Sally: How'd you get stuck way out here?
Hitchhiker: I was at the slaughterhouse.
Franklin: I got an uncle who works in a slaughterhouse.
Hitchhiker: I used to work there. My brother did too. My grandfather too. My family's always been in meat!

now I understand why my parents don't allow me to go on road trips with my friends; taking into consideration my curious ass, I'm bound to get involved into something which is atleast a quarter of this degree.

this is my first time watching this, and I didn't really know what to expect. some people call this horror, some call it slasher while some call this a thriller. let me tell you, this is all of the above in just the right amount. director Toby Hooper somehow finds a balance between horror, gore and suspense that I've rarely seen anywhere before and no wonder the remakes (haven't seen any of them) have failed no matter how technically advanced they are. before starting the actual review though, I want to clarify something. despite the film's reputation, if you go in expecting torture porn like Martyrs, where a bunch of people are cut up violently with a chainsaw, you will probably be disappointed. it really doesn't happen all that much. the gore in here isn't the goriest I've seen, it is surprisingly minimal actually. Hooper actually was hoping to get a PG/PG-13 rating for this back in the day but despite him submitting multiple versions, the film always got an R. the reason for that rating back in the 70s (despite most of the violence being implied and suggested) is that, the film just has a unique feel to it in a sense that it is really fucking terrifying.

the plot follows a group of five teenagers who are on a road-trip in Texas where they encounter some strange people before eventually running into a serial killer, Leatherface himself. the film tries to establish with it's opening crawl that this is true story but upon research, I can confirm that this is indeed not one. it is based on some murders that took place back in the day but the plot and the characters are entirely fictional. while the plot may sound fun, the experience really isn't. the film never (not even in the slightest) tries to be fun. it is very unsettling and wants to make you feel grossed out in almost every scene. it literally makes you feel like you're in a slaughterhouse. this film is an exercise in tension. grotesque, looming, filthy tension and on that account, the film works extremely well.

the aspect I hold the most respect for, in regards to this film is that the director really managed to spawn an entirely new sub-genre of films that is extremely popular nowadays. the slasher. I have to admit of being guilty when I say that I like slasher films. to a certain extent, I almost love some of them. franchises like Scream, Halloween, and most recently Totally Killer and Thanksgiving are all films that are in some ways inspired by this. you can't make a slasher movie without taking some or the other inspiration from this film. it is that influential.

the film is also shot pretty well. like really well. the 16 milimeter camera adds a distinctively gritty look to the scenery, this sort of dirty texture to everything that makes it really feel like it's happening. some of the dolly shots, extreme close-ups and camera movements too are just excellent. the fact that almost entirety of this film was shot in a heatwave makes me wonder even more as to how the actors and crew on set actually managed to capture all of that. just, brilliant stuff.

another aspect which I appreciate is that the film is also paced really well. one of the most well-paced - if not THE most well-paced - horror films of all-time. there isn’t a single minute in which you aren’t infused with utter dread and terror, and Hooper doesn’t give you a second of comfort throughout the brisk 83 minutes.

the one thing which I think that does not work at all is the characters. they suck ass. the only reason I remember any of their names is that some of them shout each others' names in the middle of the night at some point. the characterization is very poor and not something that makes you want to care for any of them other than the fact that they're going to go through the worst experience of their lives. the performances aren't bad persay but not necessarily great. they work well within the context of the film.

to conclude, I'd say give this one a try at your own risk. you'll either enjoy it or outright hate it. there really is no middle ground.