The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Companion

by Stefan Jaworzyn

In 1974, a low-budget, no-star horror movie was unleashed on the world, causing panic among the censors and provoking glee from its intended audience. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is still as powerful today as when it was first seen almost thirty years ago, and will return to the screens in a high profile remake this Halloween. Now, in this long-awaited companion to Tobe Hooper's groundbreaking film, Stefan Jaworzyn gives us the inside story of one of the most successful, controversial and influential horror films ever made, as well as in-depth coverage of the three sequels, various documentaries and other movies also based on the life of serial killer Ed Gein. Packed with exclusive interviews, rare and unseen pictures, and with a foreword from the chainsaw-wielding Leatherface himself, Gunnar Hansen!

Genres: Horror, Nonfiction, Film

102 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2003

Reviews

[Matheus Gomes · Rating 2 out of 5]

Livro 15 de 2023

O formato do livro não me agradou. Não é uma narrativa, mas um compilado de entrevistas. Cansa. Cansa bastante.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this, unfortunately is sat on my shelf for nearly 20 years before I got to it! But this is pretty much THE definitive book on the Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie and movies. Jaworzyn goes into quite an amount of detail (where available) or the making of the movies, from the original classic, to the classic sequel. Interestingly, he rates both the 3rd and 4th movies, two movies I now want to revisit and they were completely written off as garbage cash-ins at the time! He also goes into detail about documentaries 'about' the Texas Chainsaw movies. He has no love for the Michael Bay 'prequel', which was more of a stylistic and cynical commericial thing - i thought it wasnt that bad myself, it's aesthetic was too slick dick, is all.... Another interesting insight which Jaworzyn makes quite clear, is how important Tobe Hooper's' 'chainsaw' films were to the development Texas film/television industry itself.. Hooper's groundbreaking films and those involved (Kim Henkel, Sallye Richardson, Lou Perryman, Gunnar Hansen (who I didn't know was good friends with Ron Asheton from rock group the Stooges) paved the way for Texan directors like Richard Linklater and Robert Rodriquez and had similarities, even crossover to the the Texas psychedelic underground rock groups like 13th Floor Elevators, important pillars in the development of a uniquely Texan and more importantly, dissident counter-culture voice, in the most conservative of societies in the world.

[Marco Fonseca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quando o livro trata das sequências, ou da pós produção, ele fica enfadonho. A parte dedicada à filmagem e concepção do filme é muito boa.

[Fábio Martinelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

O filme original é tão importante que é duro acreditar que existem SEIS continuações. O livro bem podia ignorar todas elas e ficar contando só as histórias do Tobe Hooper criando o clássico de 74. Como não faz isso, perde muito o fôlego do meio pro fim.

O livro da mesma coleção sobre o Evil Dead é bem melhor.

[H.d.]

Um épico estadunidense, pós-hippie em plena guerra do vietnã. E isso é só sobre o primeiro filme. Um livro sobre cinema da mais alta qualidade!