Horror was forever changed with the release of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre in 1974, a low-budget masterpiece that brought a new (and still unmatched) realism to the genre. The film was of course directed by Tobe Hooper, who proved himself to be a true master of horror right out of the gate.
Today we’re incredibly sad to report that our beloved icon died Saturday in Sherman Oaks, Calif., according to the Los Angeles County Coroner. He was 74. The circumstances of his death were not known
While he hasn’t directed as of late, with Djinn (2013) being his final horror entry, Hooper’s 1974 The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is one of the most influential horror films to both this writer and the community. A reaction to the Vietnam War, it was fueled by anger and rage, giving birth to Leatherface who continues his reign of terror in Lionsgate’s Leatherface next month. He also directed its wild sequel, the 1986 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2.
He would go on to direct Eaten Alive, the “Salem’s Lot” television movie, and The Funhouse before working with Steven Spielberg on one of the greatest horror films of all time, Poltergeist.
Hooper followed Poltergeist with Lifeforce, Invaders from Mars, Night Terrors, The Mangler, Toolbox Murders, and Mortuary.
Hooper even directed Robert Englund in the pilot episode of TV series “Freddy’s Nightmares,” which dug deep into Freddy Krueger’s origin story, as well as episodes of “Amazing Stories”, “Night Visions”, “Masters of Horror”, and “Tales From the Crypt”. Oh yeah, and he also directed the music video for Billy Idol’s “Dancing With Myself”!
Another master gone. His legacy never forgotten. He’s with George now…
