THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE is Returning to Theaters in 4K for One Night Only This Summer
For horror fans, there's nothing quite like experiencing a classic on the big screen, and this summer brings another chance to witness one of the most influential genre films ever made the way it was intended.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is heading back to theaters with a stunning 4K restoration, giving audiences the opportunity to revisit Tobe Hooper's terrifying masterpiece in cinemas for one night only.
Dark Sky Films and Fathom Events are bringing the landmark 1974 horror film back to theaters in celebration of Texas Chain Saw Day.
The screening will take place on August 18, which happens to be the same date the film's horrifying fictional events unfold. Tickets go on sale beginning July 21 through online ticket vendors and participating theater box offices.
The annual event returns after last year's screening proved there was still plenty of appetite for seeing The Texas Chain Saw Massacre with a crowd. Justin DiPietro, Executive Vice President of MPI and Dark Sky Films, reflected on the enthusiastic response:
"Last year’s response exceeded our expectations and proved that audiences still want to experience THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE the way it was meant to be seen — together, on the big screen."
Ray Nutt, CEO of Fathom Entertainment, shared similar excitement about continuing the tradition, describing the event as a celebration of everything that makes seeing movies in theaters so memorable and welcoming fans back for another unforgettable gathering centered around one of horror's defining films.
“Texas Chain Saw Day captures everything that makes moviegoing special: passionate fans, a beloved film and the shared excitement of experiencing it together in a theatre.
“Fathom is pleased to partner with Dark Sky Films and establish an annual tradition and welcome the Chain Saw faithful back to cinemas for another unforgettable celebration of one of horror’s most influential films.”
The return to theaters also comes on the heels of another major milestone for the movie. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre was recently selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry, an honor reserved for films considered culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.
It's easy to understand why the film continues to earn that level of recognition. Produced for less than $140,000, the independent horror classic went on to earn more than $30 million at the box office, becoming one of the biggest success stories in genre filmmaking.
The story follows five young travelers whose road trip through rural Texas turns into a nightmare when they cross paths with a family of cannibals led by the unforgettable Leatherface, a towering killer wearing a mask made from human skin.
The film stars Marilyn Burns, Paul A. Partain, Allen Danziger, William Vail, Teri McMinn, Gunnar Hansen, Edwin Neal, and Jim Siedow.
Although critics were divided when it first premiered, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre went on to reshape horror forever. Many of the elements audiences associate with slasher movies today, from the masked killer to the relentless chase sequences and the enduring "final girl," can trace their roots back to Hooper's gritty, uncompromising vision.
The franchise isn't slowing down anytime soon, either. A24 is already developing a new reimagining of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, with Curry Barker, the filmmaker behind Obsession, set to direct.
If you've only experienced The Texas Chain Saw Massacre at home, this 4K theatrical screening is about as close as you can get to seeing the film the way audiences did over 50 years ago.
Horror classics simply hit differently when you're surrounded by a theater full of people waiting for the chainsaw to roar.