They stumble upon a nearby house, and Kirk calls out for gas, entering through the unlocked door, while Pam waits outside. When they arrive, Franklin tells Kirk and Pam about a local swimming hole, and the couple go to find it. They continue toward the homestead, intending to return to the gas station once it has received a fuel delivery. They stop at a gas station to refill their vehicle, but the proprietor tells them that the pumps are empty. The group forces him out of the van and drive on. When they refuse to pay, he burns the photo, and slashes Franklin's left arm with a straight razor. He borrows Franklin's pocket knife and cuts himself, then takes a single Polaroid picture of Franklin, for which he demands money.

Along the way, they pick up a hitchhiker, who talks about his family who worked at the old slaughterhouse. Afterwards, they decide to visit the old Hardesty family homestead. Sally Hardesty, her paraplegic brother Franklin, and their friends, Jerry, Kirk, and Pam visit the grave of the Hardestys' grandfather to investigate reports of vandalism and grave robbing. It led to a franchise that continued the story of Leatherface and his family through sequels, prequels, a remake, comic books and video games. It is credited with originating several elements common in the slasher genre, including the use of power tools as murder weapons, the characterization of the killer as a large, hulking, faceless figure, and the killing of victims. It has since gained a reputation as one of the best and most influential horror films. While it initially drew a mixed reception from critics, it was highly profitable, grossing over $30 million at the domestic box office, equivalent with roughly over $150.8 million as of 2019, selling over 16.5 million tickets in 1974. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre was banned in several countries, and numerous theaters stopped showing the film in response to complaints about its violence. The film faced similar difficulties internationally. Hooper limited the quantity of onscreen gore in hopes of securing a PG rating, but the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) rated it R.

Due to the film's violent content, Hooper struggled to find a distributor, but it was eventually acquired by Louis Perano of Bryanston Distributing Company. The limited budget forced Hooper to film for long hours seven days a week, so that he could finish as quickly as possible and reduce equipment rental costs. Hooper produced the film for less than $140,000 ($800,000 adjusted for inflation) and used a cast of relatively unknown actors drawn mainly from central Texas, where the film was shot. 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. The film follows a group of friends who fall victim to a family of cannibals while on their way to visit an old homestead. Partain, Edwin Neal, Jim Siedow and Gunnar Hansen, who respectively portray Sally Hardesty, Franklin Hardesty, the hitchhiker, the proprietor, and Leatherface. 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.

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