. Nature running its course anything getting in it's way is forfeit is menacing as fuck! The film continues to show solid shots of the Sun and the Moon as bookmarks in what will happen next. And that is what this film is..... The Sun watching a group of tiny entities walk into a home of disenfranchised freaks and getting eaten.

It's the carcophony of sound just afterafter leatherface gets the girl, then places her on the hook.... that's what is truly terrifying.... I'd wish I was dead at that point.... really horrifying 😱!! Wow....I did not know anything about the rotting corpses and stuff.... and all the other stuff regarding the actors.... bloody Nora!! Excellent review again. Thanks, guys 👍!!

Two things come to mind when I saw Sally escape in the pickup truck at the end of the film. First, her hysterical laughing suggests that her sanity has blown a gasket, maybe permanently. Second, what if she didn't realize it, but the pickup isn't really stopping to rescue her, but to take her back to the house?! It wasn't the case, of course, but how much more terrifying would that sequence be if when the driver spun round to look out of the back window, it turned out that to be the gas station guy who got her in the same truck he used to drive her to the house the previous night. It would be a slap on the wrist for Leatherface, who botched it and now much return home to get a tongue lashing for his incompetence. In that scenario, it would be doubly maddening for Sally to see the driver's maniacal grin and realize she hadn't escaped after all.

TCM III has a young Vigo Mortensen too

In 1974 sombody reved up a chain saw and the world will never be the same again.

Bravo. What a great homage to such a fantastic film! I love the realism you feel in this movie, like Michael Myers its a real man, sure it's a very strong huge man, but still just a man. Absolutely terrifying.

I was born in 2002 and I would rather watch JAWS(which I have) then a modern shark movie

Most independent filmmakers today don't have close to the dedication of independent filmmakers back then. I'm pretty sure if Toby Hooper had tried to make TCSM today, not only would he have had trouble finding the cast and crew willing to do it, but it would have cost exponentially more, and that's even with the new digital technology.

Yea the bit about the guy saying the dinner scene was worse than his time in Vietnam... I’m pretty sure he was just comparing the atmosphere, temperature, smell and etc:. That Vietnam wasn’t as bad

I love watching you guys ! used to hate reviews ! thnx !

Excellent Review, guys!

15:28 - 15:38 Gary's like, "Oh no, what's Iain going to say?"

very early 2000's bedsit..mushrooms..few mates...mind chain sawed ..loved it..turned my head back to nephilim samples on dawn razor..and many other

It's quite interesting that Texas Chainsaw, The Exorcist and Carrie are hysterically funny in parts, almost verging on camp. Were they always that funny or have we distanced ourselves from the 70's horror over time?

Awesome! another gr8 review guys!

Excellent review chaps.....as always. I remember watching this when I was 11 and it scared me but like Gary mentioned in the review...I only got the full impact of the horror on second viewing about 10 years later!! Its a classic.......Is there a review of The Hills Have Eyes in the works?

I’ll be on the Exorcist fan list over this but that doesn’t mean this movie doesn’t leave you so unsettled and horrified at what you just seen.

Let me explain texas heat for non texans. When I was younger, I was fixing my truck radio. I placed the faceplate ontop of an ice cold can of coke. within 30 seconds the faceplate had melted and bent over the sides of the cold coke can.

Guys please review Amityville Horror original version. VHS would be fun too. Can't wait

Love this review. The Texas chainsaw massacre has a rawness that simply cannot be matched . You can feel the heat and isolation .. oh and the ending is perfect Btw I’d love to see you guys review Texas chainsaw massacre 2 even though I think it’s one of the most disappointing sequels in movie history

Don't worry, I know people in chairs that laugh at Franklin. I watched this in the late '90s and I too thought it was meh but it's only on many later watches that I've appreciated how brilliant it is.

I suppose it's "tame", I've seen all of the goriest movies ( and revel in them! ), but this was the first movie since I was a child that scared me so badly that I, literally, would NOT go into the next room by myself after watching it. I made my boyfriend accompany me to the bathroom.

I love your reviews guys u earned my subscription 👍

Three best mainstream horror films, TCM, The Shining and the definitive slasher film Black Christmas. Ed Gein was also the inspiration for Hitchcock to make Psycho. Also other Hooper films worth watching Eaten Alive and the awesome Lifeforce

You guys should do Drive next