this documentary is contained on the bonus disc of the original "Texas Chainsaw Massacre ultimate edition released in 2006.the documentary was originally produced in 2000,though i think it has some material added since then.either way,it's a pretty good documentary,with revealing interviews with many of the original cast and crew.it reveals a few surprising things about the production itself,but also about the aftermath.i was surprised at how much money the movie made.keep in mind this is 1974.as far as documentaries go,this is one of the better ones.many documentaries merely repeat things everybody already knows,but this one has is refreshing,and actually shows new insight into the movie.it's also highly entertaining.at least i think so.i also like that it gives you updates on where the cast and crew are now.all in all,a very good documentary,well worth watching.for me "Texas Chainsaw Massacre":The Shocking Truth" is an 8/10
7 Reviews
Texas Chain Saw Massacre The Shocking Truth: Essential viewing for fans
Platypuschow16 November 2017
The final notable Texas Chainsaw Massacre documentary is by far the best. Mostly about the original movie it also dips its feet into the rest of the franchise and the legacy it has created.
With in depth interviews with all the stars, some gruelling backstage stories and further confirmation of what a complete tool Matthew McConaughey is.
I would have to say this is essential viewing for fans of the franchise, I not even being one still thought it was an entertaining piece but am glad to see the end of my TCM binge.
The Good:
Very thorough
The Bad:
Narration is awful
I simply don't see the appeal
Things I Learnt From This Documentary:
Taxidermy....armadillo...really!?
Hanging a person on a meathook rarely passes as PG
27hr working days are a thing
Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) sounds like worst movie set ever
The cast and crew of Texas Chainsaw Massacre got f'd in the a financially
The mafia are bad people to go into business with, who knew!?
With in depth interviews with all the stars, some gruelling backstage stories and further confirmation of what a complete tool Matthew McConaughey is.
I would have to say this is essential viewing for fans of the franchise, I not even being one still thought it was an entertaining piece but am glad to see the end of my TCM binge.
The Good:
Very thorough
The Bad:
Narration is awful
I simply don't see the appeal
Things I Learnt From This Documentary:
Taxidermy....armadillo...really!?
Hanging a person on a meathook rarely passes as PG
27hr working days are a thing
Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) sounds like worst movie set ever
The cast and crew of Texas Chainsaw Massacre got f'd in the a financially
The mafia are bad people to go into business with, who knew!?
Texas Chainsaw Massacre-The Shocking Truth
Scarecrow-8821 April 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Fascinating documentary detailing the behind-the-scenes development of the cult favorite Texas CHAINSAW MASSACRE, with telling interviews from cast and crew. You learn about all facets of the film's beginning to end, and the aftermath regarding it's popularity, featuring interesting comments about how difficult it was to shoot in the Texas heat, how certain aspects of it's design came about, and open discussions regarding many of it's most important scenes, acted and presented. I found art designer Robert Burns' comments most fascinating as it is obvious his disdain for director Tobe Hooper, and his negative reaction to the movie itself. Also brought up are the hostile feelings of several cast members towards Paul A Partain who stayed in character(..he was the whiny wheelchair bound crippled brother to Marilyn Burns' Sally Hardesty)really getting on their nerves, and how Robert Burns went about his duties at creating such an incredible atmosphere regarding animal bones. We find out about how nearly all involved were paid little for their services despite major box office gross. We listen to how Marilyn Burns was physically abused in her role, such as when she's hit across the head with a broom(.and especially when she leaps through a window reluctantly). I recommend this documentary to TCM die-hards for you're provided a wealth of info on the film. The interviews are quite candid, with few holding anything back. You can sense that the film's shoot was a very difficult experience for many people..the infamous dinner table scene was particularly grueling for those who were participants. Also brought up are the subsequent sequels, and how they were managed badly by studios, none able to match the intense and harrowing original masterpiece.
The Truth Behind Texas
Michael_Elliott20 March 2011
Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Shocking Truth (2000)
**** (out of 4)
This documentary from David Gregory is about as good as you could possibly hope for. In 75-minutes just about every detail on the making of the 1974 classic are covered through interviews with Tobe Hopper, Kim Henkel, Robert Kuhn, Marilyn Burns, Jim Siedow, Paul Partain and Gunnar Hansen among others.
We start off with Hopper discussing how he came up with the idea and we also get to hear about the various bad decisions that were made to get the movie in the can and many of these decisions would eventually lead the director, writer and cast to see none of the money the film would eventually make. It's clear that this wasn't a good film to be working on because of the tight schedule, incredibly hot Texas temperatures and the fact that many scenes inside the house had real animal carcases being used and this here didn't smell too well after being in the sun all day.
We learn about the troubles Siedow had beating Burns with a real broom and how the infamous dinner scene took over twenty-four hours of straight shooting. It's clear from everyone involved that this was an incredibly difficult time to be shooting and things didn't get any better after the movie was released because many people were robbed by the Mafia who turned out to be the ones releasing it to theaters? The film covers some of the controversy that hit the film overseas including Britain where it was banned.
The first hour takes a look at the original film while the other fifteen-minutes looks at the three sequels. It could be said that the sequels themselves deserve their own documentaries considering all the trouble that stalked them but Hopper does go over the butcher job Cannon done on part two and there's discussion of New Line wrecking the third film only to then have Columbia stop the fourth one from being released. It's rather amazing to hear how much trouble these four films had.
THE SHOCKING TRUTH does contain quite a bit of shock but fans of the series will certainly want to check this out as it contains a lot of great material and thankfully the majority of the cast members are on hand to share their stories.
**** (out of 4)
This documentary from David Gregory is about as good as you could possibly hope for. In 75-minutes just about every detail on the making of the 1974 classic are covered through interviews with Tobe Hopper, Kim Henkel, Robert Kuhn, Marilyn Burns, Jim Siedow, Paul Partain and Gunnar Hansen among others.
We start off with Hopper discussing how he came up with the idea and we also get to hear about the various bad decisions that were made to get the movie in the can and many of these decisions would eventually lead the director, writer and cast to see none of the money the film would eventually make. It's clear that this wasn't a good film to be working on because of the tight schedule, incredibly hot Texas temperatures and the fact that many scenes inside the house had real animal carcases being used and this here didn't smell too well after being in the sun all day.
We learn about the troubles Siedow had beating Burns with a real broom and how the infamous dinner scene took over twenty-four hours of straight shooting. It's clear from everyone involved that this was an incredibly difficult time to be shooting and things didn't get any better after the movie was released because many people were robbed by the Mafia who turned out to be the ones releasing it to theaters? The film covers some of the controversy that hit the film overseas including Britain where it was banned.
The first hour takes a look at the original film while the other fifteen-minutes looks at the three sequels. It could be said that the sequels themselves deserve their own documentaries considering all the trouble that stalked them but Hopper does go over the butcher job Cannon done on part two and there's discussion of New Line wrecking the third film only to then have Columbia stop the fourth one from being released. It's rather amazing to hear how much trouble these four films had.
THE SHOCKING TRUTH does contain quite a bit of shock but fans of the series will certainly want to check this out as it contains a lot of great material and thankfully the majority of the cast members are on hand to share their stories.
A terrifically entertaining and illuminating retrospective documentary
Woodyanders15 November 2009
Warning: Spoilers
This excellent and engrossing documentary offers a fascinating wealth of eye-opening comprehensive information on the many different aspects of the intense and harrowing horror cult classic "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre." Among the subjects discussed are how the story was inspired by real-life ghoulish serial killer Ed Gein's notorious exploits, how the opening shot was originally supposed to be of a dead dog instead of a dead armadillo, the stress and strain of shooting the picture during a severely hot and punishing summer in Texas, actor Paul A. Partain getting on everyone's nerves by constantly staying in character as whiny cripple Franklin, the devising of the catchy title, actor Jim Siedow really hitting actress Marilyn Burns with a broom (Burns' black eye was the genuine article as a direct result of this scene), Gunnar Hansen studying retarded children for his portrayal of Leatherface, the infamous diner sequence taking over a grueling whole day to film, the movie was cut in director Tobe Hooper's living room, the distributor Bryanston was a mob-affiliated outlet that pocked most of the picture's substantial profit, the film being panned in Britian until the late 90's, the movie becoming a massive cult phenomenon, and the troubled productions of the various sequels which followed in the original's highly influential wake. Moreover, such crew members as production designer Robert A. Burns and composer Wayne Bell get their well-deserved props for their outstanding contributions (ironically, Burns admits in his interview that he dislikes the film!). Mathhew Bell's gloomy narration and Mark Fox's properly discordant score perfectly add to the overall sterling quality of this superior documentary. Essential viewing for fans of the immortal '74 horror gem.
Dare you take a peek behind Leatherface's iconic mask?
Weirdling_Wolf5 September 2022
Truth is rarely stranger than the shocking reality of a determined crew of poorly paid, persistently sun-baked independent filmmakers shooting low budget game changer 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre! Dare you take a peek behind Leatherface's iconic mask???? It took A LOT of guts for genre genius Tobe Hooper to create his acclaimed horror masterpiece 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' (1973)...not to mention the blanched human skulls, stuffed armadillos, eerily reassembled cow skeletons, festering animal intestines, severed chicken heads, multitudinous mildewed bones, dessicated cartilage, mouldering dog carcases, ruptured roadkill, Head cheese, plus a million seething maggots, and, er, the Mafia! Aye!!!! They just DON'T make 'em like that any more!!!!
Wish it were longer to show in detail how this franchise got screwed...
benjaminsartin20 June 2021
My only knock on this would be that I wish it were longer so that more details could be released about how this franchise has been SEVERELY DAMAGED BY THE HIGHER UPS. From the First movie to the Return of TCM Next Generation everyone involved and the movies itself were handcuffed, cut, destroyed, pilfered upon, and straight screwed over in ways that only Hollywood can do. But I guess it's true what they say, the people with the money have the power. It's just sad.
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