This year marks the 50th Anniversary of one of Horrors most iconic films.

This films holds very fond, yet traumatic, memories for me.

Growing up this was a film I heard people talk about a lot but knew very little about it. Living in the UK this was a film that had been banned by the BBFC before I was even born but for those that were old enough to have seen it, they had some tales to tell.

So before I even had a chance to see any of this film it had been built up in my young mind as something immensely terrifying film, thrown in the fact it was banned and it put it to a whole new level of fear. Then in 1999, the film was taken off the banned list.

The year after it was announced that it was going to shown on TV for the first time ever. Everyone I knew appeared to be talking about it and seemed really excited about being able to see it, either for the first time, or if you were older, seeing it again after so long.

Me, I was absolutely terrified. I wanted to watch it but being young and admittedly bit of a scaredy cat, I was in a strange position. My brain was telling me that I both really wanted to watch this film but I also really shouldn’t watch this film.

The night finally came and everyone was ready, you have to remember this was the days before you could watch stuff on demand, so if you missed it, you missed it. Unless you recorded it on a VHS player to watch later. So everyone was at home, ready and tuned in.

I sat down with my Mum to watch it, my heart was racing before it had even started, but when the narration scene started I felt my body go ice cold. I froze with fear, Then the photo noises kicked in, you know exactly what I mean, I hid behing my hands.

The next thing I remember seeing was a desecrated corpse on top of a gravestone and I just ran out of the room. I was absolutely petrified, my Mum talked me into coming back in to watch the rest, I have no idea how, but I remember wishing she really hadn’t.

I was scared stiff, paralysed with fear, unable to leave the room I sat and watched the rest through my fingers. Admittedly I closed my eyes a lot of times as well, problem with that was that I could hear awful sounds and my imagination just made it worse.

Whilst everyone I knew seemed to be raving about watching it, like wearingit a a badge of pride, I suffered from nightmares for weeks afterwards. I was absolutely traumatised, no film had ever gotten to me like this before and I didn’t know how to deal with it.

The thing is though, as many Horror fans will resonate with here, I went back for more. I watched more and more Horror films, like some sort of masochist, I wanted that adrenaline rush again. Though admittedly it was a rarity to have the same experience.

It would be years before I revisited this film again, though this time I could actually sit through it and actually watch it. I learned to appreciate how incredibly well made it was and its influence on others. It also became one of my all time favourite films.

The film launched Tobe Hoopers career, having went on to direct films such as “Salem’s Lot”, “The Funhouse”, “Poltergeist” and many more, including a very fun sequel to “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” but that’s another blog post for another time.

It’s always amazed me how the cast never went on to do more than what they did. For some it would take years just to realise how big of a fan base the film actually had and the effect it had but thanks to events such as conventions they’ve got to see that and that makes me happy.

The character of “Leatherface” became a firm favourite of Horror fans. For a character that never speaks, only making weird grunting noises and doesn’t have a ton of screen time. Talking of “Leatherface”, did you know Gunnar Hansen released a book about the film.

It’s called “Chainsaw Confidential” and it makes for a great read. Honestly, if you’re a fan of this film then I seriously can not recommend it enough. Even if you don’t it’s still a highly entertaining read of what it was like to make the film in that time.

Hearing all the behind the scenes stories from the man himself who was there for the whole thing truly makes you appreciate the film itself even more. Reading what the cast and crew went through to get this film made is horrific at times.

I urge you celebrate this films 50th anniversary however you see fit, just as long as you celebrate it as it truly deserves to be. For me it’s going to be an old school curtains closed, no lights night and my three disc special edition box set featuring documentaries and other cool stuff.