Episode 137
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) with Oslowe
In our discussion, we deeply analyze the classic horror film "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" exploring its historical impact, societal reflections, and character dynamics. We dissect its themes, including family, societal norms, and survival through violence, revealing the movie's narrative complexity. Reflecting on the cast's challenges during production, we consider ethical concerns in filmmaking. Additionally, we uncover the film's authenticity and enduring legacy, celebrating its influence on horror history and its reflection of societal fears. Our conversation concludes with a nod to future explorations in horror cinema, highlighting its profound societal mirror.
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Transcript
Evan:
[0:00] I was looking at something that said, this is just purely from the Wikipedia, but it said something that they were hoping to get a PG rating. And I know back in the 70s and 80s, PG wasn't the same thing. But it's sort of interesting that I think of some movies from that time period that aren't that gory, that are just PG movies. And it's hard to believe, in retrospect, that they made it that way.
Oslowe:
[0:23] One of the things that I don't think gets brought up enough when discussing the sort of rebel, you know, takeover of Hollywood, the the the youth, you know, young Hollywood was the dismantling of the studio system as it had existed. Like it, it was still there and it's still there now, but it's, you know, it, but it was a big change from the days where Louis B. Mayer would have the, or I think it was David Selznick who had the glass top on his desk that showed what people under contract were doing what every week. So he could look and say, well, you know, we've got, you know, this guy isn't working right now, so let's put him in to fix this script up. And, you know, that era changed because having the actors under contract like that was thrown out the window. You know, the sort of salaried actors just sort of hanging around waiting to shoot something, you know, cease to be. And in some ways, I think it probably made making movies a little bit harder. But it was supposed to cut the stranglehold that a handful of guys had. And then, of course, you know, most importantly, and why.
Oslowe:
at were going on in the early:Evan:
movie is a moment of the mid-:Oslowe:
[3:07] Yeah no i i agree i agree with that assessment very very firmly but i'm gonna add to it in that i feel like a lot of 70s films are so bound to the the changes in society And maybe we have the benefit of hindsight, you know, of shit that was damn near 50 years ago. I mean, it was more than 50 years ago for the beginning of the 70s. And I was born halfway through the 70s. And... You know, whether it's something like The Last House on the Left or, for that matter, Dirty Harry, these movies wouldn't have existed were it not for the changes that were going on in the world. And I think that Texas Chainsaw is one of the more easy to spot, like, if you're looking for that. You know, but even the last movie we talked about, even the Invasion of the Body Snatchers remake, like, that is so very... Late 70s and you know the the dissolution of the uh sort of hippie idea the dissolution of the dreams of the hippies and the sort of rise of reagan's america all.
Evan:
you a spooky horror film from:Oslowe:
[4:55] Thank you for having me again, Evan. It's always a pleasure to be here.
Evan:
hainsaw Massacre, again, from:Evan:
Civil Rights Movement in the:Evan:
ompelling that it came out in:Oslowe:
[7:11] The American you could just say the American dream because it was it was an illusion and it was an illusion that was that worked for a lot of people for quite a while. And there are arguably still people that adhere to it, though, I think in a lot of cases, I think there's sort of some like jaw clenching. No, no, everything's fine here.
Oslowe:
[7:36] Energy. But that's that's a different topic. I first saw the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, I was probably between 13 and 15 years old. And the reason I watched it was so that I could watch the sequel, which I had heard was really, really awesome. Awesome. But and like for a tween boy, you know, in the 80s, like, yeah, I wanted to see this funny movie with like crazy stuff. And my mother said something about the original film and scene in the theater. And I could tell that she was visibly shaken. You know, when my mother would talk about the movie and talk about the meat hook scene, I could sort of see this wave of revulsion and fascination like hit her. And in a weird way, my mother actually led me to a lot of the movies that have become my like favorite, favorite films, which is weird because we have incredibly different tastes in movies. But but she was like, you should really watch the first one. It's it's it's a very good movie. I just oh, I don't think I could watch it again. You know, that sort of energy. And well, you got to admit, like for a kid, that was a very titillating like sort of, well, hold on. This thing is so bad. she can't watch it again like it's so scary i need to see this and with the title of course don't.
Evan:
[9:02] You can't yeah if you say you can't see something you want to see it.
Oslowe:
[9:05] And of course with that title that title you you just assume buckets of gore and just something really vile and visceral and you know you end up getting something that is relatively bloodless certainly by modern standards But yet, it is, I think, a big part of what I love about the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, the original film, goes to the analogy that I use all the time about horror, which is, for me, the best thing about horror is like being on a roller coaster when you're going up the first incline. When the chain has grabbed on and is dragging the cars up, and you hear that clacking sound, and it is the building of anticipation, the building of excitement and fear, you know the cars are going to go over the top and start flying down free of that chain. The chain is going to release and the cars are going to be on the track, hell bent for leather, you know, or weather, whatever comes first. That, to me, is the feeling of a great horror film. And Texas Chainsaw Massacre opens with an unforgettable shot.
Evan:
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