TCM Essay

"Compare the two versions of TCM. HOW and WHY are they similar or different, paying close attention to ideas/theories about the ways genres repeat themselves and the wider contextual factors that have influenced any changes."

One of the most striking differences between the 1974 Texas Chainsaw Massacre and the 2003 version is that the remake is noticably more graphic and visually gory in terms of killings being more detailed, almost leaving nothing to the viewers imagination. Perhaps the original was less gruesome due to the social and political values at the time. In comparison to the present day western society we live in where certain things that are seen as acceptable would certainly not have been appropriate to an audience in the 1970’s. In the 2003 TCM, the disfigured face of the killer is exposed to the audience in full view, whereas in the original TCM his identity has been kept a mystery. By not revealing the killers identity the audience is kept in suspense as they are forced to use their own imagination to create a visual character. Although despite this difference between the two versions they both still maintain the same iconography of the leather face, a trademark feature of the killer in both films as he takes the faces of his victims in exchange for his.

Another conventional narrative similarity being followed in the two versions is that of the cliché group of teenagers who so happen to get stuck in the middle of nowhere. This is a stereotypical trait of the ‘slasher genre’ which has featured in other movies over the years. The teens are usually stranded with no communication to anyone, and in a location where no one is able to help them or save them from the cold-blooded killer. This scenario is intended as a scare-tactic in order to frighten the viewer to a point where they mentally put themselves in that position, although they know what to expect the fact still remains that the victims are helpless. However the difference between the group of teenagers in the original and the 2003 version is the purpose of their journey. In the 1974 version they appear to be travelling to visit a grave, whereas in the 2003 remake they are travelling to buy marijuana. This is a highly significant difference as it represents a reflection of the zeitgeist, possibly suggesting that the use of ‘soft drugs’ is now more accepted by society, or possibly that more teenagers are using drugs in this age.

In the TCM films, sex is associated with death as all teenagers seen to be having an intimate relationship are always the first (or eventually) to end up getting slaughtered by the killer. This is another generic convention of most horror films and is a consistent theme in both versions of the film. The message behind this could possibly be that sex is a sinful act as the teenagers are seen to be punished by the killer.

The final girl is a horror film convention that specifically refers to the last female character alive in the narrative to confront the killer. The final girl plays a crucial part in both versions of TCM, however she is portrayed differently. The final girl in the 2003 version is seen to play a strong role in defending herself as she manages to kill one of Leatherfaces relatives and also causes damage to Leatherface himself, whereas in the 1974 version the final girl is represented as a passive character who was incapable of posing any threat to the killer. This definitely reflects the changes in women’s rights and emphasises the significant progress that has been made towards equality of the genders, it suggests that women are now just as capable as men.

The ending of the films continue with the same theme of the development in women’s rights and their capability. In the end of the original TCM, the final girl is reliant on somebody else to take her back to shelter and safety, however in the new film the final girl is represented in a different way as she steals a police car in order to get home. This once again instigates that women have achieved independence in society and pushes forward the idea that women no longer need to rely on men.