Texas Chain Saw Massacre: The Shocking Truth

this documentary is contained on the bonus disc of the original "Texas Chainsaw Massacre ultimate edition released in 2006.the documentary was originally produced in 2000,though i think it has some material added since then.either way,it's a pretty good documentary,with revealing interviews with many of the original cast and crew.it reveals a few surprising things about the production itself,but also about the aftermath.i was surprised at how much money the movie made.keep in mind this is 1974.as far as documentaries go,this is one of the better ones.many documentaries merely repeat things everybody already knows,but this one has is refreshing,and actually shows new insight into the movie.it's also highly entertaining.at least i think so.i also like that it gives you updates on where the cast and crew are now.all in all,a very good documentary,well worth watching.for me "Texas Chainsaw Massacre":The Shocking Truth" is an 8/10

This was a documentary that I listened to while I was working, treating it like a podcast. The synopsis for this does a great job telling what it is about in that it is primarily focusing on the filming and the release of the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre. From there, it then gives insight into the films that followed ending at The New Beginning which seemed at the time to still be called The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

What makes this great is getting the likes of Gunnar Hansen, Marilyn Burns and Jim Siedow who are iconic characters in the classic. Getting to hear a bit of their ordeal was interesting. Then coupling that with the director Tobe Hooper, Dorothy J. Pearl who did makeup, Robert A. Burns, Kim Henkel and Ted Nicolaou, to just name those that were featured, which are great. What they went through to get this made is crazy. It makes it even more heartbreaking to hear about what happened afterwards and how many of these people didn't see the money they were owed from its success. There is a double-edge sword as well that without the funds from the nefarious company, this might have died in production.

I would also say that this is on the cheaper end of how it looks. Don't let that detract from seeing it though. Part of that is probably not having a large budget and being made in 2000. It is great that they talked to these people before they started to pass away, including Hansen, Burns and Hooper. It makes documentaries much more important now. Would recommend to fans of this film, even if you know the stories being told. Should be checked out at least once in my opinion.

My Rating: 8 out of 10.

My only knock on this would be that I wish it were longer so that more details could be released about how this franchise has been SEVERELY DAMAGED BY THE HIGHER UPS. From the First movie to the Return of TCM Next Generation everyone involved and the movies itself were handcuffed, cut, destroyed, pilfered upon, and straight screwed over in ways that only Hollywood can do. But I guess it's true what they say, the people with the money have the power. It's just sad.

Truth is rarely stranger than the shocking reality of a determined crew of poorly paid, persistently sun-baked independent filmmakers shooting low budget game changer 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre! Dare you take a peek behind Leatherface's iconic mask???? It took A LOT of guts for genre genius Tobe Hooper to create his acclaimed horror masterpiece 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' (1973)...not to mention the blanched human skulls, stuffed armadillos, eerily reassembled cow skeletons, festering animal intestines, severed chicken heads, multitudinous mildewed bones, dessicated cartilage, mouldering dog carcases, ruptured roadkill, Head cheese, plus a million seething maggots, and, er, the Mafia! Aye!!!! They just DON'T make 'em like that any more!!!!

The final notable Texas Chainsaw Massacre documentary is by far the best. Mostly about the original movie it also dips its feet into the rest of the franchise and the legacy it has created.

With in depth interviews with all the stars, some gruelling backstage stories and further confirmation of what a complete tool Matthew McConaughey is.

I would have to say this is essential viewing for fans of the franchise, I not even being one still thought it was an entertaining piece but am glad to see the end of my TCM binge.

The Good:

Very thorough

The Bad:

Narration is awful

I simply don't see the appeal

Things I Learnt From This Documentary:

Taxidermy....armadillo...really!?

Hanging a person on a meathook rarely passes as PG

27hr working days are a thing

Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) sounds like worst movie set ever

The cast and crew of Texas Chainsaw Massacre got f'd in the a financially

The mafia are bad people to go into business with, who knew!?