The original, 1974 version of “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is one of the scariest movies I have ever seen. Now before I begin, you must keep in mind the time period in which this movie was released. This was definitely before the high-end editing and SFX we have available now, but that just makes it even scarier.

The plot of this story is rather simple. A graveyard in a small town is being tampered with, causing a young teenage girl and her brother, along with two other friends, to set out and see if their grandfather’s grave is being vandalized or not. Visiting their family’s old farmhouse, they quickly discover their psycho-killer neighbors. 

The movie takes a rather long time to pick up pace, but once it does, it does not stop for the duration of the film. About the last third of the movie is nothing but intensity. 

As a result, the movie is also not exactly scary until about the second half. However, it is worth the wait. 

I cannot find a better way to describe this movie than unsettling. Everything about it, from the oversexualization of the killings, to the raw, unedited footage. This movie takes gore to a completely different level, setting the standard for any other horror movie after it.

The reason this film leaves viewers feeling so uneasy is the fact that this scenario is not that far-fetched. You have a family gone mad, a group of stupid teenagers, and consequently a lot of bloodshed. 

But of course it is not that far-fetched because, you guessed it! It is based off a true story, as if it wasn’t scary enough. 

Ed Gein, also known as the “Butcher of Plainfield” or the “Plainfield Ghoul” terrorized a small Wisconsin town in the 1950’s that left an unconfirmed amount dead. 

After a sheriff’s mother went missing, Gein was a prime suspect. Searching his house, investigators found furniture covered in human skin, full suits and masks made from human skin, skulls hollowed out into soup bowls, and other various body parts scattered around. His heinous acts loosely inspired multiple books and movies; “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” being one of them. 

There is so much that makes this movie an automatic classic. From the bone-chilling gore, to the simplistic yet horrifying plot line, it is definitely a horror film that everybody should see at least once, but of course it’s not for the faint of heart. I give it a solid 8.5/10. Just be careful the next time you want to go investigate a robbed cemetery.

The views in this column do not necessarily reflect the views of the GENESIS staff. Email Rayna Minix at [email protected].