Supposedly based on a true story (not going to fact check), the horrific tale follows a group of young folk on a road trip in Texas back country. They manage to find hell in the form of a cannibalistic family that’s looking for a tasty meal.

It has a gritty realism and a timeless feel even though it was made in the mid-70s. The tone is extremely dark with themes of kidnapping, torture, and psychological unrest. The hillbilly family that does all the killing is batshit crazy with Leatherface being the worst. The character of Leatherface is supposed to be modeled after Ed Gein, a serial killer who wore the skin of his victims.

At no point do you expect any of the group to survive this murderous family. They got chainsaws and a willingness to kill for fun, it won’t end well.

If there is one thing this movie teaches us, it’s: don’t mess with Texas.

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