Draft:Legacy and cultural impact of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre was first released in 1974, created by Kim Henkel and Tobe Hooper. It has had a significant impact on modern cinema and popular culture. Chain Saw references are deeply embedded in popular culture and influenced numerous works in horror fiction; references to its characters and story have appeared in a variety of media and oral culture. The chainsaw-wielding Leatherface has become an iconic villain while the film's depictions of rural countryside, country fold, and cannibalism have all become recognizable tropes in fiction.

Many efforts produced in the horror genre can now be seen to draw heavy influence and inspiration from the film.

Overview

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre was created by Tobe Hooper and Kim Henkel.

Arts

Impact on the film industry

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre was key in establishing the benefits of a wide national advertising campaign for independent and exploitation cinema.

Leatherface has gained a reputation as a significant character in the horror genre, responsible for establishing the use of conventional tools as murder weapons, as well as the image of a large, silent, killer devoid of personality.

The film had broader cultural repercussions, as well.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacreset the template for subsequent horror films, with deranged and often cannibalistic country folk terrorizing groups of teenagers and young adults becoming a staple of the genre. Many films have attempted to capitalize on its popularity through the 1970s and 1980s, by featuring the word "Massacre" in their titles, examples include Meatcleaver Massacre, The Slumber Party Massacre, Microwave Massacre, Nail Gun Massacre, and Mountaintop Motel Massacre.

Fandom and fan films

Image: Leatherface Cosplay

Influence on other works

Music

Music artists have made references to the film, with some also citing the film as a major inspiration for their works. The 1984 single "Too Much Blood" written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards from their band The Rolling Stones, was partially influenced by the film. American death metal band Mortician based their 1997 and 1999 songs "Hacked Up for Barbecue", and "Chainsaw Dismemberment" upon the film.

• https://www.stereogum.com/2092075/the-number-ones-michael-sembellos-maniac/columns/the-number-ones/
• Bites (album), Audio samples from the film.
• La Sexorcisto: Devil Music Volume One, Audio samples from the film.
• Rigor Mortis (band), influence on some of the lyrics.
• Who Will Survive, and What Will Be Left of Them?
• Cornbugs
• Love in Slow Motion, "a sort of Texas Chainsaw Massacre meets The Devil's Rejects".
• Butcher Babies
• Carpenter Brut

Parodies

Parodied in:

• "Saturday Night Live" Candice Bergen/Martha Reeves/The Stylistics (TV Episode 1975)
• Motel Hell (1980)
• Tucker & Dale vs. Evil

Works cited

Bibliography

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Media publications

• Whittaker, Richard (October 3, 2014). "Cowboys vs. Hippies: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Subtext". Austin Chronicle. Archived from the original on October 4, 2014. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
• Wood, Jennifer (October 21, 2014). "11 Things You Didn't Know About The Texas Chainsaw Massacre". Esquire. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
• Zoglin, Richard (August 16, 1999). "Cinema: The Predecessors: They Came from Beyond". Time.com. WarnerMedia. Archived from the original on February 21, 2011. Retrieved March 29, 2024.