The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

This week on Born to Watch, we dive into the horror landmark that changed the game: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974). Brutal, raw, and grimy in a way that still shocks today, this episode sees Whitey and Damo take on one of the most infamous cult classics ever made, with Morgz and Gow hilariously "noping out" after the first five minutes.

Despite its terrifying reputation, the team quickly notes something surprising: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre isn't about gore, it's about dread. Director Tobe Hooper weaponises your imagination with low-budget ingenuity, turning rural Texas into a sweat-drenched nightmare of implied violence, claustrophobia, and screaming madness.

Whitey and Damo break down how the film uses its documentary-style visuals to make you feel like you're inside the nightmare. They discuss the iconic opening narration, the genius use of real animal sounds in place of a traditional soundtrack, and the deeply uncomfortable "dinner scene," which remains one of the most disturbing sequences ever filmed.

The episode also explores the surprising lack of blood, the history of censorship surrounding the movie (which was banned for decades in the UK!), and why Leatherface, chainsaw-wielding, mask-wearing, and alarmingly agile, became an instant horror icon. There’s serious appreciation for how Texas Chainsaw influenced Evil Dead, Seven, Pulp Fiction, and even the style of Star Wars’ opening crawl.

Of course, this wouldn’t be Born to Watch without a few detours:

• Franklin and his endless whining take a brutal roasting, and deservedly so.
• Picking up hitchhikers is a bad move. Hitchhikers carrying photos of slaughtered cows—extra bad move.
• "Don't go in the house, mate" becomes the ultimate horror PSA.
• Damo tells the all-time story of accidentally picking up hitchhikers while having "Northern Beaches Gay Board Riders" accidentally stuck to his car door.

The cast of unknowns stayed unknown, most fading into cult obscurity. But the legacy of the film is undeniable, and the team argues that it might be the rawest and most authentic horror movie ever made.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• Why a minimal budget made Texas Chainsaw even scarier.
• The genius of Tobe Hooper's “no soundtrack” approach.
• How Sally Hardesty became the prototype for the Final Girl trope.
• That horrifying Grandpa scene and why it still messes us up.
• Whether Leatherface could qualify as CrossFit's most terrifying champion.

It’s loud, it's grimy, it’s uncomfortable, and it's a horror masterclass that still hits like a hammer to the skull.

Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your movie fixes!

Join the conversation:
Is The Texas Chainsaw Massacre the most disturbing horror film ever made?
Could Leatherface outrun Michael Myers?
Have you ever picked up a hitchhiker... and regretted it?

Drop us a voicemail at BornToWatch.com.au and be part of the show!

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