"The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" (1974)

Okay, so I watched the original "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" last night and just had to ring in with some thoughts:

1) Marilyn Burns is not only the original scream queen (apologies to Jamie Lee Curtis, a quality runner-up), she is also the I'm-a-psychotic-traumatized-crazy-bitch-you-better-lock-away-for-good queen. She so completely conveys the gritty sense of raw terror that was necessary for the role.

2) I have to admit that, even though I knew it was coming, I couldn't wait for Leatherface to carve up Franklin (incidentally, the film's only actual death by chainsaw). After all this guy's incessant whining, who wouldn't want to see him catch a saw in the teeth. Don't remember? Let me remind you: "You don't think that hitchhiker would follow us, do you? I mean, hell, he'd have no way to find us. He'd probably be scared that Kirk would kill him." You get the point.

3) No matter how many times I see it, it is still quite horrifying when Grandpa comes alive whilst sucking blood out of Sally's finger. Finding out that he's still alive was kind of like when they found the "Sloth" victim in "Se7en". Freaky shit.

4) Edwin Neal is absolute gold as the hitchhiker. His character truly portrays the lunacy of the family. Who can forget him sprinkling gunpowder on the polaroid and burning it on a piece of tinfoil? Or when he uses Franklin's knife to cut himself. Or when he cuts Franklin. And all of this within five minutes. A delicious appetizer of crazy before we get to the main course.

5) Why the fuck is that fat chicken in such a small cage? I know Leatherface and his family aren't exactly animal activists, but that's just ridiculous.

Anyways, it's nice to revisit the classics from time to time. Do you have any strange or rambling thoughts on this flick? Blah Blah for now.