A24 secures rights to Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise

Things are finally moving forward! According to the industry magazine Deadline, the renowned film studio A24 has apparently secured the rights to the "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" franchise. However, a final deal has not yet been signed.

A series adaptation is to mark the beginning, in which director JT Mollner, producer Roy Lee and actor Glen Powell are involved. However, Powell will not be taking on the lead role. A number of exciting "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" projects were already under discussion beforehand. These included a film by "The Strangers" maker Bryan Bertino and a version of "Leatherface" developed by Taylor Sheridan. Jordan Peele also expressed his interest in the horror series on several occasions.

The original from 1974, directed by Tobe Hooper, is still considered a milestone in the horror genre today. With a budget of just 140,000 US dollars, the film grossed around 31 million – even though the filmmakers were robbed of their profits at the time. In 1983, New Line Cinema took over the distribution rights for the franchise, which has produced nine films to date. Over the years, numerous spin-offs were also created in the form of comics, novels and video games that expanded the Leatherface universe.

The cult status of "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre": why Leatherface still scares people today

When Tobe Hooper released his film "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" in 1974 with little more than a tiny budget, a lot of courage and a good dose of subversion, nobody could have guessed that it would become one of the longest-lasting and most influential horror franchises. The film cost just 140,000 US dollars to make, but grossed around 31 million and is still considered one of the most profitable independent horror films of all time. What's more, it became a milestone that has shaped generations of filmmakers and fans. But what accounts for the cult status of this series, which now comprises nine films, various novels, comics and video games?

A shock for the 1970s

1974 was a decade of upheaval for cinema: post-war Hollywood was beginning to crumble and new filmmakers were venturing into more realistic and grittier material. While Alfred Hitchcock had already opened a door with "Psycho" (1960), Hooper's work was like a slap in the face.

The film didn't look like a typical studio production, but like a found amateur video, raw, dirty and frighteningly realistic. The shaky camera, the documentary flair and the explicit but often only hinted at violence created an intensity that many viewers found unbearable. At a time when US society was characterized by images of Vietnam and mistrust of state institutions, Hooper struck a nerve: the horror no longer came from monsters or vampires, but from the family next door in the country.

Leatherface: the sinister face of horror

At the heart of the series is the character Leatherface. With his mask made of human skin and the iconic chainsaw, he became the epitome of the slasher killer. Unlike later horror icons such as Freddy Krueger or Chucky, Leatherface has no supernatural powers and no distinct sense of irony. Instead, he is a mixture of monstrous threat and tragic figure: a tool of his family, intimidated, childlike and at the same time mercilessly brutal.

It is precisely this ambivalence that makes him so disturbing. Leatherface is not a glamorous villain, but a victim of his surroundings who becomes a perpetrator himself. His mask is not just a disguise, but an identity – depending on which skin he wears, his behavior also changes.

From underground to mainstream

After its groundbreaking success, "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" quickly developed into a franchise. In 1983, New Line Cinema secured the rights and continued to expand the universe. With sequels, prequels and reboots, attempts were made to recapture the horror of the original again and again – sometimes with more, sometimes with less success.

Despite the fluctuating quality, interest in the franchise remained unbroken. Every new film, whether the grotesque sequel "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2" (1986), the dark remake by Marcus Nispel (2003) or the most recent Netflix version from 2022, became an event in the horror community. Time and again, the series has managed to win over new generations of fans while simultaneously appealing to the nostalgia of old fans.

A mirror of society

The cult status of the series is also due to the fact that it always reflects social issues. Hooper's original told the story of a degenerate family that feels left behind by the modern world and finds a grotesque way to survive in cannibalism. In the 2000s, the remake picked up on the fears after 9/11 and the loss of trust in authority by turning police officers and villagers into accomplices. This makes "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" more than just a series of bloody scenes: It is a commentary on fear, violence and the disintegration of social structures.

Influence on horror cinema

There is hardly a modern horror franchise that has not been influenced by Hooper's work. The slasher film in its current form – from "Halloween" to "Friday the 13th" and "Scream" – owes a great deal to "Texas Chainsaw Massacre". The idea of a group of young people in a remote area being hunted by a masked killer became a standard formula.

The film also set stylistic standards: the raw camera work, the chainsaw soundscape and the agonizingly long chase scenes have long since become iconic elements of the genre. Even outside of horror films – in music, fashion or art – Leatherface is a recognizable pop culture figure.

Cult despite controversy

Of course, the series was not without its critics. Many accused the films of glorifying violence or serving pure exploitation cinema shock value. However, it was precisely the crossing of boundaries that made them a topic of conversation – and thus a cult. Anyone who talks about horror films cannot ignore "Texas Chainsaw Massacre". Its cult status is also reflected in the wider pop culture: parodies, cartoon references, countless Halloween costumes and collector's items prove that Leatherface has long since outgrown the status of a film character.

Conclusion: An immortal nightmare

Almost 50 years after its debut, "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" is more than just a horror film – it is a piece of film history. The series embodies the terror of the unknown, the fear of the other and the nightmare that horror lurks in apparent normality. Whether new series, reboots or spin-offs: as long as cinema tells horror stories, Leatherface will not put down his chainsaw. The cult status of the series is therefore assured – not despite, but precisely because of its raw brutality, social relevance and unforgettable imagery.