Chain Saw Confidential

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Chain Saw Confidential: How We Made the World's Most Notorious Horror Movie
Chainsaw confidential cover.jpg
Author Gunnar Hansen
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
SubjectThe making of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
Genre Non-fiction
Published2013, Chronicle Books
Media typePrint, e-book, audiobook
Pages240 pages
ISBN 1452114498

Chain Saw Confidential: How We Made the World's Most Notorious Horror Movie is a 2013 non-fiction book by the actor Gunnar Hansen, who is best known for portraying Leatherface in Tobe Hooper's film The Texas Chain Saw Massacre . The book was first released on September 24, 2013 through Chronicle Books and covers the making of the iconic slasher film. [1]

Contents

Synopsis

Chain Saw Confidential covers the making of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, as well as its release, reception, and marketing. It goes into depth into the film as well as into Hansen's life. The material in the book is taken from several interviews from many of the cast and crew members. The final third of the book looks into the fan reception for the movie and its legacy on the film world.

Background

Hansen began work on Chain Saw Confidential after he was approached by various publishers interested in him writing an autobiography. [2] He disliked the idea of someone writing the book about him and expressed that he would rather write about the making of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. [2] Another impetus for the book's creation was that several of the cast and crew members had died, making it impossible to gain their perspectives on the film. [2] While gathering material for the book, Hansen tried to interview as many people as possible to get their perspectives. [3] As a result, Hansen received about "100,000 words of transcribed interviews, just for the parts I knew were going to serve the book". [4] Hansen also drew from an earlier autobiography he had written about twenty years prior for his own personal use. [5]

Reception

Critical reception for Chain Saw Confidential was predominantly positive. [6] Dread Central gave the book five out of five blades, stating that it "should be on EVERY Texas Chain Saw Massacre fan's bookshelf, and even horror fans in general who might not be fans of the film should at least check the book out". [7] Starburst magazine also gave a favorable review, echoing the same statements. [8]

A film adaptation of Hansen's book was announced in May 2021, to be produced by Shaun Redick and Yvette Yates Redick. David DuBos is adapting the book as a "dark comedy". [9]

Related Research Articles

<i>The Texas Chain Saw Massacre</i> 1974 American horror slasher film directed by Tobe Hooper

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a 1974 American horror film produced and directed by Tobe Hooper from a story and screenplay by Hooper and Kim Henkel. It stars Marilyn Burns, Paul A. Partain, Edwin Neal, Jim Siedow and Gunnar Hansen, who respectively portray Sally Hardesty, Franklin Hardesty, the hitchhiker, the proprietor, and Leatherface. The film follows a group of friends who fall victim to a family of cannibals while on their way to visit an old homestead. The film was marketed as being based on true events to attract a wider audience and to act as a subtle commentary on the era's political climate. Although the character of Leatherface and minor story details were inspired by the crimes of murderer Ed Gein, its plot is largely fictional. It is the first film of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise.

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References

  1. Bray, Christopher (11 October 2013). "Book Review: 'Chain Saw Confidential' by Gunnar Hansen". Wall Street Journal. WSJ. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 "'Texas Chainsaw' memoir: Gunnar 'Leatherface' Hansen speaks!". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  3. "Leatherface actor Gunnar Hansen on slasher past, 'Chain Saw' memoir". LAT. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  4. Gingold, Michael. "Gunnar Hansen updates us on "CHAIN SAW CONFIDENTIAL"". Fangoria. Archived from the original on 10 March 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  5. "'Chainsaw Massacre' villain, Maine resident Gunnar Hansen sets record straight in new book". Bangor Daily News. 25 October 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  6. "COLUMN: Aaron's Backstage Pass: 'Chain Saw Confidential' Book Review". KSTP. Archived from the original on 11 November 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  7. "Chain Saw Confidential (review)". Dread Central. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  8. Pierce, Robin. "Book Review: CHAIN SAW CONFIDENTIAL". Starburst Magazine. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  9. "Wilma Rudolph, Making of 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' on Ambitious Entertainment Launch Slate; Company to Invest $10 Million on Film/TV Projects". 19 May 2021.