The brand new horror film Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022) has been available for streaming on Netflix since last Friday. The movie is a terrifying direct sequel to the original 1974 film, and already the ninth installment in the TCM series. Below, we’ll discuss the big question surrounding the film: is the story of Texas Chainsaw Massacre true?
Texas Chainsaw Massacre: fact or fiction?
The marketing surrounding the original 1974 film strongly suggested that the film was based on a “real story.” But the answer to whether Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a true story, is a bit more complicated. Fortunately, we can share that the story is largely fiction. Although, there are elements of the film that are inspired by the true crimes of killer and “body snatcher,” Ed Gein – also known as “the Butcher of Plainfield.”
Gein was known for exhuming corpses from cemeteries, and making his own keepsakes from their skin and bones. This was obviously an inspiration for a scene from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974). In this scene, one of the characters stumbles upon a room, with furniture made of human remains. Shortly after discovering the creepy interior, she is hung on a meat hook by the gruesome Leatherface.
The killer from Texas Chainsaw Massacre isn’t the only fictional character inspired by the “real life” abomination, Gein. For example, aspects of his case are also embroiled in the backstories of Norman Bates (Psycho, 1960), Buffalo Bill (The Silence of the Lambs, 1991, on Videoland and here on Pathé Home) and even a character from American Horror Story. Ed Gein is also referenced by Patrick Bateman in American Psycho (2000).
What exactly is the new “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” about, based on the true story?
Melody (Sarah Yarkin), her teenage sister Lila (Elsie Fisher) and their friends Dante (Jacob Latimore) and Ruth (Nell Hudson) leave for the remote town of Harlow, Texas – to start an idealistic new business venture. After accidentally stumbling upon Leatherface’s house, their dream rapidly turns into a nightmare. Leatherface has managed to keep himself hidden for some fifty years – but after being disturbed by the group, his blood lust is now greater than ever.
The new Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie has been available on Netflix since February 18th. Check out the trailer below.
Plot: Netflix
