Comparison of the two Texas Chainsaw Massacre films

The original Texas Chainsaw Massacre was released in 1974 and was perhaps one of the greatest slasher films of its time as it was the first film which began to reveal the horrific traits and repertoire of elements which are now so commonly viewed in slasher films today. Due to the fact that it was so successful, the film was remade in 2003 and as technology has advanced so rapidly since the 1970's, it was able to capture the horror and the graphic detail to its full extent making it just as successful. This essay will compare and contrast both versions and attempt to make a judgement as to which one is more successful in achieving its purpose.

The mask is an important symbol in which both films have. The fact that the villian cuts his victims faces off and wears them as a mask adds to the plot and resulted in the villian earning the nickname "Leatherface". The mask was first introduced as a tool to establish suspense and horror within in the film which was successful, therefore, newer films made then borrowed the idea of a masked villian, for example Halloween and Scream. Although the mask is a symbol within the film, the film is recognised by the chainsaw. This extreme tool is used as a weapon throughout both films in order for it to be gory enough to appeal to their target audience which consists predominantly of C1 C2 and perhaps even D teenage males who experience voyeuristic pleasures in watching the characters within the film suffer, particularly the final girl.

The original film is a lot less graphic and gory due to the technology used back in 74, therefore it does not create the same impact that the newer version does. The 2003 version allows the audience to understand each character easier so that we can establish a relationship with them so that once they are murdered, the audience is able to empathise with the final girl and are therefore left satisfied at the end when she finally escapes. Propps theory is challenged as the “princess” in need to be saved actually takes on the role of “the hero” which can be considered to challenge patriarchal ideology despite her being the subject of voyeuristic pleasure from a male audience.

To conclude, both films are overall very similar as they portray the same ideologies yet their content and the use of editing and direction is completely different in order to appeal to its newly developed younger target audience. When viewing the 1974 version today, some may view it as perhaps a classic however younger audiences may see it as as almost comedic. Male ideologies are challenged when “Leatherface” is shown to be wearing a kitchen apron which in turn also affiliates with the film “Psycho” and the idea that a “woman” is the cause of such mayhem to occur.

Similarites and Differences of Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Iconography
1974- the main iconography from this version of the film is that of the famous mask which is used by the character leatherface.
2003- the same mask is used however with the use of make up more detail was put into the mask and also the same chain saw is used, but it is used more often in the newer film compared to the older film

Setting
1974 - the setting of the film is in America, Texas the film is based in the desert with other scenes featuring the house of leatherface and different shots of the outdoors in that area.
2003 - the film features in the same area of texas, the film shows all other bits of the old film but inside the house it is quite different, in the older film they didnt go into leatherfaces headquaters as much but in the new film characters are acctually shown moving about.

Narrative
1974 - narrative of this movie follows the narrative of a classic slasher movie/ kids get stuck in the middle of nowhere looking for shelter and get killed one by one
2003 -The narrative in this movie is the same/ kids in a van get trapped in the middle of nowhere where they look for shelter and go into the wrong place and get killed

Characters
1974 -
final girl
main male character
other members of their group
leatherface
leatherface family

2003 -
final girl
main male character
other members of their group
leatherface
leatherface family
Girl who kills herself and her brother
People who lived in the caravan

Themes
villain vs. hero ( both)
final girl/ good vs. Evil (both)