Whoever hears the word combination “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” immediately has images in his head – you don’t even have to have seen the film for that. With the original title, however, Tobe Hooper’s horror masterpiece would have had a much harder time…
With “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” (German distribution title: “Blutgericht in Texas”) director Tobe Hooper created an absolute masterpiece of terror cinema in 1974. No other film has had such a decisive impact on the backwoods slasher subgenre. After triggering enormous controversy at the time due to its depiction of violence (in Germany, for example, “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” was confiscated for more than two decades, even in the shortened version), it is now recognized as a milestone of U.S. cinema – the Museum Of Modern Art in New York even has a copy of the film in its collection.
The first sequel followed in 1986 (also directed by Tobe Hooper). Today, the franchise surrounding the cannibal Leatherface comprises a total of nine films, though by no means could each of the sequels and remakes match the disturbing, feverish intensity of the original film. But would the film have left just as big a mark on film history if it had been released under its original title?
THIS IS THE COMPLETELY ABSURD ORIGINAL TITLE OF “THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE “
Of course, “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” wouldn’t be a worse movie if it were called something else. And yet, the original title, as figurative as it is merciless, certainly did a lot to make the film a notorious cult classic. But how would it be if it were called “Head Cheese”?
That was one of several titles the film carried before it got its iconic final title – “Saturn In Retrograde,” “Stalking Leatherface,” or simply “Leatherface” (which was eventually the name of a 2017 prequel) were also possible title candidates (via New York Post).
“Head Cheese” not only has an absurd sound, but also evokes all sorts of unpleasant associations in advance – in fact, the term describes a kind of meat pie made from calves’ and pigs’ heads, but can also contain other animal body parts and organs. Not entirely inappropriate for a cannibal movie, of course, especially since Leatherface’s family are also former butchers who like to hang their (human) victims from meat hooks once in a while.
Despite this, a horror franchise called “Head Cheese” – even more so when it’s not fun splatter but a relentless shocker like “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” – is hard to imagine. Read the first sentence of this article again with the original title: “With ‘Head Cheese’ director Tobe Hooper created an absolute masterpiece of terror cinema in 1974” – hard to take seriously, isn’t it?
Good thing Hooper and screenwriter Kim Henkel realized this themselves at the last moment – and cleared the way for one of the most influential horror series ever!
