10 Best Horror Movies That Aren't Supernatural

A genre-defining horror classic that’s credited for influencing the slasher genre as we know it, Tobe Hooper’s grizzly low budget outing The Texas Chain Saw Massacre remains just as menacing now as it was when it first shocked audiences in 1974.

Claiming to be based on a true story (though actually only loosely inspired by serial killer Ed Gein), this flick follows a group of teenagers who stumble upon a rural Texan home while on their way to visit a family homestead. Instead of acquiring the petrol they were hoping for, however, they’re greeted by the large, mute, masked-wearing Leatherface (Gunnar Hansen). From herein, viewers are treated to a frenzy of carnage and insanity featuring meat hooks, cannibalism, and – of course – a chainsaw.

In contrast to what the film’s title suggests, there is surprisingly little violence shown onscreen. Despite this, however, the film manages to create an intense and depraved atmosphere thanks to Hooper’s frantic and abstract direction combined with genuine carcasses and chainsaws being used in the production.

While this film may look rather tame (and even a little silly) compared to today’s gory delights, its timeless impact on the genre cannot be understated.