Why ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ Still Terrifies Audiences 50 Years Later

‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ still chills people over fifty years after it was first published in 1974.  But why does this low-budget horror movie continue to frighten audiences of all ages?  Its unadulterated unpredictability, unrelenting suspense, and naked realism hold the key to the solution.

‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ feels almost too genuine, in contrast to other modern, well-made horror movies.  Its documentary-like shooting style, grainy picture quality, and lack of traditional music create an unsettlingly real mood.  It gives viewers the impression that they are witnessing something that may occur shortly or has already occurred.

Its unpredictable nature is another important component of its enduring dread factor.  Cheap jump scares and spooky tricks aren’t used in the film.  Rather, quiet, unexpected violence, and the stifling presence of solitude, create fear.  The horror feels violent and disorganized when Leatherface shows up, as though you’ve wandered into an unscripted, unruly nightmare.

Image Courtesy: IMDb

 The absence of motivation is arguably the most disturbing.  The Sawyer family’s acts are simply horrible since they take place in a world where cruelty is accepted without question; they are not motivated by retaliation or curses.  The terror feels painfully real and unavoidable because of that randomness.

The movie also appeals to innate concerns of being chased, stranded, and defenceless—anxieties that haven’t evolved with time.  The Sawyers’ dilapidated, hideous house and the oppressive Texas heat create layers of unease that persist long after the credits have rolled.

 Fifty years later, ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ still frightens us because it reduces evil to its most basic, unattractive form, reminding us that sometimes the most horrific creatures are people.

–Farheen Ali