'Texas Chainsaw Massacre'

Director: Tobe Hooper and Kim Henkel

'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' is a slasher horror film. It is renowned as a great slasher film and is one that is an obvious addidtion to the horror genre through its gory setting and use of iconography through weapons. It manages to be a very intellignet film as although it has a very gory setting, it doesn't show explicit gore. It's success is obvious as it was the most successful independent film until Halloween. It generated over $36 million compared to the $83, 532 that it was made for.

The scene 'Going out for a swim' is a good example that shows off the horror elements in the film:

Camera angles:

. From the setting of the scene, it feels as if we are intruding from the different angles shown, and intrusion is a big element of the horror genre.
. For example, the use of tracking the characters through a panning shot shows off the use of intrusion as it feels as if we are following them.
. There is also the use of a 'male gaze', in which it could feel as if we are intruding.

Point of view:

. There is a point of view shot when the characters are looking at the house.
. When the male character finds the tooth.
. We are supposed to see a lot of the horror elements through the eyes of the characters. For example, when the female character is in the room full of bones, we see the camera panning in her view.

Music/Sound/Silence:

. At first there is no music, which creates intensity.
. There is also the constant sound of the genrator.

Mise en scene/ Editing:

. Abandoned house - this is an obvious element of horror.
. From the outside there is light, however from the inside the house is dark, which relates to the horror genre very well.