Eaten Alive at a Chainsaw Massacre: The Films of Tobe Hooper

by John Kenneth Muir

This comprehensive reference work begins with an overview of Tobe Hooper's career, then offers detailed entries on every Hooper feature; a chronological look at his television movies and miniseries; and information on his episodes from horror television series. A concluding essay considers Hooper's place in horror film history and compares his work to such greats as Romero, Craven and Carpenter.

198 pages, Hardcover

First published October 30, 2002

About the author

John Kenneth Muir (born 1969) is an American literary critic. He has written as of 2023 thirty two books, many in the fields of film and television, with a particular accent on the horror and science fiction genres. He has been described as one of the horror genre's "most widely read critics", and as an "accomplished film journalist". He is the creator of the 2023 audio drama Enter the House Between, as well as the new novellas based on the series.

Reviews

[Horror DNA · Rating 4 out of 5]

The career overview is engaging as John Kenneth Muir traces the history of Hooper’s growth as a filmmaker. He points to recurring themes and signature trademarks featured throughout his filmography. Muir’s analysis of the original Texas Chain Saw Massacre is particularly enlightening, as he draws parallels to material as far-reaching as the 1970s gas crisis and Alice in Wonderland. Muir includes various production anecdotes that help expose the challenges of the process of bringing this story to the screen. He points to the appearance of multiple antagonists working in tandem as a recurring element in Hooper’s films, including TCM, The Funhouse and Eaten Alive to name a few.

You can read ZigZag's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A welcome consideration of Tobe Hooper's body of work (at least, up through about 2001), with perspectives on some elements of Hooper's career - such as the relative quality of both Lifeforce and TCM2, or the specificity of Hooper's authorial stamp of Poltergeist - that are refreshingly still in line with the contemporary discourse on such matters.

Other elements seem dated in ways that are surprising (Invaders from Mars was critically well-received?), confusing (Crocodile better than Lake Placid??), and genuinely illuminating (Hooper's TV work deserves a much deeper dive from yours truly). Overall, a good and brisk read.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every horror fan knows about Tobe Hooper. In this volume you'll find an overview over his career and all his feature films. Among them Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Eaten Alive, The Funhouse, Poltergeist (one of my all time favorites), Lifeforce (the sexiest vampire of all time), Night Terrors, Invaders From Mars, The Mangler, Salem's Lot, his episode for Tales From the Crypt. To me who grew up with his movies Hooper is a horror genius and some of his films are real horror classics. Highly recommended!