The Texas Chainsaw Massacre - Teaser Trailer Analysis

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a 1974 American independent horror film directed by Tobe Hooper, and written collectively by Hooper and Kim Henkel. While presented as a true story involving the ambush and murder of a group of friends on a road trip in rural Texas by a family of cannibals, the film is completely fictional. He produced on a budget estimated around $140,000, Hooper cast relatively unknown actors for his film, drawing people mainly from the areas surrounding the Texas filming locations. When the film was completed, Hooper struggled to find a distributor for the film because of the graphic depiction of violence; when he did secure a distributor the MPAA gave the film an R-rating, instead of the PG-rating Hooper had intended. Upon the completion of post-production, filmmakers found it difficult to secure a distributor willing to market the film, due to the graphic content.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre teaser trailer uses intense heartbeat to increase the mood of the scenes that flash on the screen. It makes the audience feel on edge. Because of the short clips used, they fade in and out of focus, and show a dark mood. Because of the scenes that are shown, the storyline isn’t given away, which makes the audience wants to go and see it.

At the start of the trailer, a date is flashed on the screen which makes it seem like it is real life, and this actually happened. The main car/van is driving alone on the road with a dirt track and dust rising as it continues into the distance. It quickens the pace, and keeps the audience in suspense, and gets them ready for what is happening.