Director Tobe Hooper discusses his breakthrough hit, THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (1974), one of the most successful and influential horror films ever made.
The Funhouse is a SUCH an underrated gem. Not a masterpiece, but a real gem of a movie. I compare it John Carpenter's "The Fog", another underrated gem dwarfed by the success of "Halloween."
The line the cook delivers, 'Look what your brother did to the door!' as he and the hitchiker drag Sally into the house, makes me laugh every time-as Tobe himself says, that line delivered in the midst of the horror is 'insane', but alos genuinely funny, at least to me.
I always try to make sure that The Texas Chainsaw Massacre gets mentioned when the subject of the all-time greatest horror movies arises. Most agree (myself included) that The Exorcist is #1. That's usually followed by Halloween at #2, then people like to go for Freddy or Jason after that. That's usually where I stop 'em with TCM. It tends to be overlooked for some reason, perhaps because of its' bare-bones production value, but I think that just adds to its' edginess. Nosferatu (1922), Psycho, Carrie, Jaws, The Shining, The Thing (1982), The Hills Have Eyes (2006), and The Strangers, are some others I think should be in the top 10 or 20. I even think Deliverance should be considered a horror movie!
Most people seem to be of the opinion that Speilberg was the true driving force behind Poltergeist & Hooper played the role of director, due to an impending strike. I recently read filmmaker Warren Buckland's study on Poltergeist & contrary to popular belief, he is of the opinion that Hooper had enough creative control & that the movie was indeed a Tobe Hooper film & Hooper's comment regarding him completing half the movies storyboards, was probably an understatement.
Thank you for briefly touching upon the score of TCM...one of the best scores, and experimental music recordings of all time. Would love to hear Tobe go into more detail about it. Cheers Mick!
I remember staying up really late in the UK to see TCM for the first time, which had previously been banned. I had only ever seen the chase scene where she runs into the house on a TV clip, but never the full thing. And loved every second of it.
These interviews are great stuff. They would make excellent material for bonus features on bluray releases of the films of the interviewees. Just sayin'.
I love your interviews Mick. Please, don't let Stephen King out. I would love to see an interview and you can share some of your history together with us. There are to many Stephen Kings interviews on RUclips, but I know yours could be really brilliant for fans of the both of you. And please hurry with your new anthology because we are anxious to see that.
Andrés Rojas We're working on it. Timing and geography have everything to do with it. And as for NIGHTMARE CINEMA, we'll be pulling back the curtain of secrecy at Monsterpalooza this weekend. You should see it in cinemas early in 2018.
It would've been cool to ask him briefly about Spider-Man when he was given the project from Cannon Films who had produced Hooper's films which I first thought of worst not seeing it but just guessing it, but watching Invaders from Mars was great but was very odd and weird in tone, Texas Chainsaw 2 was fucking good but funny.
I had a terrifying dream about Leatherface once. Me and a black friend were wondering around a boarded house in the 70s that was kinda delalitated and I decided to go upstairs. Then Leatherface came after me, picked me up and locked me in a room with a door that had a square cut out at the bottom like a cat flap only it wasnt and everytime I wanted to try escape, I had to peak my head out to see if he was coming. Each time I did that it was terrifying cause he could cut my head off.
Not on video, but the POST MORTEM podcast is new in its sixth year, with over 100 interviews, with new shows every Wednesday. Check out POST MORTEM WITH MICK GARRIS wherever you get your podcasts.
Is the Horror genre going up or down?? It's kind of hard to say. We see some good gems post-2000. But I don't like "satire" or "wink wink" at the camera. To me it's like seeing a war hero wear a mini-skirt or an American football player doing ballet. Either do it straight or F'ing forget it.
(Continued) Eventually when I was sure he wasnt there, I kicked down the wooden door and got out but then he appeared in the hall and chased me so I jumped out the window like in the movie. Then my black friend came up to check on me and Leatherface cut off her toes. May not sound scary but the dream was horrifying. More scary than the movie. I always thought it would work well in a TCM remake.
Too bad his career went down hill after Lifeforce. Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 was a nail in the coffin because since then most of his later films were mostly negative while others went to video releases and other times he directed were on television.
Met him at London comic con 2017 weeks before he died. He made time for everyone and was a true gentleman. So glad I got to talk to him.
Rest In Peace, Tobe.
Glad you're enjoying them. Tobe is as great a guy as he is a filmmaker.
He will be missed. [GWO]
R.I.P Tobe you will be greatly missed.
A very subtle man, dropping gems like it’s nothing.
Eli Roth once said:
“I’d prefer to be in Tobe’s mind, but that’s never gonna happen!”
A really insightful interview. Personally, I`ll never see this great movie as a comedy, I was too terrified watching it!
Tobe Hooper is one of my all time favorite directors. Thanks so much for doing these interviews!
God, his voice is amazing.
The Funhouse is a SUCH an underrated gem. Not a masterpiece, but a real gem of a movie. I compare it John Carpenter's "The Fog", another underrated gem dwarfed by the success of "Halloween."
The line the cook delivers, 'Look what your brother did to the door!' as he and the hitchiker drag Sally into the house, makes me laugh every time-as Tobe himself says, that line delivered in the midst of the horror is 'insane', but alos genuinely funny, at least to me.
Eden Mayhew ya damn fool!! Ya ruined the door!! 😣
TCM 1974 and Salems Lot are my favorites
RIP Tobe Hooper
RIP you legend.
R.I.P. Mr Hooper
I always try to make sure that The Texas Chainsaw Massacre gets mentioned when the subject of the all-time greatest horror movies arises. Most agree (myself included) that The Exorcist is #1. That's usually followed by Halloween at #2, then people like to go for Freddy or Jason after that. That's usually where I stop 'em with TCM. It tends to be overlooked for some reason, perhaps because of its' bare-bones production value, but I think that just adds to its' edginess. Nosferatu (1922), Psycho, Carrie, Jaws, The Shining, The Thing (1982), The Hills Have Eyes (2006), and The Strangers, are some others I think should be in the top 10 or 20. I even think Deliverance should be considered a horror movie!
For me, it’s roughly:
I- The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2
II- The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
III- Halloween
IV- The Exorcist
V- The Hills Have Eyes
Most people seem to be of the opinion that Speilberg was the true driving force behind Poltergeist & Hooper played the role of director, due to an impending strike.
I recently read filmmaker Warren Buckland's study on Poltergeist & contrary to popular belief, he is of the opinion that Hooper had enough creative control & that the movie was indeed a Tobe Hooper film & Hooper's comment regarding him completing half the movies storyboards, was probably an understatement.
Two cups. Strong. RIP Tobe Hooper.
"The Saw is Family"
Thank you for the wonderful nightmares Tobe
R.I.P. TOBE HOOPER
Damn sad loss. :( RIP.
Thank you for briefly touching upon the score of TCM...one of the best scores, and experimental music recordings of all time. Would love to hear Tobe go into more detail about it. Cheers Mick!
I remember staying up really late in the UK to see TCM for the first time, which had previously been banned. I had only ever seen the chase scene where she runs into the house on a TV clip, but never the full thing. And loved every second of it.
These interviews are great stuff. They would make excellent material for bonus features on bluray releases of the films of the interviewees. Just sayin'.
+Ilppo Niemelä Thanks. Many of them do end up on some discs. Glad you're enjoying them!
I love your interviews Mick. Please, don't let Stephen King out. I would love to see an interview and you can share some of your history together with us. There are to many Stephen Kings interviews on RUclips, but I know yours could be really brilliant for fans of the both of you. And please hurry with your new anthology because we are anxious to see that.
Andrés Rojas We're working on it. Timing and geography have everything to do with it. And as for NIGHTMARE CINEMA, we'll be pulling back the curtain of secrecy at Monsterpalooza this weekend. You should see it in cinemas early in 2018.
LOOK WHAT YOUR BROTHER DONE TO THE DOOR! I love that line.
Thank you Mick! I've loved Tobe since I was a kid. A very underrated talent. Did he mention his future plans at all?
Yeah, he’s dead now lol
Hooper sure was thirsty during this interview.
Fantastic interview, Mick.
Texas chainsaw legend
Fascinating interview. Very interesting story behind Chainsaw. Great interview, Mick.
Like great artists, he was erratic and unpredictable. TCM is a masterpiece, however. Nobody can dispute that.
Genius
R.I.P. Tobe
It would've been cool to ask him briefly about Spider-Man when he was given the project from Cannon Films who had produced Hooper's films which I first thought of worst not seeing it but just guessing it, but watching Invaders from Mars was great but was very odd and weird in tone, Texas Chainsaw 2 was fucking good but funny.
if his films had failed, Hooper could have done well as a voice actor, it's very unique.
Tobe died way too young. Still can't believe we lost Tobe and George Romero in the same year (2017).
*RIP*
He was wearing the same shirt as the hitchhiker
I'd much rather hang out with Tobe Hooper/Carpenter/Geroge Romero than Speilberg/Lucas
Chris Dell not me it would be an honor to hang out with all of them
I'd love to hang with all the afore mentioned. Trail blazers for cinema the all of them.
Thx 1138 or Jaws are incredible movies but yes, they chose the bland side of film industry
@@NTEDOG561 Ok...get on that casting couch.
@@chrisdell5679 you first Chrissy I hear your a natural
RIP Tobe, check out my reviews for his films 'The Funhouse' and 'Invaders From Mars'
I had a terrifying dream about Leatherface once. Me and a black friend were wondering around a boarded house in the 70s that was kinda delalitated and I decided to go upstairs. Then Leatherface came after me, picked me up and locked me in a room with a door that had a square cut out at the bottom like a cat flap only it wasnt and everytime I wanted to try escape, I had to peak my head out to see if he was coming. Each time I did that it was terrifying cause he could cut my head off.
lovely interview
i watched the funhouse (1981) the other day. and eaten alive
Any new interviews coming out?
Not on video, but the POST MORTEM podcast is new in its sixth year, with over 100 interviews, with new shows every Wednesday. Check out POST MORTEM WITH MICK GARRIS wherever you get your podcasts.
Is the Horror genre going up or down?? It's kind of hard to say. We see some good gems post-2000. But I don't like "satire" or "wink wink" at the camera. To me it's like seeing a war hero wear a mini-skirt or an American football player doing ballet. Either do it straight or F'ing forget it.
One by one they leave us
(Continued) Eventually when I was sure he wasnt there, I kicked down the wooden door and got out but then he appeared in the hall and chased me so I jumped out the window like in the movie. Then my black friend came up to check on me and Leatherface cut off her toes. May not sound scary but the dream was horrifying. More scary than the movie. I always thought it would work well in a TCM remake.
Too bad his career went down hill after Lifeforce. Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 was a nail in the coffin because since then most of his later films were mostly negative while others went to video releases and other times he directed were on television.
That title is super awkward in light of his death.
His directorial career went down hill after Lifeforce.