Behind the scenes of the groundbreaking horror film “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre,” there was a real-life horror show that unfolded.
Directed and co-written by Tobe Hooper, the 1974 film set the standard for the slasher genre with its chilling portrayal of a sadistic cannibal family who terrorize and murder a group of unsuspecting victims.
One particular scene, in which a woman is tormented at a dinner table, tied to a corpse while facing imminent death, stands out as the most horrifying moment in the film.
However, the making of this scene was far from fictional.
Joseph Lanza’s book, “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre: The Film That Terrified A Rattled Nation,” reveals the gruesome details of the production.
The scene was shot in a farmhouse in Round Rock, Texas, during a grueling 26-hour marathon.
The temperature soared to a scorching 115 degrees, creating unbearable conditions for the cast and crew.
To maintain continuity, some actors went unwashed and unchanged for five weeks.
The set itself was adorned with the remains of dead dogs and cattle, as well as rotting cheese to create an atmosphere of repulsive decay.
The stench permeating the location was described as intolerably putrid, leading some to refer to the experience as “the last supper.”
The extreme heat and humidity forced the cast to frequently take breaks outside for fresh air and to relieve themselves.
The conditions were so harsh that vomit breaks became a necessary occurrence.
In addition to these physical challenges, there were instances of actual violence during filming.
In the dinner scene, the character Sally, portrayed by Marilyn Burns, was meant to have her finger cut by Leatherface (played by Gunnar Hansen) to provide blood for the centenarian patriarch to drink.
However, the prop knife malfunctioned, causing frustration for Hansen.
Impatiently, he decided to slice Burns’ finger without her knowledge, exposing her to the saliva of another actor wearing heavy prosthetic makeup.
Neither Burns nor John Dugan, who portrayed the patriarch, were aware of the real injury until years later.
Burns recounted her terror during the filming to Hansen in his memoir, “Chain Saw Confidential,” expressing her fear and uncertainty as the line between reality and fiction blurred.
The leering and menacing behavior of the cast added to her unease, especially during the scene where Leatherface approached her.
The boundary between real and staged violence became increasingly blurred, leading to a traumatic experience for Burns.
The finger injury was just one aspect of the ordeal Burns endured on set.
Jim Siedow, who played another member of the sadistic family, recalled how he initially struggled with simulating violence during a scene where his character beat Sally.
However, with encouragement from Hooper, Burns, and others on set, Siedow eventually succumbed to the pressure and began genuinely striking Burns.
The intense beatings resulted in bruises, and Burns eventually fainted from the physical abuse.
Despite the brutal nature of the production, perhaps the most surprising fact about the film is its mundane origin.
Hooper conceived the idea while Christmas shopping at a department store in Austin, Texas.
As he stood in the hardware section of Montgomery Ward, surrounded by chainsaws, he fantasized about using one to carve his way out of the crowded store.
This macabre daydream sparked a chain reaction of story ideas that eventually led to “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.”
Hooper’s inspiration for the psychotic killer Leatherface came from a conversation with a doctor who boasted about making a mask from a cadaver during his pre-med days.
Initially, the film had various working titles such as “Saturn in Retrograde,” “Head Cheese,” “Stalking Leatherface,” and simply “Leatherface” before settling on its final name.
Despite the nightmarish production, “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” became a massive success.
Made with a budget of only $140,000, it grossed $26.5 million in its release year and left an indelible mark on the horror genre.
The film’s influence led to its inclusion in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in 1981.
For the individuals involved in the film, however, the nightmare didn’t end with its completion.
Burns, relieved to be finished with filming, was shocked when she was informed that she needed to return for additional shots due to a problem with one of the scenes.
The toll the experience took on her mental and emotional well-being was evident in her unhinged laughter during the final moments of the movie.
“The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” remains a chilling reminder of the lengths filmmakers will go to create a truly terrifying experience.
The disturbing behind-the-scenes stories serve as a testament to the dedication and sacrifice required to bring such a horrifying vision to life.
