Cannon Films Inc. If you've seen The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, you don't forget it. Shot in an almost documentary style, it called to mind experimental theatre rather than the slasher genre. Marilyn Burns thought she was taking a nice road trip to the country to see a family house back in 1974. Instead she and her pals encountered the baddest seeds in the business - cannibalistic refrigerators the Sawyers. The film launched Tobe Hooper and gave birth to a favourite of the horror movie scene: a chainsaw-waving, cross-dressing man mountain known as Leatherface. Hooper's had his moments since (Poltergeist), but subsequent diminishing fortunes could well have led to his agreeing to direct a follow up in 1986 for shameless franchise-hijackers Cannon Films (they of Death Wish 2-4 and Superman: The Quest For Peace fame). Aficonados were surprised by the broad satirical storyline and the "bigger and better" approach to the set pieces. The first film featured very little in the way of blood. Part 2 drenched the viewer in it. An additional layer of peculiarity was applied in the form of Dennis Hopper, who topped the line up in an already-intense sequel. He was a movie star in a series where the only stars wore skin masks. Hooper felt his previous instalment was part-comedic and that he'd simply accentuated that idea here. Interesting theory Mr Hooper you legend but we're not buying it - TCM 2 is truly the most batsh*t continuation of them all...!
I am a journalist and comedian who enjoys American movies of the 70s, Amicus horror compendiums, Doctor Who, Twin Peaks, Naomi Watts and sitting down. My short fiction has been published as part of the Iris Wildthyme range from Obverse Books.