A simple but extremely effective finale to a simple yet extremely effective story. Where most horror films attempt to shock audiences at the last hurdle or implement some sort of twist Tobe Hooper's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre leaves us with a much more disturbing image that doesn't aim to scare as much as it does to unsettle, attacking the mind rather than the nervous system. It is for its unorthodox approach to ending a film of the horror genre that makes this such an interesting final shot. Despite its savagery this is one of the most exquisite end shots in terms of its aesthetics. Leatherface manically swings his chainsaw around in a fit of rage, prompted by the escape of his prey. His gruesome mask is on full display, illuminated by the light of the rising sun, and like a sexualised title of a Disney classic truly showcases the beast inside the beauty. This shot doesn't end ambiguously. We know the girl escapes and that Leatherface has failed. The interesting aspect of this shot is the way it is able to encapsulate the entirety of the narrative to such an excellent extent that it is etched into the minds of its viewers. Simple, brutal marvellousness.
