2024 marked a momentous anniversary for Tobe Hooper’s classic The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.
Unbelievably, this year marks 50 years since Hooper’s film was unleashed upon unsuspecting audiences. For a film to endure for half a century is an incredible feat, and many were upset when the milestone passed with little notice.
Well, ever heard the old expression better late than never?
Various sources are reporting that The Texas Chain Saw Massacre has been selected for preservation by the US Library of Congress.
This means The Texas Chain Saw Massacre will join over 900 other films on America’s National Film Registry. Each entry is protected by law and preserved forever, being deemed “culturally or historically significant.”
All we can say is, it’s about time! Given the uproar the film caused at the time of release, and its incredible journey from Grindhouse hit to all-time classic, we would’ve expected this honour long ago.
Joining Chain Saw this year are films such as David Fincher’s The Social Network, Gus Van Sant’s My Own Private Idaho, and surprisingly, the 2002 family film Spy Kids. So, TCM will be in some very eclectic company.
This year, over six thousand titles were suggested by the public for preservation, with only twenty-five being selected. Needless to say, genre fans are ecstatic that Leatherface made the cut. To us, Leatherface has always been an icon, but now, he’s immortal.
