The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

The Tragedy of Tobe Hooper, Part I

In 1974, a little indie horror film from Texas shocked the world—and launched the career of Tobe Hooper.

With THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE, Hooper introduced audiences to one of horror’s most iconic villains, Leatherface, and helped lay the groundwork for what would become the slasher genre. But while the film became a touchstone of American horror, Hooper’s career afterward was marked by frustration, interference, and missed opportunities.

In this first episode of our series The Tragedy of Tobe Hooper, we trace the chaotic, low-budget production of THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE, the real-life influences that shaped its gritty realism, and how it went from regional curiosity to international sensation—and one of the most influential horror films of all time.

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Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy.

This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop, and Todd A. Davis.