Insanity. A perfect descriptor of Tobe Hooper’s timeless classic, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Widely regarded as one of the greatest horror films of all time, the movie shocked and terrified audiences upon its initial release in 1974. The film’s success is even more impressive when considering it had an estimated budget of only $300,000 (about $1.8 million now). While the title of the movie suggests viewers are in for an exploitative, gory “B-movie”, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre proves otherwise. With a new installment in the series set to release this year, it’s time to look back at what made the original so great. Layered with allegory and symbolism, the goal of this article is to analyze the subtext and meaning behind one of Hooper’s greatest filmmaking achievements. A SPOILER WARNING is in effect from here.
Foreshadowing
Before interpreting the meaning behind this film, there are three elements that need to be discussed in greater detail. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre uses foreshadowing frequently to put the audience on edge. The film’s opening narration, courtesy of John Larroquette, sets an unsettling tone for the duration of the movie. The narrator states the film is based on a true story, describing the events as being both “macabre” and “bizarre”. This preps the audience for a terrifying viewing experience. Claiming it was based on actual events only adds to the horror. After this, the film introduces the five main protagonists: Franklin Hardesty (Paul A. Partain), Kirk (William Vail), Sally Hardesty (Marilyn Burns), Pam (Teri McMinn), and Jerry (Allen Danziger). From the start, the audience knows evil lurks just beyond the group. Adding to the dread, Pam begins reading from her astrology book mentioning that the malefic planet Saturn is in retrograde thus increasing its maleficence. Pam’s comments along with the opening narration imply that the group’s demise is inevitable, being predetermined by fate.
Soon after, the group decides to pick up a hitchhiker, Nubbins Sawyer (Edwin Neal), and things quickly take a turn. The hitchhiker takes Franklin’s pocket knife and cuts himself with it. Relishing in the group’s fear and disgust, he takes a picture of Franklin’s expression and tries to sell it to him. When Franklin refuses, the hitchhiker burns the picture and is kicked out of the van. The hitchhiker’s method of destroying the picture is particularly interesting. Burning someone’s photo is often seen as a bad omen and is used in several ritualistic practices. It’s almost as if Nubbins was hexing them. What’s more, the group later discovers a bloody symbol on the side of the van made by Nubbins. While many chalk this symbol up as just being a smear, Sally even comments that it “looks like he was trying to write something”. Instead of being a specific symbol or message, the smear could simply be symbolic. Now that he has marked them, there’s no escape.
Following this, Pam then reads Franklin and Sally’s chillingly accurate horoscopes from her astrology book. Pam reads that Franklin will have a “disturbing and unpredictable day” while Sally will experience “moments where [she] cannot believe what is happening is really true.” Both of these horoscopes lend to the point that the group has been cursed by fate. The cosmos are misaligned and they remain oblivious to every warning sign hurled their way. It’s too late to turn back. Altogether, the first act of the film does a tremendous job of building tension and unease. The audience knows something horrific will happen to the group… but when?
Pacing & Camera Work
The erratic pacing in this movie is another element that deserves attention. Generally, when a movie has uneven pacing, it is detrimental to the entire project, but this film is an exception. As stated earlier, the first act of the film methodically builds tension by foreshadowing what’s about to occur. When Kirk and Pam venture off on their own and come across the Sawyer house, the pacing quickens dramatically. Within a span of 17 minutes, four of the five group members are killed by the chainsaw-wielding maniac Leatherface (Gunnar Hansen). The increased pace makes the group seem powerless against the Sawyer family, nothing can stop them.
Along with the shift in pace, the camera work also changes, becoming more frenetic. This is especially apparent in the dinner scene towards the end of the film. The movie utilizes tilted angles, extreme close-ups, hard cuts, and shaky motion all to make the scene crazier and disorienting. The fast pace coupled with the shift in camera work evokes feelings of madness in the viewer. Additionally, the movie cleverly films its most gruesome scenes. The audience sees just enough to know what’s happening, but not enough as to let their imagination fill in the blanks. With every scene escalating in terror and obscurity, the final scenes of the film feel like a fever dream from hell, but every dream has meaning.
Conservatism & Financial Hardship
Looking into the film’s subtext, there are many parallels between the movie and the era it was made in. Richard Nixon became president after the 1968 election, ushering in a new wave of political conservatism. Nixon expressed his desire for the “silent majority” to stand up and support him. The silent majority defined American citizens who opposed the counterculture movement of the late 1960s and were tired of a government that, in their opinion, coddled the working class and minorities. The Sawyer family represents the silent majority. When the group first picks up the hitchhiker, he mentions that his family has “always been in meat” (meaning the slaughterhouse). During this time, the silent majority was comprised mostly of blue-collar white males.
Overall, the movie feels like a commentary on the rejection of progressive ideology. Look no further than how the Sawyers react to the group of outsiders. To them, violence and murder are the only solutions to eliminate the threat of change. The father, Drayton Sawyer (Jim Siedow), even claims that murder is a necessity “some things you gotta do, don’t mean you have to like it”. The family even refuses basic modern developments as evidenced by the hitchhiker’s disapproval of the new air gun to kill cattle “that gun’s no good. The old way, with a sledge… that way’s better”. Also noteworthy, is that every member of the group that dies is killed by Leatherface, who is a nearly mute antagonist. The family’s refusal to accept change and their reactions towards outsiders represent the dark side of American conservatism.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre can also be interpreted as a reflection of the financial hardships and stresses that rural America faced in the 1970s. During the time of filming, there was a national shortage of gas due to the 1973 Oil Crisis. When the group arrives at the gas station run by Drayton Sawyer, there is none to be had. Also, during this time automation was becoming more common. Part of the hitchhiker’s disapproval of the air gun was that “people were put out of jobs” because of it. It’s easy to see that the Sawyers are not well-off. Seemingly, Drayton Sawyer is the only member of the family bringing home any income. The economic disparity between the group and the Sawyers is also apparent. Rural areas have increasingly become America’s own “third-world”, with people living in those areas left trying to catch up to the modern world. The Sawyers are insane, but their economic condition makes them sympathetic in a way. If nothing else, it provides more context as to why they acted so hostile towards the group. In closing, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is not only an all-time great horror film but also one of the most significant films ever made.
