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‘Texas Chain Saw Massacre’ Director Tobe Hooper Dead at 74

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Variety is reporting that seminal horror director Tobe Hooper has died at the age of 74. The cause of Hooper’s death is unknown at this time.

Hooper helped define modern horror film making with The Texas Chain Saw Massacre in 1974, bringing a combination of gritty realism and nightmarish visions to this classic of horror cinema.  Along with his contemporaries such as John Carpenter, Wes Craven, David Cronenberg, and George Romero, he took the horror film from the gothic castles of Europe to the turbulent modern age, and introduced the world to a dysfunctional family the likes of which had never been seen before on screen. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre became the blue print for future horror directors everywhere, and it is still unmatched in terms of the creepy scares it delivers, without the buckets of gore that many people assume the film contains. read more

The “Leatherface” Trailer is Here, Should We Be Excited?

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Yesterday the horror world went a bit nuts as the trailer was released (see below) for the new film Leatherface. Billed as a direct prequel to the 1974 Tobe Hooper classic The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Leatherface will tell us the backstory of young Jackson Sawyer who will become that chainsaw-wielding madman that we all know and love. But…do we need that backstory?

To quote the late Gunnar Hansen on the character Leatherface that he was the first to portray, “In a way, there is nothing behind the mask. That, I think, is why he is such a frightening character.” In other words, to see behind that mask would make him no longer frightening, no? read more

Leatherface Earns R-Rating from MPAA

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As predicted, the most recent stab at a Texas Chainsaw Massacre prequel, the upcoming slasher flick Leatherface, has garnered an “R” rating from the MPAA.  While this comes as no surprise, this is just one further step in the right direction for the eventual release of this film (the 7th sequel/prequel in the TCM franchise).  The MPAA bestowed the rating due to “strong bloody violence, disturbing images, language and some sexuality/nudity.”

Leatherface, which is set to star Hollywood veterans Lili Taylor and Stephen Dorff, will delve into the origins of the iconic killer from his childhood until his violent transformation.  This is similar territory to what 2006’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning attempted (and ultimately failed) to navigate.  In this version, the titular character will escape a mental hospital as a teenager (much like Rob Zombie’s attempt at explaining Michael Myers in 2007’s Halloween) and begin his well-known, bloody journey into horror movie infamy.  However, a new twist is added as there are a “group of teens” that participate in the mayhem and carnage, with only one ending up as the killer.  The “R” rating (for “Restricted”, of course) was expected, as no previous film in the Texas Chainsaw franchise has earned any rating less than that thus far. read more

Horror Hunting! Edition #30 – CT HorrorFest 2015!!!

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Welcome to the 2015 CT HorrorFest edition of Horror Hunting!  In this column we’ll feature items from horror film heavyweights The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Hellraiser.  Coincidentally, if you’re in the Danbury, CT area on Saturday July 18th you can meet the stars of those films and certified horror icons Gunnar Hansen (Leatherface) and Doug Bradley (Pinhead) at HorrorFest.  So let’s begin…..

“We have such sights to show you!” – Pinhead

Texas Chainsaw Massacre – Framed Poster (Etsy) read more

Horror Hunting! Edition #24

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    Welcome to another installment of the horror toy and collectable extravaganza, Horror Hunting!  In this edition we’ll be showcasing a cool custom piece from an emerging artist, along with a killer pre-order that satiate the blood-lust of a particular legendary film franchise.  Yet another snow storm is barreling down on the east coast, so for those of you stuck indoors for the next few days check out these scorching hot pieces that will make the winter suffering a bit more bareable…… read more

Horror Hunting! Edition #22

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Back from a brief hiatus, welcome to the very first installment of Horror Hunting! for 2015!  In case you haven’t heard, the second annual Connecticut HorrorFest will be emanating from the Matrix Conference Center in Danbury, CT on July 18th, 2015.  In honor of the first two horror superstar guests that have been announced, Doug Bradley and Gunnar Hansen, in this edition we will feature cool relics from their
respective film franchises.  Don’t forget to mark your calendars, because we’re only six short months away from the coolest and most important horror con on the east coast!  And away we go…….. read more