Stephen King Was Terrified by This Horror Classic: "It Just Looks F*cking Real"

Nothing seems capable of frightening Stephen King, whose works have haunted millions for decades.

However, even a master of the genre like King can experience primal, chilling fear. It happened not while he was writing another novel but in an almost empty movie theater in Colorado in 1982.

Stephen King Was Terrified When He Saw 'The Texas Chain Saw Massacre' in Theaters

The movie that got under the master's skin was Tobe Hooper's cult classic, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. In an interview with Variety, the writer admitted that the movie had an impact on him:

“I was a young father and I was writing to stay ahead of the bill collectors. I was in the theatre almost by myself. That's when a movie really has a tendency to work on you, to get its cold little fingers under your skin.

You could tell that this print had been around for a while, and it's better for it, because it just looks f*cking real. [...] I mean, there are scenes in the graveyard … they're not extras, they're not Hollywood people at all. They look like they came from the nearest little Texas town.”

What Is 'The Texas Chain Saw Massacre' About?

Led by Sally and her disabled brother, Franklin, a group of young friends sets off on a road trip across Texas to check on their grandfather's desecrated grave. Along the way, they decide to stop at an old family farm.

Nearby lies a sinister dwelling adorned with grisly artifacts made of bone and leather. It is inhabited by a family of former slaughterhouse workers who survive by cannibalism.

The most terrifying member of the family is a hulking, mute maniac nicknamed Leatherface. He wears a mask made of human skin and wields a chainsaw with skill.

Despite Its Strict Budget Limitations, 'The Texas Chain Saw Massacre' Became One of the Most Iconic Horror Films

Tobe Hooper's movie is a textbook example of how limitations can become a source of incredible power. Filmed in just 32 days with a limited budget and virtually unknown actors in the authentic Texas wilderness, the film literally "simmered" in its own atmosphere.

The heat and stench of the sets, made of real animal carcasses and bones, made the crew feel nauseous, but this authenticity shines through in the film.

Rather than relying on an expensive soundtrack, Hooper used a cacophonous sound, nervous and shaky cinematography, and a haunting handheld camera.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre still affects the viewer physiologically, evoking an almost synesthetic sense of revulsion and panic.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'The Texas Chain Saw Massacre'?

• The Texas Chain Saw Massacre has 85% from critics and 82% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 7.4/10.

• On Letterboxd, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre scored 3.8/5.0.

Where to Watch 'The Texas Chain Saw Massacre'?

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is available to buy or rent on Amazon Prime Video.