FILM CLUB: The Masters of Horror

TOBE HOOPER DOUBLE FEATURE

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974 • R • 1h 23m)

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre 2 (1986 • R • 1h 41m)

Like Carpenter and Craven, Tobe Hooper would be an integral part of film history purely based on the game changing "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre" in 1974. The film begins with a title card falsely claiming to be based on a true story, and the grungy environments were more realistic than most horror films of the era. The horror wasn't supernatural, and Hooper's depiction of humans as literal meat bags was too disturbing for many viewers. It became one of the most controversial films ever made and was banned in several territories.

Hooper brought back Leatherface twelve years later with "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2," but the tone was completely different. The original felt like a slice of reality with its banal nature, but the sequel was over-the-top and humorous. With its subtle commentary on gender archetypes, "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2" was similarly divisive, only later recognized for its satirical intent.

Hooper's career isn't only defined by Leatherface. He worked with fellow auteurs Steven Spielberg and John Carpenter on the unnerving "Poltergeist" and the dark comedy anthology "Body Bags," respectively. 1986's "Invaders From Mars" was a nuanced take on the alien invasion films of the 1950s.

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