When Sally (Marilyn Burns) hears that her grandfather’s grave may have been vandalized, she and her paraplegic brother, Franklin (Paul A. Partain), set out with their friends to investigate. After a detour to their family’s old farmhouse, they discover a group of crazed, murderous outcasts living next door. As the group is attacked one by one by the chainsaw-wielding Leatherface (Gunnar Hansen), who wears a mask of human skin, the survivors must do everything they can to escape.

For thoughts on The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), please check out our discussions on The Video Attic:

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Video Quality

MPI Media Group presents The Texas Chain Saw Massacre with a really pleasing 2160p transfer in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio sourced from a 4K restoration. It should be noted before delving into this one that this film was shot on 16mm which means that the film is quite grain heavy. For those who come to 4K strictly for a sleek and clean picture, you need to check your priorities then take your money elsewhere. With this said, this is by far the best this film has ever looked and really makes the most of its newest presentation.

The level of detail and clarity is grotesquely beautiful with all of the natural film grain intact. While the 16mm source provides thick grain, it resolves much more favorably than any previous release with only some minor fluctuations due to the original photography. The texture on display in the sweat-and-blood covered outfits and within the landscape will knock you sideways. Even the special effects details present with impressive clarity that makes the work all the more unsettling. This transfer hardly registers anything in the way of print damage. This presentation maintains the original look of the film with the added resolution making elements seem more natural. While this transfer largely avoids any digital anomalies, there are fleeting deficiencies such as compression artifacts and banding that are worth noting.

Anyone familiar with the film will remember that this is not the most colorful film to ever exist, but the Dolby Vision presentation brings out some great nuances within the palette. The new release features some colors in the warm Texas landscape that pop off the screen with a notable intensity. This format allows it to reach a great level of accuracy that lesser formats could not touch. Lighting is a key part of experiencing the terror of this film, and this disc tackles every slight environmental admirably. Black levels are strong with nothing in the way of crush present, but some shadow detail still gets swallowed up. White levels run a bit hot in the brightest moments with some signs of blooming, but some of this can be attributed to how the film was originally captured. While this is not the most visually sumptuous film, this presentation brings it to life with great care. There remains some small issues that could possibly be improved, but by and large this is a pretty tremendous transfer for a horror classic.

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with four tremendous tracks including a Dolby Atmos track, a DTS-HD 7.1 Master Audio track, a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio stereo track and a DTS-HD 1.0 Master Audio mono track. The more ambitious modern tracks provide an expansive soundscape that perfectly captures the artistic intent while harnessing the technology of the present. On the other hand, audio purists are likewise taken care of with the original mono and stereo mixes which present a more stripped-down aesthetic which might help ground the experience in authenticity.

The surround tracks do not feature constant activity in the side and rear channels, but they go towards making the world sound fuller. The Atmos track resembles the DTS-HD 7.1 track with some added effort in the height channels which provides a deeper level of immersion. The score from Tobe Hooper and Wayne Bell often blurs the line between what it sound and what is music, and it has never sounded better. This score is used impeccably to keep audiences on edge and trapped in this nightmarish soundscape. There is never a moment where it threatens to overwhelm competing sounds, and it maintains a good balance so that dialogue comes through clearly.

The environmental sounds such as the titular chainsaw and screaming victims are rendered well alongside everything else. There does not seem to be any noticeable instances of age-related wear and tear. This film has been given a perfectly preserved audio presentation that brings the movie to life in an exciting manner. There are optional English subtitles provided.

Special Features

Disc One (4K UHD Blu-Ray)

Audio Commentary #1: Art Director Robert Burns and actors Marilyn Burns, Allen Danziger, and Paul A. Partain provide a commentary track moderated by Texas Chain Saw Massacre: The Shocking Truth director David Gregory in which they discuss memories of the shooting locations, the gory production design elements, what it was like working with Tobe Hooper, details about the background actors in different scenes, the harsh shooting conditions they experienced and much more.

Audio Commentary #2: Writer/Director Tobe Hooper, actor Gunnar Hansen, and cinematographer Daniel Pearl provide a very informative commentary track in which they discuss the opening narration, the change in the movie’s title, the shots they picked up during post production, making the movie on a limited budget, the desolate shooting locations, the dangerous stunts and more.

Audio Commentary #3: Writer/Director Tobe Hooper provides a commentary track moderated by Texas Chain Saw Massacre: The Shocking Truth director David Gregory in which they discuss the confusion over whether or not this was based on a true story, Hooper’s true inspiration behind the narrative, the gory effects in the movie, secrets behind certain production design elements, the madness of the production, working with the performers to conjure real fear, the look they wanted to achieve with the film and more.

Audio Commentary #4: Cinematographer Daniel Pearl, editor J. Larry Carroll, and sound recordist Ted Nicolaou provide a lively commentary track moderated by David Gregory in which they discuss they delve even further into the technical elements of the film from different vantage points.

Disc Two (Blu-Ray – Special Features)

The Legacy Of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre: A terrific new 83-minute documentary is provided here which offers an incredible retrospective and exploration of the film featuring a wide-array of interviews from film critic Heather Wixson, producer/director Fede Alvarez, filmmaker Jamie Blanks, History of Horror producer Ben Raphael Sher, producer Jed Shepherd, Fangoria editor-in-chief Phil Nobile Jr., film critic Meagan Navarro, Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) director Marcus Nispel, Leatherface co-directors Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo, Masters of Horror creator Mick Garris and many others. The participants discuss the legacy of the film, their personal history with the property, the ways in which the film was groundbreaking, the place of violence in the feature and more that gives great insight.

The Cinefamily Presents Friedkin/Hooper: A 54-minute conversation from the film’s 40th anniversary between filmmaker William Friedkin and director Tobe Hooper in which the two discuss the film’s lasting appeal, the frightening nature of the feature, the production of the film, the reactions from audiences over the decades, the shooting locations, inspirations for the film and more.

Texas Chain Saw Massacre – The Shocking Truth: The 73-minute documentary directed by the moderator of several commentary tracks from the first disc is provided here which gives you plenty of interviews from those who worked on the film which gives you personal insights that are truly invaluable. This is one of the more substantial pieces included thanks to its exploration of the film from beginning to end with insights from those who experienced it.

Flesh Wounds – Seven Stories Of The Saw: Another 72-minute documentary featuring insights from Director of Photography Daniel Pearl, TCM Fan Club President Tim Harden, Actor Edwin Neal, Dr. W.E. Barnes, Gunnar Hansen and more. Not only do you get personal insights, but you have a memorial for cast and crew members who have passed away, tours of the shooting locations and more.

A Tour Of The TCSM House With Gunnar Hansen: An eight-minute tour of the house in the film from Leatherface himself conducted in 1993.

Off The Hook with Teri McMinn: A 17-minute interview with the film’s star in which she reflects on brutal shooting conditions, the process of securing the role, developing her backstory with William Vail, how her feelings about her performance has evolved, the experience of watching the film for the first time and more.

The Business of Chain Saw – Interview with Production Manager Ron Bozman: A nearly 17-minute interview with the industry veteran who discusses first meeting Tobe Hooper, getting involved with the production, the Texas independent cinema scene, working with the authorities during the production, the chainsaw prop, disputes that arose after the film was released, the legacy of the picture and more.

Deleted Scenes & Outtakes: There is 26 minutes of unused footage from the filming that is provided in rough quality.

Grandpa’s Tales – An Interview with John Dugan: A 16-minute interview with “Grandpa” who discusses how he was approached with the character, the makeup required for the role, the experience during filming, working with Tobe Hooper, how he feels about the film and more.

Cutting Chain Saw – An Interview with Editor J. Larry Carroll: An 11-minute conversation with the co-editor in which he reflects on his work with Tobe Hooper, the demanding nature of the shoot, memories of the crew and more.

Blooper Reel: A nearly three-minute collection of unusable takes captured during filming.

Outtakes From The Shocking Truth: A nearly eight-minute collection of additional material from the feature-length documentary included above.

Horror’s Hallowed Grounds – TCSM: A 20-minute episode from 2006 in which host Sean Clark gives you a more in-depth exploration of the shooting location.

Dr. W.E. Barnes Presents “Making Grandpa”: A series of stills are provided here which shows the makeup application and transformation into the character of Grandpa.

Still Gallery: A more general collection of stills from the film and production is provided here.

Trailers: This disc includes the 40th Anniversary Trailer (1:38), Trailer #1 (1:42) and Trailer #2 (1:30).

Television & Radio Spots: Three TV spots and two radio spots are provided here which run roughly 30 seconds each.

Final Thoughts

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) is rightfully considered a masterpiece in the landscape of horror filmmaking. Tobe Hooper took a simple, low budget production and elevated it to neverending nightmare fuel for film fans for generations to come. The performances are decent for the genre, and Leatherface is an iconic killer, but it is really the atmosphere built through the art of cinematography, editing, sound design, and all of the other crafts that make this one so effective. MPI Media Group and Dark Sky Films have delivered a 4K UHD Blu-Ray package featuring a stellar A/V presentation and more special features than you know what to do with. This is the type of release every fan dreams of their favorite movie getting. Highly Recommended

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray in a standard edition and Limited Edition SteelBook. .

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: MPI Media Group has supplied a copy of this set free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.