Michael DiMonte ’25
Halloween falls on the most unfortunate week day this year – Thursday. It is a day that is just close enough to the weekend to make you think, “I can go out on Halloween and make it through one day of school sleep-deprived,” but Friday at the Episcopal Academy is a wild card. There is no guarantee teachers will not hit you with tests or quizzes as if they are prime WWE wrestler “Rowdy” Roddy Piper picking you up, putting you in a sleeper hold, and saying “nighty-night.”
It is in my personal opinion that you should not go out on Halloween, so you have the energy to counter a possible Roddy Piper-esque attack in the form of big tests on Friday. Instead, you should stay at home and watch a good horror movie. Scholium, knowing my film expertise and the marketability of my name, deferred to me about what film you all should watch.
Photo courtesy of IMDb
My pick is director Tobe Hooper’s 1974 classic, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I recently rewatched the film at my local theater when it came back for a 50th anniversary screening and was pleasantly surprised to be seated behind someone who had never seen the movie before. What followed was 80 minutes of screaming from the row in front of me and all I could think was, “This movie still holds up.”
The film follows a group of travelers who become stranded deep in Texas and are picked off to be feasted upon by a crazy family. The main killer and most memorable character is the chainsaw-wielding Leatherface, a non-verbal member of the family who wears a mask made from the skin of past victims.
The film creates a haunting atmosphere by using the sounds of a slaughterhouse, rather than a traditional soundtrack, to build tension. In addition, many of the kills happen without any warning, unlike in modern day horror films. While society today has become accustomed to the moments leading up to a jump-scare, with characters staring down a dark hallway—saying, “did you hear that?”—before a moment of silence, Hooper’s classic features Leatherface jumping out with no warning. Although Leatherface’s massive build, quick movements, and screams are frightening enough, the sudden roaring sound of his chainsaw is sure to scare viewers even more.
Photo courtesy of IMDb
The events of the film are even more shocking than the jump-scares. Leatherface suspends his still-screaming victims from meat hooks like slaughtered animals. Though very little blood and gore is actually used in the film, Hooper creates nightmarish scenarios and does not provide viewers any escape. Where many directors would cut a scene in fear of going too far, Hooper keeps the action going and further ramps up what is being shown.The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is sure to get you into the Halloween spirit and reel you in. However, if it is too scary, I recommend The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2 (1986), which is Hooper’s attempt to satirize the first film. Happy Halloween everyone!