Common Sense Media Review
By Diana Theobald
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Violent, bloody, but not too gory horror classic.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 38 parent reviews
Parents say that the film is often regarded as one of the scariest horror movies, with many finding its disturbing atmosphere more impactful than the actual blood and gore, which is surprisingly minimal. While some reviewers argue that it's suitable for younger audiences, with many welcoming a PG-13 rating, others caution that its themes and psychological horror could be quite intense and unsettling for children.
- minimal gore
- disturbing atmosphere
- age rating debate
- suitable for teens
- classic horror film
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 94 kid reviews
Kids say that this movie is surprisingly tame in terms of gore compared to what its reputation suggests, with many scenes relying more on suggestion and suspense rather than graphic violence; it's often described as disturbing yet beautifully shot, making it suitable for older kids, often recommended at age 12 or 13. While some viewers found it more humorous than scary, others acknowledged the intense atmosphere and certain disturbing themes, suggesting that it may not be appropriate for younger children who are sensitive to horror.
- tame violence
- disturbing themes
- suitable for teens
- suspenseful atmosphere
- mild gore
- dark humor
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE, someone has been stealing bodies from a remote Texas graveyard and turning them into grotesque statues. Sally Hardesty (Marilyn Burns) drives there with her brother, Franklin (Paul A. Partain), and her friends Jerry (Allen Danziger), Pam (Teri McMinn), and Kirk (William Vail) to ensure that their grandfather's grave is still intact. After a bizarre encounter with a violent hitchhiker (Edwin Neal), they run out of gas and decide to spend the night in their family's abandoned house. Pam and Kirk stumble upon another house while exploring. They're caught and immediately slaughtered by a chainsaw-wielding butcher who's wearing a leather mask (Gunnar Hansen). And "Leatherface" doesn't stop there: Jerry, Sally, and Franklin are all on his list.
Is It Any Good?
This tight, well-made, low-budget slasher pushed boundaries when it premiered but feels tame compared to modern horror films. In The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, five teens are killed off one by one in an abandoned corner of the country. The heroes have very little character development, and the villain's motivation is paper-thin. The senseless violence was social commentary when the movie came out in 1974. Unfortunately, this format has since been copied so much (and in some cases, vastly improved upon) that it's dulled whatever statement director Tobe Hooper was trying to make.
As a result, the original The Texas Chain Saw Massacre now feels like just another horror film. Its value now is mostly historical. It melded classic horror techniques like those used in Psycho with shocking on-screen violence that paved the way for modern mainstays like the Saw franchise. What's surprising is that you never actually see the chainsaw cutting through flesh in this movie, at least not until the very end, when it grazes Leatherface's obviously-not-real leg. Hooper created a new brand of terror on a small budget just by using good, old-fashioned craftsmanship. If you like horror movies, it's a decent one. But if you love horror movies, it's essential viewing.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why people love watching violent horror movies like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Why is it sometimes fun to be scared? Is there a threat of becoming desensitized to violence by watching movies like this?
Were you scared while watching this movie? What were the most frightening parts? What about those parts was scary? How do filmmakers use things like lighting and sound to heighten the horror?
Why do you think this movie decided to include a character who uses a wheelchair? Does Franklin feel like a realistic example of a person with a disability? Why, or why not?
What choices did the actors who play Leatherface and the hitchhiker make to have their characters seem scarier? How many of those mannerisms, like not being able to talk, happen to people in the real world for reasons beyond their control, such as disability or mental illness? Does that make those people "scary" too? Should it?
Have you seen the remakes of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre released in 2003 and 2022? How does the original compare to those? Why do you think this movie keeps getting remade?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 4, 1974
- On DVD or streaming : September 26, 2006
- Cast : Ed Neal , Gunnar Hansen , Marilyn Burns
- Director : Tobe Hooper
- Studio : New Line
- Genre : Horror
- Run time : 83 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violence
- Last updated : March 31, 2026
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