THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (1974)
In our last installment, we looked at the trailer for Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, and I commented on the juxtaposition of the film's bleak subject matter with Hitchcock's dry, almost playful, narration. But Austin-based filmmaker Tobe (pronounced "Toby") Hooper wasn't interested in counterpoint for his 1974 shocker The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. A raw, disturbing viewing experience, Chainsaw's trailer promises exactly what the movie delivers, with absolutely no sugarcoating. Although not nearly as bloody as its reputation (and title) implies, Chainsaw is still an intensely powerful, almost overwhelming, film more than 35 years after its initial release.
And yet even though the trailer moves quickly, Hooper and his editor take time to linger on disturbing imagery. Note how long they hold on the tracking shot of the skeleton's arm; it's an eternity compared to the quick-cuts of today's inferior coming attractions, building atmosphere and a sense of dread... before thrusting us right back into the action again.
All in all, this is a terrifically paced trailer that accurately sells the tone and visceral nature of the finished film.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is available on VHS, DVD and Blu-Ray.
Return to The Lost Art of Horror Trailers main page
-----
Follow the Scranton Horror Movie Examiner on Twitter!
