The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (EOTWS)

End Of The Week Shorts #2 extract: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

The direction, cinematography and camera work are off-the-charts fucking phenomenal in this film. Without exaggeration, within The Texas Chainsaw Massacre you will find one of the greatest examples of direction in a horror film. The use of the sets, practical lighting, the ingenious shot types, extreme close-ups, zooms, the insane editing, all come together to produce one of the most visceral and powerful pieces of exploitation horror ever - and there's no argument to be had on this point. 

But, there are two things that drastically bring this movie down; parts of the writing and an awful lot of the acting. In fact, almost everything to do with character in this film is dog shit. Leather Face, when he isn't wailing, is great, but beyond this, character is hugely detrimental to both the narrative and the technical/aesthetic design of this movie. But, a great watch and a terrific movie nonetheless.