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The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Its Terrifying Times: A Cultural History
When Tobe Hooper’s low-budget slasher film, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, opened in theaters in 1974, it was met in equal measure with disgust and reverence. The film—in which a group of teenagers meet a gruesome end when they stumble upon a ramshackle farmhouse of psychotic killers—was outright banned in several countries and was pulled from many American theaters after complaints of its violence. Despite the mixed reception from critics, it was enormously profitable at the domestic box office and has since secured its place as one of the most influential horror movies ever made. In The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Its Terrifying Times, cultural critic Joseph Lanza turns his attentions to the production, reception, social climate, and impact of this controversial movie that rattled the American psyche.Joseph Lanza transports the reader back to the tumultuous era of the 1970s defined by political upheaval, cultural disillusionment, and the perceived decay of the nuclear family in the wake of Watergate, the onslaught of serial killers in the US, as well as mounting racial and sexual tensions. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Its Terrifying Times sets the themes of the film against the backdrop of the political and social American climate to understand why the brutal slasher flick connected with so many viewers. As much a book about the movie as the moment, Joseph Lanza has created an engaging and nuanced work that grapples with the complications of the American experience.
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First published May 29, 2019
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About the author
Joseph Lanza
13 books11 followersJoseph Lanza is the author of several books with subjects ranging from popular music to obsessive film directors, including ELEVATOR MUSIC: A SURREAL HISTORY OF MUZAK, EASY-LISTENING, AND OTHER MOODSONG (University of Michigan Press) and PHALLIC FRENZY: KEN RUSSELL & HIS FILMS (Chicago Review Press, 2007) -- a psycho-sexual, hyper-humorous, biographical thriller celebrating the great director. He recently appeared as himself in the 2011 BBC4 documentary: THE JOY OF EASY LISTENING.
He recently contributed the essay "Foreground Flatland" in the OXFORD HANDBOOK OF NEW AUDIOVISUAL AESTHETICS (2013) and the CD booklet essay for "RONNIE DOVE: The Complete Original Chart Hits (1964-1969)" from Real Gone Music (2014).
His forthcoming book is entitled, THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE AND ITS TERRIFYING TIMES, from Skyhorse Publishing -- scheduled for release in mid-January 2019.
He recently contributed the essay "Foreground Flatland" in the OXFORD HANDBOOK OF NEW AUDIOVISUAL AESTHETICS (2013) and the CD booklet essay for "RONNIE DOVE: The Complete Original Chart Hits (1964-1969)" from Real Gone Music (2014).
His forthcoming book is entitled, THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE AND ITS TERRIFYING TIMES, from Skyhorse Publishing -- scheduled for release in mid-January 2019.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
October 18, 2018
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and It’s Terrifying Times: A Cultural History, by Joseph Lanza is a 2019 Skyhorse publication.
To this day, no matter how low budget or how old the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre is, every time I think about it, I get a chill down my spine. That’s really saying something considering the era I grew up in. The seventies and early eighties had the most chilling horror movies of any decade, IMHO.
Let’s face it, the film is very straight forward. While one might manage to squeeze out some tepid arguments for alleged allegory or symbolism, it pretty much is what it is. I don’t think it’s the kind of movie one should bother scrutinizing for some hidden message or meaning. However, the author of this book makes a valiant effort to find one.
However, this book is centered around - ‘The Terrifying Times: A Cultural History” as it states in the title, examining the culture of the seventies decade and how this impacted the popularity of the movie, the way critics reacted to it, and how the movie itself impacted the horror genre, as a whole.
The 1970s was a violent decade. Looking back on it now, it was a very bleak period time. With the political uncertainly in the Nixon administration, the war in Vietnam, prolific serial killers, the Patty Hurst saga, the poor economy, and even darker changes in rock music, with the likes of Alice Cooper and his brand of ‘shock rock’, made the timing ripe for this movie.
The budget for the movie was rock bottom, which meant filming the movie was an interesting prospect. The author describes how the movie was shot, the extreme temperatures, the camera angles, the type of film, everything the enthusiast would want to know, sharing insights from the actors, and the various interviews they’ve given over the years.
But, the parts I found the most interesting was the nostalgia and laws pertaining to movie content at the time, which was very vague and could be interpreted any which way. As a result, TTCM was looped in with the likes of "Deep Throat”, despite the lack of sexual content in the movie, because of the mob funding behind the two films, and because it had no redeeming moral qualities.
The history behind how hitchhiking went from being cool to becoming a possible, maybe even probable, death sentence is also interesting and called to mind a few mass killings- the one in Houston, to be specific, that I’d completely forgotten about. I remember seeing hitchhikers quite often growing up and I still shake my head at how stupid is to hitch a ride and equally stupid to offer one.
Later there would be more critical backlash from some who blamed the violence for crimes committed after its release and even Johnny Carson blasted it on ‘The Tonight Show’- but he was hardly the only one.
As Gunnar Hansen would later explain:
“When you are involved in a project like that, particularly if you’re visible, like being the killer, you get blamed for a lot of society’s problems. I was at a chamber concert, and during intermission, this Philadelphia dowager comes up to me and says, ‘You know, Gunnar, there were 12 people murdered today in New York City, and it’s your fault’. I’m usually made speechless by comments like that. But, I think that a lot of people think that movies like that are the cause of a lot of problems, when I think they’re symptomatic of societal issues. And to my mind, though I’m not a psychologist, ( the movies), probably are harmless or at least let people work through some misery… My answer is that the misery is there, and the film simply uses that misery.”
The Texas connection is also of great interest to me as well, and I enjoyed having book move closer into the present by analyzing another dark Texas based thriller, ‘No Country for Old Men’.
The book is organized, and is a terrific bit of unique history, making some valid points as to the psychology of violence. Some opinions are a bit of a stretch, but overall this is one of the better analytical books about horror movies, I ‘ve read in a long time. However, the author did, on a couple of occasions, decide to add personal opinions on various topics, such as religion or politics, which could be off putting to a broader audience. I consider this an unprofessional faux pas, no matter if I agree or disagree with his comments.
Also, it is worth pointing out that the author relies heavily on interviews, magazine articles and documentaries for his sources, but, he also kindly provides clickable links to the articles he used as reference, which is nice if you have the digital format of the book.
Overall, I enjoyed the trip back in time, which brought back some memories-and a few nightmares, but also taught me some things I didn’t know, and reminded me that some things will never change. Still, no matter what has come and gone in the decades since this movie became a cult hit, it is still one of the most unnerving movies I’ve ever seen. It is interesting to read how it all came together and the way it epitomizes and parallels the violence and unease of the decade, which is something I never considered, until now.
This one is recommended for the horror movie enthusiast, fans of history, pop culture, and nostalgia.
4 stars
To this day, no matter how low budget or how old the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre is, every time I think about it, I get a chill down my spine. That’s really saying something considering the era I grew up in. The seventies and early eighties had the most chilling horror movies of any decade, IMHO.
Let’s face it, the film is very straight forward. While one might manage to squeeze out some tepid arguments for alleged allegory or symbolism, it pretty much is what it is. I don’t think it’s the kind of movie one should bother scrutinizing for some hidden message or meaning. However, the author of this book makes a valiant effort to find one.
However, this book is centered around - ‘The Terrifying Times: A Cultural History” as it states in the title, examining the culture of the seventies decade and how this impacted the popularity of the movie, the way critics reacted to it, and how the movie itself impacted the horror genre, as a whole.
The 1970s was a violent decade. Looking back on it now, it was a very bleak period time. With the political uncertainly in the Nixon administration, the war in Vietnam, prolific serial killers, the Patty Hurst saga, the poor economy, and even darker changes in rock music, with the likes of Alice Cooper and his brand of ‘shock rock’, made the timing ripe for this movie.
The budget for the movie was rock bottom, which meant filming the movie was an interesting prospect. The author describes how the movie was shot, the extreme temperatures, the camera angles, the type of film, everything the enthusiast would want to know, sharing insights from the actors, and the various interviews they’ve given over the years.
But, the parts I found the most interesting was the nostalgia and laws pertaining to movie content at the time, which was very vague and could be interpreted any which way. As a result, TTCM was looped in with the likes of "Deep Throat”, despite the lack of sexual content in the movie, because of the mob funding behind the two films, and because it had no redeeming moral qualities.
The history behind how hitchhiking went from being cool to becoming a possible, maybe even probable, death sentence is also interesting and called to mind a few mass killings- the one in Houston, to be specific, that I’d completely forgotten about. I remember seeing hitchhikers quite often growing up and I still shake my head at how stupid is to hitch a ride and equally stupid to offer one.
Later there would be more critical backlash from some who blamed the violence for crimes committed after its release and even Johnny Carson blasted it on ‘The Tonight Show’- but he was hardly the only one.
As Gunnar Hansen would later explain:
“When you are involved in a project like that, particularly if you’re visible, like being the killer, you get blamed for a lot of society’s problems. I was at a chamber concert, and during intermission, this Philadelphia dowager comes up to me and says, ‘You know, Gunnar, there were 12 people murdered today in New York City, and it’s your fault’. I’m usually made speechless by comments like that. But, I think that a lot of people think that movies like that are the cause of a lot of problems, when I think they’re symptomatic of societal issues. And to my mind, though I’m not a psychologist, ( the movies), probably are harmless or at least let people work through some misery… My answer is that the misery is there, and the film simply uses that misery.”
The Texas connection is also of great interest to me as well, and I enjoyed having book move closer into the present by analyzing another dark Texas based thriller, ‘No Country for Old Men’.
The book is organized, and is a terrific bit of unique history, making some valid points as to the psychology of violence. Some opinions are a bit of a stretch, but overall this is one of the better analytical books about horror movies, I ‘ve read in a long time. However, the author did, on a couple of occasions, decide to add personal opinions on various topics, such as religion or politics, which could be off putting to a broader audience. I consider this an unprofessional faux pas, no matter if I agree or disagree with his comments.
Also, it is worth pointing out that the author relies heavily on interviews, magazine articles and documentaries for his sources, but, he also kindly provides clickable links to the articles he used as reference, which is nice if you have the digital format of the book.
Overall, I enjoyed the trip back in time, which brought back some memories-and a few nightmares, but also taught me some things I didn’t know, and reminded me that some things will never change. Still, no matter what has come and gone in the decades since this movie became a cult hit, it is still one of the most unnerving movies I’ve ever seen. It is interesting to read how it all came together and the way it epitomizes and parallels the violence and unease of the decade, which is something I never considered, until now.
This one is recommended for the horror movie enthusiast, fans of history, pop culture, and nostalgia.
4 stars
May 30, 2019
Tobe Hooper’s slasher classic, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, premiered in 1974 and the horror genre has never been the same. The grotesque story about a group of unfortunate teens stumbling across a farmhouse of horrors immediately sparked praise and outrage from audiences and critics. Now, author Joseph Lanza peels back the celluloid cover and delves into the tumultuous early ‘70s, exploring the political and social climate that ultimately led to one of the most influential horror movies ever made.
Some might look at this book in hopes of discovering more behind the scenes details. While Lanza offers up some interesting tidbits from the film, his primary concern is with placing Hooper’s film in a historical and cultural context. The film itself is infamous for shocking audiences with its graphic violence and gore— and yet, as Lanza effectively suggests, the film is about much more than a chain saw wielding madman.
A slew of serial killers. Political chaos in the days after Watergate. An oil crisis. A changing urban legend landscape. These were the real horrors and tensions 1974 audiences were living with that, whether intentional or not, influenced the film.
Lanza spends most of his time bouncing from many of these points, offering up cultural explanations and how they tie back to the original film, with special emphasis on President Nixon’s downfall and various serial killers of the time. Some of these feel more thought out than others, particularly a section discussing the national movement to curb hitchhiking. Even if others feel like a bit of a stretch, it’s hard to argue with Lanza’s well-constructed logic.
Part of this is because of his meticulous research. Sourced with a wide array of endnotes, each chapter is packed to the brim with quotes and stories— so much so that occasionally sections diverge so far from the film Lanza has to drag everything back into focus. It’s sometimes frenetic, but even this is effective. After all, this short period of time was culturally frantic, and the reading experience simply matches that.
For a behind the scenes look at the film, there might be better options. However, for a look at the culture from which the movie evolved, Lanza provides a compelling read.
Note: I received a free ARC of this book through NetGalley.
Some might look at this book in hopes of discovering more behind the scenes details. While Lanza offers up some interesting tidbits from the film, his primary concern is with placing Hooper’s film in a historical and cultural context. The film itself is infamous for shocking audiences with its graphic violence and gore— and yet, as Lanza effectively suggests, the film is about much more than a chain saw wielding madman.
A slew of serial killers. Political chaos in the days after Watergate. An oil crisis. A changing urban legend landscape. These were the real horrors and tensions 1974 audiences were living with that, whether intentional or not, influenced the film.
Lanza spends most of his time bouncing from many of these points, offering up cultural explanations and how they tie back to the original film, with special emphasis on President Nixon’s downfall and various serial killers of the time. Some of these feel more thought out than others, particularly a section discussing the national movement to curb hitchhiking. Even if others feel like a bit of a stretch, it’s hard to argue with Lanza’s well-constructed logic.
Part of this is because of his meticulous research. Sourced with a wide array of endnotes, each chapter is packed to the brim with quotes and stories— so much so that occasionally sections diverge so far from the film Lanza has to drag everything back into focus. It’s sometimes frenetic, but even this is effective. After all, this short period of time was culturally frantic, and the reading experience simply matches that.
For a behind the scenes look at the film, there might be better options. However, for a look at the culture from which the movie evolved, Lanza provides a compelling read.
Note: I received a free ARC of this book through NetGalley.
July 17, 2019
Add my voice to the chorus of "I really wanted to like this book." Sadly, I thought it was kind of a mess. Parts of it were somewhat interesting but there are cultural/historical events mentioned that I have no idea how they relate to either the themes or the actual production of Texas Chain Saw Massacre. That's what I expected from the title of the book so this is a real let down.
March 14, 2019
*thank you to Netgalley and Skyhorse Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
2 stars.
Yeah so this wasn't for me. I was expecting something a but more interesting and more about the movie than facts about what may or may not have happened back in history when the massacre had taken place. I think this is one of those books that is for those fans who want all and every shread of information there is on this event. So for me, I'd give this a pass. I'm glad I got the chance to read it but I will pass it along in the hopes that it finds its way into those peoples hands who would love it.
2 stars.
Yeah so this wasn't for me. I was expecting something a but more interesting and more about the movie than facts about what may or may not have happened back in history when the massacre had taken place. I think this is one of those books that is for those fans who want all and every shread of information there is on this event. So for me, I'd give this a pass. I'm glad I got the chance to read it but I will pass it along in the hopes that it finds its way into those peoples hands who would love it.
September 8, 2021
Takes a low-budget slasher film that made an impact on pop culture, and turns it into a work of authentic art that reflects the fear, uncertainty, insanity, and moral topsy-turvy that was the early 1970s.
Really, this book is a cultural history of the United States in the 1970s, with the film serving as a background and something of a minor character. As I kept reading, I kept comparing to our own uncertain and topsy-turvy decade of the 2020's, and kept thinking: 'We survived the 1970s ... I think we can make it out of the '20s okay then'.
Really, this book is a cultural history of the United States in the 1970s, with the film serving as a background and something of a minor character. As I kept reading, I kept comparing to our own uncertain and topsy-turvy decade of the 2020's, and kept thinking: 'We survived the 1970s ... I think we can make it out of the '20s okay then'.
January 19, 2020
Promising premise, and starts out well, but it becomes clear about halfway through that this would have made a better article than a book. The writer's politics also intrude in strange ways, as when he mocks people concerned about overpopulation and global warming in the seventies, or laughs at the way gun safety argued that America was a uniquely violent country. One to miss: just watch the amazing film again instead.
December 20, 2018
unfortunately I didn't like it as much i was hopping to .
December 14, 2023
Well, that was an incoherent mess.
January 29, 2022
This book was 100% different from what I expected! I thought it would be a look at how the film has affected the entertainment industry and the film’s socio-cultural effects—-boy, was I wrong! By examining the cultural and social events happening in the world around the forming, writing, filming, and initial releasing of the film, the author firmly placed the film in its historic and cinematic context. I felt the book was decently written, even if some of the comparative pieces were a bit of a stretch…. It feels counterintuitive to say that I enjoyed this book—but I did.
January 12, 2022
To see more reviews check out MI Book Reviews.
I got an ARC of this book.
I wanted to love this book. I really did. It was a mess and not in that fun way that kept me entertained. Instead it was just a constant “what does this have to do with anything?” mess. There wasn’t all that much about the movie itself. Instead it was just retellings of things that happened around the time the movie was being filmed. Very few of the things were even connected back to the movie.
I stopped about 30% through to watch five of the eight movies in the franchise. The first 30% connected to the movie more than the last 70% did, so I was convinced I needed to watch everything I could to really get everything from this book. I didn’t. If you want random stories of killings then this book is for you. If you want long descriptions of other movies, perfect. If you want to learn anything new about the franchise, go to wikipedia. I learned more from wikipedia than I did this book.
There were a few interesting points that really did give an insight into the movie, but if I had been alive when the movie was coming out, then none of it would have been news. It was interesting to learn about the efforts around stopping hitchhiking. It was something I wasn’t aware of and added this extra element of ignorance to the main characters, but gave them so much more depth. It was interesting.
The language choices the author used were clearly dated for the entire discussion of one of the characters. Yes, the movie made in the 70’s used certain terms. If I check my calendar, I am not surprised to see that this is forty-five years later and language has changed. It was disappointing that an editor did not catch the ableist language. Language that even my grandmother who still says super awful things all the time knew was wrong.
In the last few chapters that really dealt with the movie and how it was received, there were interesting quotes from the actors and actresses. Though, again, wikipedia was a better resource as wikipedia was able to stay on topic.
Overall, I am a fan of the franchise, but this book didn’t really add anything of value. There were a few points here and there that I really found interesting. I just don’t see what this book was trying to do. I have read other social critiques and they were more cohesive and in-depth. I am just disappointed. I hope I am just someone who didn’t get it and that this book is amazing. The franchise is such an important part of horror history that I want a book like this to exist to give it context, but I think this one fell short of what it set out to do.
I got an ARC of this book.
I wanted to love this book. I really did. It was a mess and not in that fun way that kept me entertained. Instead it was just a constant “what does this have to do with anything?” mess. There wasn’t all that much about the movie itself. Instead it was just retellings of things that happened around the time the movie was being filmed. Very few of the things were even connected back to the movie.
I stopped about 30% through to watch five of the eight movies in the franchise. The first 30% connected to the movie more than the last 70% did, so I was convinced I needed to watch everything I could to really get everything from this book. I didn’t. If you want random stories of killings then this book is for you. If you want long descriptions of other movies, perfect. If you want to learn anything new about the franchise, go to wikipedia. I learned more from wikipedia than I did this book.
There were a few interesting points that really did give an insight into the movie, but if I had been alive when the movie was coming out, then none of it would have been news. It was interesting to learn about the efforts around stopping hitchhiking. It was something I wasn’t aware of and added this extra element of ignorance to the main characters, but gave them so much more depth. It was interesting.
The language choices the author used were clearly dated for the entire discussion of one of the characters. Yes, the movie made in the 70’s used certain terms. If I check my calendar, I am not surprised to see that this is forty-five years later and language has changed. It was disappointing that an editor did not catch the ableist language. Language that even my grandmother who still says super awful things all the time knew was wrong.
In the last few chapters that really dealt with the movie and how it was received, there were interesting quotes from the actors and actresses. Though, again, wikipedia was a better resource as wikipedia was able to stay on topic.
Overall, I am a fan of the franchise, but this book didn’t really add anything of value. There were a few points here and there that I really found interesting. I just don’t see what this book was trying to do. I have read other social critiques and they were more cohesive and in-depth. I am just disappointed. I hope I am just someone who didn’t get it and that this book is amazing. The franchise is such an important part of horror history that I want a book like this to exist to give it context, but I think this one fell short of what it set out to do.
May 7, 2019
Context, context, context. It helps enrich lots of things: For instance, a seminal horror film.
It might be enough for some that TCM is just a landmark film in its respective genre, but it's always enlightening to get a better grasp on just what was going on leading up to and during the writing, production, and release of the movie. It's not big news that film draws from current/recent events, but somehow that's still often lost on people when you're talking about scary movies which, I'll admit, have near-innumerable titles with no subtext or theme to acknowledge.
Functioning more of a history book than a collection of production notes, those looking for behind-the-scenes pearls should probably look elsewhere to get the best bang for their buck; Lanza does deliver hefty amounts of information (mostly drawing from Gunnar Hansen's quotes), but, again, the point of this work is to get a feel for what the world was like, to give one a better idea of why it made the figurative splash that it did.
There's parts of the book that diverge from the movie that I sort of forgot what we were talking about or what the chapter was trying to achieve (chapters on Nixon and various serial killers spring to mind), and I can see the argument that some of the content here isn't as effective of a ground-layer for the film's success (or infamy) as the author would suggest, but it's incredibly interesting nonetheless. The categorization seems to be more along the lines of subject matter, and not time per se, so expect some jumping back and forth. It's a bit of a juggle at points to visualize what happens where in the lead-up to the movie, and I'd imagine especially so for those who don't have much insight into the film.
All in all, anyone seeking to appreciate The Texas Chainsaw Massacre to any greater degree can benefit here. Come for the contextualization, stay for the quickie lessons in the Watergate scandal and San Francisco's struggle with keeping their streets safe.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Skyhorse Publishing for the advance read.
It might be enough for some that TCM is just a landmark film in its respective genre, but it's always enlightening to get a better grasp on just what was going on leading up to and during the writing, production, and release of the movie. It's not big news that film draws from current/recent events, but somehow that's still often lost on people when you're talking about scary movies which, I'll admit, have near-innumerable titles with no subtext or theme to acknowledge.
Functioning more of a history book than a collection of production notes, those looking for behind-the-scenes pearls should probably look elsewhere to get the best bang for their buck; Lanza does deliver hefty amounts of information (mostly drawing from Gunnar Hansen's quotes), but, again, the point of this work is to get a feel for what the world was like, to give one a better idea of why it made the figurative splash that it did.
There's parts of the book that diverge from the movie that I sort of forgot what we were talking about or what the chapter was trying to achieve (chapters on Nixon and various serial killers spring to mind), and I can see the argument that some of the content here isn't as effective of a ground-layer for the film's success (or infamy) as the author would suggest, but it's incredibly interesting nonetheless. The categorization seems to be more along the lines of subject matter, and not time per se, so expect some jumping back and forth. It's a bit of a juggle at points to visualize what happens where in the lead-up to the movie, and I'd imagine especially so for those who don't have much insight into the film.
All in all, anyone seeking to appreciate The Texas Chainsaw Massacre to any greater degree can benefit here. Come for the contextualization, stay for the quickie lessons in the Watergate scandal and San Francisco's struggle with keeping their streets safe.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Skyhorse Publishing for the advance read.
April 18, 2019
I have to give a nod to the author for the sheer scope of the net cast in this book. It gives a very comprehensive, and for the most part, engaging, overview of the times in America and elsewhere. Covered are details not only of true crimes, drug culture, and the origins of urban legends, but weird psychology and politics. As a millennial (who, full disclosure, has never seen The Texas Chain Saw Massacre), I finished reading the book feeling like I knew a lot more about the 60s and 70s than I ever learned in school.
In addition to being packed with information, the writing style had enough bite and definition to it to feel right at home with its subject matter and make the read entertaining. I did feel that sometimes that same pursuit of style, however, got the narrative thread a little off track. There are lengthy comparisons between Nixon and movie characters that are a stretch at best, and complete non-sequiturs at worst. There were many passages that were confusing due to the fact that it was unclear whether the text was espousing the author's actual viewpoint, or merely reflecting the feelings of people who the subjects of the paragraph. A slightly stronger editorial hand might have been in order, not only to refine the narrative clarity but to weed out typos and formatting issues.
I also thought that the text could have taken a more critical view of the creative minds behind the film, where it instead seems to fall a little too willingly into the man-with-a-vision, whatever-it-takes-to-get-the-shot trope.
Overall I did enjoy the book though, and would recommend it to both film buffs and Americana history nerds. The final chapter is especially resonant as it cross-cuts analysis of No Country For Old Men with Texas Chain Saw Massacre's resurgence in the 80s and 90s.
In addition to being packed with information, the writing style had enough bite and definition to it to feel right at home with its subject matter and make the read entertaining. I did feel that sometimes that same pursuit of style, however, got the narrative thread a little off track. There are lengthy comparisons between Nixon and movie characters that are a stretch at best, and complete non-sequiturs at worst. There were many passages that were confusing due to the fact that it was unclear whether the text was espousing the author's actual viewpoint, or merely reflecting the feelings of people who the subjects of the paragraph. A slightly stronger editorial hand might have been in order, not only to refine the narrative clarity but to weed out typos and formatting issues.
I also thought that the text could have taken a more critical view of the creative minds behind the film, where it instead seems to fall a little too willingly into the man-with-a-vision, whatever-it-takes-to-get-the-shot trope.
Overall I did enjoy the book though, and would recommend it to both film buffs and Americana history nerds. The final chapter is especially resonant as it cross-cuts analysis of No Country For Old Men with Texas Chain Saw Massacre's resurgence in the 80s and 90s.
May 24, 2019
Thank you so much to Skyhorse Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Anyone that knows me knows that I’ve been obsessed with horror movies since a very young age (thanks Mom and Dad). I love that this author wrote basically a tell all about how the movie idea came to be and all of the history behind it.
When the movie first premiered in 1974 some viewers were engrossed while others were disgusted. Due to its violence and gore it was actually banned from many countries and pulled from US theaters because of its extreme violence. Tobe Hooper didn’t let that stop him though and the movie ended up being called one of the most influential horror movies of all time.
I loved how this book touched on what all went on in the 1970s that inspired certain aspects of the movie. It incorporated so much political views, other serial killers in the US, and racism and sexism. It was more than just a horror movie, it included a lot that was going on at the time.
Tobe Hooper touched on such a violent decade and made this book so much more than just about the horror film. Even though the budget for the movie was slim, he made it work and now there has been numerous sequels to the movie that seems to have made horror movies.
His writing style and details about the history of the 70s was so enjoyable to read and I learned many new things that I didn’t know about then. This was a great book if you’re into The Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies and want to hear more about the backstory.
Anyone that knows me knows that I’ve been obsessed with horror movies since a very young age (thanks Mom and Dad). I love that this author wrote basically a tell all about how the movie idea came to be and all of the history behind it.
When the movie first premiered in 1974 some viewers were engrossed while others were disgusted. Due to its violence and gore it was actually banned from many countries and pulled from US theaters because of its extreme violence. Tobe Hooper didn’t let that stop him though and the movie ended up being called one of the most influential horror movies of all time.
I loved how this book touched on what all went on in the 1970s that inspired certain aspects of the movie. It incorporated so much political views, other serial killers in the US, and racism and sexism. It was more than just a horror movie, it included a lot that was going on at the time.
Tobe Hooper touched on such a violent decade and made this book so much more than just about the horror film. Even though the budget for the movie was slim, he made it work and now there has been numerous sequels to the movie that seems to have made horror movies.
His writing style and details about the history of the 70s was so enjoyable to read and I learned many new things that I didn’t know about then. This was a great book if you’re into The Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies and want to hear more about the backstory.
November 8, 2021
Let me be clear about one thing from the off: this was an incredibly dry read. All the blurbs on the cover talking about how clever and witty and entertaining the author is must come from people who somehow are reading something very different from what I got (which is possible.) This is as dry as a textbook, and I think that's part of why it took me even longer than I'd already guessed it might for me to finish. (I'd been ready for the eventuality it would take me a while, even with my strong interest in the subject matter, but yeesh.)
That being said, I did find the cultural history surrounding the original TCM film and its creation fascinating, and it gave me a lot to consider in regards to how the political and social climate of any horror film impacts the way it is made and thus in turn, impacts the audience. There are so many things jam-packed into the film that are lost on audiences today (particularly, those of us who weren't born and living to have seen it back in the day) as part of what made it so tense and terrifying. A great many things are shown and slipped in that added to the sense of realness in the film for those audiences who first saw it when it debuted, because they reflected so many aspects of America at the time. And knowing that really changes the understanding of the media itself and why it had such an extreme reaction from audiences upon release.
Lanza's writing is dreadfully boring. It didn't do much of anything to attempt to engage me, but all the same, I'm glad I read this. It gave me plenty to chew on and helped me reevaluate my opinion of the film (which was already positive, but lacked some of the depth this helped to give me.) I'd only really recommend reading it if you're a fan of the film AND a history nerd.
That being said, I did find the cultural history surrounding the original TCM film and its creation fascinating, and it gave me a lot to consider in regards to how the political and social climate of any horror film impacts the way it is made and thus in turn, impacts the audience. There are so many things jam-packed into the film that are lost on audiences today (particularly, those of us who weren't born and living to have seen it back in the day) as part of what made it so tense and terrifying. A great many things are shown and slipped in that added to the sense of realness in the film for those audiences who first saw it when it debuted, because they reflected so many aspects of America at the time. And knowing that really changes the understanding of the media itself and why it had such an extreme reaction from audiences upon release.
Lanza's writing is dreadfully boring. It didn't do much of anything to attempt to engage me, but all the same, I'm glad I read this. It gave me plenty to chew on and helped me reevaluate my opinion of the film (which was already positive, but lacked some of the depth this helped to give me.) I'd only really recommend reading it if you're a fan of the film AND a history nerd.
July 28, 2019
while i appreciate the cultural context used to clarify the conditions under which the film was started, along with what was going on in america at the time, it does seem as if lanza is trying to pad a longread magazine article into book length by the time everything's said and done. the chapter on no country for old men's cinematic adaptation, especially, is a bit of a stretch. most of the information regarding the making of the film is drawn from prior sources, as well, so it's not as if the author has a whole lot of new points to make, either.
well-written, well-researched, and certainly interesting in terms of tying in various serial killers -- a stronger focus on that subject would've strengthened the book immensely -- it's really not necessary, but certainly works as a clearinghouse of information for anyone wanting a quick and dirty introduction to the film.
well-written, well-researched, and certainly interesting in terms of tying in various serial killers -- a stronger focus on that subject would've strengthened the book immensely -- it's really not necessary, but certainly works as a clearinghouse of information for anyone wanting a quick and dirty introduction to the film.
April 12, 2020
An enjoyable and perceptive examination of the iconic horror film. I learned quite a bit about the 1960s and 70s from this author's "cultural history" approach. The only problem is that, in the final few chapters, the focus upon--and the connections to--the actual film becomes more and more tenuous. Near the end of those final chapters, the film itself almost seems to be an afterthought--briefly added into the final few pages in order to maintain the connection to the premise of the book. Still, though, this is a revealing and enlightening analysis of a film which has had an incredible impact on the national cinematic psyche.
January 14, 2025
It shouldn't be that hard for an experienced writer to put together a solid book that doesn't set out to do much more than map out the basic cultural, social, and political context of America in the early 1970s to contextualize the horrors of this historic film. But like some kind of writerly Sideshow Bob, Lanza can't help but step on an endless variety of rakes that hit him squarely in the face – from his bizarre obsession with Alice Cooper to his endless reactionary haranguing of every early voice to engage with environmentalism or civil rights to the most basic errors of grammar, phrasing, and punctuation. Just as a random example, he uses the word "albeit" four times within the first two sentences of a paragraph before going on to describe Linda Blair's head making a "350-degree turn" [sic] on the following page. Sadly, the end result an incoherent and poorly written monograph by someone who vastly overestimates his own abilities, lacking the kind of research chops or rhetorical strength to give this any kind of weight as a meaningful reflection on this important film.
June 1, 2019
While this was an interesting read on some darker times that were in the decade, or years after, the release of the film, I felt it wasn't as good as I was hoping. I was expecting more similarities between stories, something to show that the title was meant to be that way. I wasn't expecting gripping tales or mysteries, but just something that would keep my attention and say "wow that's crazy how that happened". Unfortunately, I was just really bored. There were some chapters that actually caught my attention, but most of them were just told in a very flat narrative format. Sounded too much like a history book you read in grade school. I felt that if the narrative took a different form, perhaps more engaging, then this would be so much better.
July 21, 2020
**Disclaimer: I was provided a review copy of this book, through NetGalley. It came in the form of an early epub. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this, but please know that the free copy did not affect my thoughts.**
Although I wasn't born when it was released, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre still managed to make a big impact on my life. I may have watched it 25 years or more after it first debuted, but that didn't stop it from being a monumental viewing experience, or from becoming one of my favourite movies of all-time. While it hasn't topped Black Christmas as my de facto favourite horror film, it's definitely in the top ten, and perhaps even in my top five. It's something I'll never forget, and that's especially true of the night I first watched it: a night when my friend and I were home alone at his family's country house, after arriving there and feeling on edge, because it seemed like a stranger had been in the house and/or the barn in the backyard. Needless to say, it was the perfect time to watch such a thing.
For the reasons mentioned above, it should come as no surprise that Joseph Lanza's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and its Terrifying Times piqued my interest when I first saw it, shortly after joining NetGalley. I jumped at the chance to learn more about the movie, and while it took me quite a long time to get to and read through the book, I enjoyed the dearth of information that the author provided. Simply put, this is a very extensively researched affair, and an obvious passion project. It's long, detailed and doesn't hold anything back.
From the looks of things, the author or his publisher decided to change the title of this project before it was released. On Amazon, I now see it listed as The Texas Chain Saw Massacre: The Film that Rattled a Nation. Both titles work, but I honestly prefer the original, which I mentioned at the top of this review.
What you really need to understand is that this isn't just a comprehensive history of a great, timeless, disturbing and influential horror films. One which happens to be considered as an all-time great. It's a history of everything to do with the movie, meaning its director's past and everything that led up to its creation. This doesn't just take planning into account. No, there's lots of talk about the time period, including the 60s and 70s, as well as the feeling of unease that came with certain movements.
There's even an extensive part about disturbing murders that took place around the same time. Terrible killings that influenced the movie and had people in parts of the United States on edge, and rightfully so. As I said, this book is very in-depth.
To be honest, the depth that Joseph Lanza went into is both a positive and a negative here. If you're planning to read this because you think it's going to be quick. enjoyable and easy to read, you may be disappointed. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and its Terrifying Times is so detailed that it can be a bit of a chore to read at times. It's not easy to get through as a result, but that doesn't mean that it's bad. It just means that it won't be for everyone.
Check this out if you're a super fan, but be prepared for an information overload. One that isn't entirely about the movie itself. It's a solid and interesting read, though.
Although I wasn't born when it was released, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre still managed to make a big impact on my life. I may have watched it 25 years or more after it first debuted, but that didn't stop it from being a monumental viewing experience, or from becoming one of my favourite movies of all-time. While it hasn't topped Black Christmas as my de facto favourite horror film, it's definitely in the top ten, and perhaps even in my top five. It's something I'll never forget, and that's especially true of the night I first watched it: a night when my friend and I were home alone at his family's country house, after arriving there and feeling on edge, because it seemed like a stranger had been in the house and/or the barn in the backyard. Needless to say, it was the perfect time to watch such a thing.
For the reasons mentioned above, it should come as no surprise that Joseph Lanza's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and its Terrifying Times piqued my interest when I first saw it, shortly after joining NetGalley. I jumped at the chance to learn more about the movie, and while it took me quite a long time to get to and read through the book, I enjoyed the dearth of information that the author provided. Simply put, this is a very extensively researched affair, and an obvious passion project. It's long, detailed and doesn't hold anything back.
From the looks of things, the author or his publisher decided to change the title of this project before it was released. On Amazon, I now see it listed as The Texas Chain Saw Massacre: The Film that Rattled a Nation. Both titles work, but I honestly prefer the original, which I mentioned at the top of this review.
What you really need to understand is that this isn't just a comprehensive history of a great, timeless, disturbing and influential horror films. One which happens to be considered as an all-time great. It's a history of everything to do with the movie, meaning its director's past and everything that led up to its creation. This doesn't just take planning into account. No, there's lots of talk about the time period, including the 60s and 70s, as well as the feeling of unease that came with certain movements.
There's even an extensive part about disturbing murders that took place around the same time. Terrible killings that influenced the movie and had people in parts of the United States on edge, and rightfully so. As I said, this book is very in-depth.
To be honest, the depth that Joseph Lanza went into is both a positive and a negative here. If you're planning to read this because you think it's going to be quick. enjoyable and easy to read, you may be disappointed. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and its Terrifying Times is so detailed that it can be a bit of a chore to read at times. It's not easy to get through as a result, but that doesn't mean that it's bad. It just means that it won't be for everyone.
Check this out if you're a super fan, but be prepared for an information overload. One that isn't entirely about the movie itself. It's a solid and interesting read, though.
June 14, 2019
When people ask, "What is the best horror movie of all time?" there are usually two answers. They are "Halloween" (1978) and "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" (1974). I might be partial in reviewing this book because I am strongly in the corner of Texas Chainsaw Massacre being the best horror movie ever made. I might be partial in saying that without The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, there is no Halloween. Most of the reason for my love of Texas Chainsaw Massacre" is because the quality, the way that it is shot, and the way that it feels like a documentary exploitation film instead of a movie. There has been many book and films that delve into the "Texas Chainsaw Massacre", the struggles during filming, and the culture impact of the distribution and reaction to the film. Joseph Lanza hits on these things but his exploration of "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" is a little different than any other I have read.
Joseph Lanza makes a strong case that "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" is not so much a horror movie as it is a reflection of the things that are happening in the world at the time of filming. From American politics to Texas serial killers, Lanza argues that a film like the "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" coming out in this time only made sense. This is a movie that gained traction because it is nothing more than a mirror to the way America was living and this terrified the audience the most. Honestly the horror of the movie starts with a hitchhiker. Lanza mentions that at this time, there is a fear of picking up hitchhikers, that something that was seen in the 60s as a culturally acceptable thing has turned into something dangerous. So the whole idea of picking up the man was something that was a new danger. This is just an example of the depths of the fear that the Texas Chainsaw Massacre explores. For the modern horror fanatic, this is a great history, showing that what we see as a great movie actually has so much cultural nuance and importance that it makes it even scarier. I might be partial because I love this film and will just about read anything about it. I can see where some people just might not be into it, but for anyone who loves horror movies, even if "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" is not your favorite film, this is mandatory reading.
I received this as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Joseph Lanza makes a strong case that "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" is not so much a horror movie as it is a reflection of the things that are happening in the world at the time of filming. From American politics to Texas serial killers, Lanza argues that a film like the "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" coming out in this time only made sense. This is a movie that gained traction because it is nothing more than a mirror to the way America was living and this terrified the audience the most. Honestly the horror of the movie starts with a hitchhiker. Lanza mentions that at this time, there is a fear of picking up hitchhikers, that something that was seen in the 60s as a culturally acceptable thing has turned into something dangerous. So the whole idea of picking up the man was something that was a new danger. This is just an example of the depths of the fear that the Texas Chainsaw Massacre explores. For the modern horror fanatic, this is a great history, showing that what we see as a great movie actually has so much cultural nuance and importance that it makes it even scarier. I might be partial because I love this film and will just about read anything about it. I can see where some people just might not be into it, but for anyone who loves horror movies, even if "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" is not your favorite film, this is mandatory reading.
I received this as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 20, 2019
My wife found me this book at our local library. I'm not sure why she choose this book for me being as I've never seen The Texas Chain Saw Massacre before. But I do now!
I was a film studies minor in college. So I have read my fair share of books about film; especially scholarly works. This recollection of the film process of the legendary 1974 horror in regards to the tumultuous events plaguing our nation in the early 70s is a scholarly work. But it was for the most part a very enjoyable read.
Author Joseph Lanza does a fantastic job recalling how Tobe Hooper, Gunner Hansen and crew filmed a hellacious flick in near Hell-like conditions. Lanza is also a very good storylteller when recalling the events of the Watergate scandal and episodes of quite a few ghastly murders that were sensationalized in the early 1970s. He should write true crime novels; if he doesn't already. But when Lanza tries to get philosophical and make allusions between art and inspiration, the writer fails.
Joseph Lanza used some really odd phrases in this book. But Lanza makes it a habit to reuse them those phrases an annoying Nth degree. I've never heard the term 'venting their spleen' before. But Lanza has and he reuses the phrase a total of 8 times in this 240-ish page book. (He might have used it more, but I lost count after 8.) Plus, all his rambles over the The Club of Rome could have been omitted from the book for more information over some glossed over elements I would have been interested in learning about, like the Jonestown tragedy. I understand that group of international thinkers is our modern version of the Illuminati. But Lanza couldn't make me actually care about their philosophy.
When the author is in his element, I couldn't put this book down. I've gone nearly 42 years without seeing Tobe Hopper's opus. I also really didn't care too see it. But thanks to Joseph Lanza, I really want to watch it now!
I was a film studies minor in college. So I have read my fair share of books about film; especially scholarly works. This recollection of the film process of the legendary 1974 horror in regards to the tumultuous events plaguing our nation in the early 70s is a scholarly work. But it was for the most part a very enjoyable read.
Author Joseph Lanza does a fantastic job recalling how Tobe Hooper, Gunner Hansen and crew filmed a hellacious flick in near Hell-like conditions. Lanza is also a very good storylteller when recalling the events of the Watergate scandal and episodes of quite a few ghastly murders that were sensationalized in the early 1970s. He should write true crime novels; if he doesn't already. But when Lanza tries to get philosophical and make allusions between art and inspiration, the writer fails.
Joseph Lanza used some really odd phrases in this book. But Lanza makes it a habit to reuse them those phrases an annoying Nth degree. I've never heard the term 'venting their spleen' before. But Lanza has and he reuses the phrase a total of 8 times in this 240-ish page book. (He might have used it more, but I lost count after 8.) Plus, all his rambles over the The Club of Rome could have been omitted from the book for more information over some glossed over elements I would have been interested in learning about, like the Jonestown tragedy. I understand that group of international thinkers is our modern version of the Illuminati. But Lanza couldn't make me actually care about their philosophy.
When the author is in his element, I couldn't put this book down. I've gone nearly 42 years without seeing Tobe Hopper's opus. I also really didn't care too see it. But thanks to Joseph Lanza, I really want to watch it now!
January 4, 2023
Hard to go wrong writing about a DIY legendary film like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, but overall the book made me feel like I have Alzheimer’s. But maybe I have Alzheimer’s.
Great detail on the making of the film & some of the macabre things Tobe Hooper had gone through in real life, like being present when Whitman was picking people off at the Austin campus. There is also a lot of detail on the best known serial killers of the ‘70s to show that Chain Saw was tapping into the gruesome zeitgeist of the times. But then there seemed to be a lot of vague political hodgepodge thrown around. Environmentalism is oppressive, the media was too cruel to Nixon, any anti-Americanism is naive? Maybe the author wasn’t pushing these points but when he didn’t focus on journalistic recounting of the actual making of the film or activities of serial killers the book felt mushy and unfocused.
I was curious to see how he’d wrap it up in the end & the ending struck up an anti-supernaturalist/religion theme that I feel kind of got dropped early on. He had said that the strength of Chain Saw was that what we humans can do to each other is far more terrifying than visions of demons or witches. Which I do wholeheartedly agree with.
Great detail on the making of the film & some of the macabre things Tobe Hooper had gone through in real life, like being present when Whitman was picking people off at the Austin campus. There is also a lot of detail on the best known serial killers of the ‘70s to show that Chain Saw was tapping into the gruesome zeitgeist of the times. But then there seemed to be a lot of vague political hodgepodge thrown around. Environmentalism is oppressive, the media was too cruel to Nixon, any anti-Americanism is naive? Maybe the author wasn’t pushing these points but when he didn’t focus on journalistic recounting of the actual making of the film or activities of serial killers the book felt mushy and unfocused.
I was curious to see how he’d wrap it up in the end & the ending struck up an anti-supernaturalist/religion theme that I feel kind of got dropped early on. He had said that the strength of Chain Saw was that what we humans can do to each other is far more terrifying than visions of demons or witches. Which I do wholeheartedly agree with.
June 17, 2023
Crazy wall as book, or book as crazy wall. Charles Fort collation of oddities as argument.
An assortment of early-70s devilry, metaphorical and literal, arrayed to argue that the title film is both product and extension of what seemed to be in the air and the water--hitchhiking as utopian aspiration in Reich's The Greening of America vs. as hunting ground for serial killers, of whom there are many here; shortages and deindustrialization; indigenous Texas berserk; one supporting character as Nixon (feels thin); SF's 1970s berserk (Zodiac, Zebra murders, People's Temple, SLA) as somehow anticipated/narrativized in a preview where, supposedly, the audience revolted (feels thinner); Saw and Deep Throat as similarly profitable exploitation properties with Mob financing where nobody involved got rich. The earliest chapters draw the strongest connections to the curdling of the counterculture happening in life and getting parodied/alluded to/enacted onscreen.
An assortment of early-70s devilry, metaphorical and literal, arrayed to argue that the title film is both product and extension of what seemed to be in the air and the water--hitchhiking as utopian aspiration in Reich's The Greening of America vs. as hunting ground for serial killers, of whom there are many here; shortages and deindustrialization; indigenous Texas berserk; one supporting character as Nixon (feels thin); SF's 1970s berserk (Zodiac, Zebra murders, People's Temple, SLA) as somehow anticipated/narrativized in a preview where, supposedly, the audience revolted (feels thinner); Saw and Deep Throat as similarly profitable exploitation properties with Mob financing where nobody involved got rich. The earliest chapters draw the strongest connections to the curdling of the counterculture happening in life and getting parodied/alluded to/enacted onscreen.
November 2, 2021
Everyone has heard the story of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and It's Terrifying Times.
In this recount, the author Joseph Lanza transports the reader back to the tumultuous era of the 1970s defined by political upheaval, cultural disillusionment, and the perceived decay of the nuclear family in the wake of Watergate, the onslaught of serial killers in the US, as well as mounting racial and sexual tensions. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Its Terrifying Times sets the themes of the film against the backdrop of the political and social American climate to understand why the brutal slasher flick connected with so many viewers. As much a book about the movie as the moment, Joseph Lanza has created an engaging and nuanced work that grapples with the complications of the American experience.
Great detailed research!
In this recount, the author Joseph Lanza transports the reader back to the tumultuous era of the 1970s defined by political upheaval, cultural disillusionment, and the perceived decay of the nuclear family in the wake of Watergate, the onslaught of serial killers in the US, as well as mounting racial and sexual tensions. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Its Terrifying Times sets the themes of the film against the backdrop of the political and social American climate to understand why the brutal slasher flick connected with so many viewers. As much a book about the movie as the moment, Joseph Lanza has created an engaging and nuanced work that grapples with the complications of the American experience.
Great detailed research!
January 26, 2022
This was a delightful book on a subject that I would have thought I had no interest. The author does a great job of talking about the making of the film but what sets this book apart is his discussion of what was happening in the country as the movie was made and released and when sequels were made. The author presents an argument that the movie was, in part, a response to the New Age movement and the writings of people, such as the author of The Greening of America, who presented the U.S. as entering an age of peace and love. led by the counterculture movement.
Other authors have written about this time period, but the author focuses on the number of horrific crimes. The number of serial killers rose dramatically as well as political actors who engaged in violent behavior.
An outstanding book, well written and worthy of being read.
Other authors have written about this time period, but the author focuses on the number of horrific crimes. The number of serial killers rose dramatically as well as political actors who engaged in violent behavior.
An outstanding book, well written and worthy of being read.
May 24, 2021
one of the reasons i’ve always loved horror movies is because of the tonal match with current events. with every tragic event, there’s always a horror movie to follow which brings these issues to a much bigger light.
this book really capitalizes on those issues that often go untalked about or things we always think about but are too afraid to say. from serial killers, to hitchhikers, to the impending doom of the USA government, war, etc. the author covers it all.
i learned a lot about US history in this book, than i probably did in actual history class.
the only thing i falter this book for is for being longer than it should. there’s a lot of information in it which is always great to have, but sometimes too much information is simply too much.
this book really capitalizes on those issues that often go untalked about or things we always think about but are too afraid to say. from serial killers, to hitchhikers, to the impending doom of the USA government, war, etc. the author covers it all.
i learned a lot about US history in this book, than i probably did in actual history class.
the only thing i falter this book for is for being longer than it should. there’s a lot of information in it which is always great to have, but sometimes too much information is simply too much.
January 27, 2021
Lanza is a fantastic researcher, but when it comes to having that research cohere to a thesis about the film he is ostensibly writing about... well, there is much to be desired. That said, "Rattled Nation" is never a boring read. There is no shortage of trivia and ideas he brings to the fore. The last two pages in particular provide a thesis worthy of an entire book: the representation and demonization of Southern people in Hollywood productions from the 60s to 80s contributing to a widening of America's racial (and ultimately political) divide. I can't say that this offered as much insight into Chain Saw '74 as I wanted it to, but it was far from being a waste of time for hardcore fans.
June 30, 2019
Pretty good cultural history of the 1960s and 1970s surrounding the production and release of the infamous horror movie, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. From Nixon to the gas rationing to the Zodiac killings, this book takes you through everything going on the decade of the film's release. It really helps you understand why this movie was as horrifying as it was.
December 30, 2019
While the subtitle does say that it is a Cultural History, I still wanted a lot more of a behind the scenes rather than a socioeconomic history of the early 70s.
I got about a quarter of the way through when I decided I was done with the book. Though what I read was interesting, it wasn't enough to get me to finish.
I got about a quarter of the way through when I decided I was done with the book. Though what I read was interesting, it wasn't enough to get me to finish.
September 5, 2023
I didn't /hate/ this book, and some of the information was very interesting, but it became disjointed and repetitive after a few chapters. It felt like the author wanted to write a book on 70s true crime more than he wanted to write about TCM, and just thought that would be a good jumping-off point.
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