HORRIFIC AND TERRIFIC..., 14 Sep 2003

By	Lawyeraau (Balmoral Castle) - See all my reviews

Time has jaded me somewhat, as I was able to watch it the film the second time around without resorting to cowering under my jacket. Of course, the second time I saw it was on my television screen and not a giant theatre screen, which probably helped. It is still, however, one of the most frightening films ever made.

Based upon a true story of a nineteen fifties psycho named Ed Gein, the film has a quasi-documentary feel to it with its grainy footage and cast of virtual unknowns. The film is a visual cornucopia of terror and horror, though there is actually very little gore shown on screen. The unusually macabre sets and the relentless sound of the chainsaw bandied by Leatherface are enough to make the viewer tremble.

The storyline is simple. A group of five teens set off in their van and end up in a rural area, where two of the teens, Sally and Franklin, a brother and sister, are checking out some of their family history. Unfortunately, they come across a house inhabited by one heck of a family of crazies. From the moment they do so, the viewer is taken on a heart-pounding, one-of-a-kind film experience. Deftly directed by Tobe Hooper, this film is a masterpiece for its genre. It is simply one of the scariest and best horror films ever made. Bravo!

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