Tobe Hooper’s special horror film The Texas Chain Saw Massacre was released in October 1974. But the events the film is damning seem to have happened on August 18, 1973 – making today the 50th anniversary of the (fictional) Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
That date appears at the end of the first draft Texas chainThis is an account of the tragedy that happened to five young people, especially Sally Hardesty and her invalid brother, Franklin. It’s even worse because they were young. However, if they lived very long, they could not expect and would not want to see as much of the madness and the macabre as they were to see that day.” The crack was famously read by actor John Larroquette.
(The Texas Chain Saw Massacre It was actually a work of fiction, although it was loosely based on the actions of a real-life serial killer named Ed Gein. But hey, calling it an “account” of a “tragedy” opens it up big and scary.)
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After the opening broadcast, this title card appears:
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre became a major independent hit in the early 1970s, spawning a franchise that continues to this day. Latest movie series, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, which premiered just last year on Netflix, and claimed to be a direct sequel to the original film, and featured Leatherface murdering another group of teenagers, and fighting the survivor from the original film, Sally Hardesty. (If you haven’t seen it, uh, maybe celebrate the anniversary by watching the original movie instead.)
And just in time for the 50th anniversary, there’s something new The Texas Chain Saw Massacre video game, which allows users to play as either the signature killer of the Leatherface franchise or as victims.
Happy Texas Chain Saw Anniversary to all who celebrate.
Movies changed due to controversy
These films were famously changed after public controversies.
