The cult horror movie that disappointed Quentin Tarantino: “I think it’s silly”
The 1970s was a crucial time for the horror genre. Thanks to the easing of Hollywood censorship and the development of cinema to include more violence, sex, and other forms of explicit imagery, horror was finally able to thrive. For the first time, filmmakers could use shocking scenes of torture and gore, which would’ve otherwise been banned.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre came along in 1974, with Tobe Hooper co-writing and directing the movie. It was a landmark release, helping to usher in the slasher phenomenon, which would boom in subsequent years. Shot using a small budget, Hooper’s DIY sensibility breathes through every scene. The fuzzy film stock, which captures dirty, dry landscapes, graveyards and sun-scorched paths, only helps the film feel more claustrophobic and terrifying. You can practically feel the heat emanating from the screen as the characters attempt to survive Leatherface’s chainsaw.
The movie progresses into more horrifying territory as we are granted greater access to Leatherface’s house, where he lives with his cannibalistic family. He gruesomely kills almost all of the teenagers who stumble upon his house – which is adorned with animal bones and mementoes from his killings – apart from Sally Hardesty, who manages to escape.
The film has since become a cult favourite, spawning several sequels. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 arrived in 1986, with L.M. Kit Carson (who co-wrote Paris, Texas) penning the screenplay. The satirical movie follows Dennis Hopper’s character (Sally’s uncle) as he attempts to hunt down Leatherface after he abducts a radio host. Although the movie wasn’t as well-received as the first, it has similarly gained a cult following.
One filmmaker who isn’t so keen on the film is Quentin Tarantino. The Pulp Fiction director has never been afraid to share his opinions on movies, taking any chance he can get to share his thoughts on a piece of cinema, no matter how obscure or popular. When it comes to horror, Tarantino is a big fan, although he has strangely never made one of his own.
He loves the first Texas Chainsaw Massacre, taking time to discuss his love for it during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live. “There’s not many [perfect movies] and that just bemoans the fact that the film art form is hard…A perfect movie kind of crosses all aesthetics: might not be your cup of tea, but there’s nothing you can say to bring it down,” he explained in reference to it.
Yet, when it came to the sequel, he wasn’t as impressed. He claimed in Eli Roth’s History of Horror that he “really wanted to like it,” especially since he was a fan of Carson, but he was left disappointed. “I really wanted to see Tobe Hooper do something really good,” he explained. The filmmaker called it a “silly” movie, explaining that the only part he likes is the scene where Chop Top is talking to Stretch while burning his scalp.
Stating that he “never needs to see it again,” Tarantino admitted to seeing it twice when it came out in theatres, adding, “We all acted like we liked it more than we did.” Looking back, however, he couldn’t care less about Hooper’s attempt to continue the franchise.
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