Film Review (Sunday Scaries Edition): ‘Chain Reactions’ Looks at the Lasting Legacy of ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’

Some movies just get under your skin. For many, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is one of the big ones. The way it was made, the look it had, and what it was suggesting, if not outright showing, unsettled audiences upon release. Hell, it still terrifies people to this day. That lasting impact and relevance is the focus of the documentary Chain Reactions, which gives the film its long overdue flowers, bloody as they may be.

Chain Reactions looks at the legacy of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre through the impact it left on several notable creatives in the world of entertainment. You certainly don’t have to be a fan of the horror film to appreciate what’s being done here, though it goes without saying that anyone who loves the movie like the talking heads here will have even more to chew on.

The documentary looks at five artists and how The Texas Chainsaw Massacre shaped their art, as well as their psyche, through the trauma of seeing the film. The subjects are actor/comedian Patton Oswalt, filmmaker Takashi Miike, film critic Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, horror novelist Stephen King, and filmmaker Karyn Kusama. They all share a deep appreciation for the movie, which is quickly made clear, though they have very different ways of going about telling us.

Each of the artists reflects on the movie, alongside its impact not just on them, but the world at large. Clips from other films, as well as the franchise, are used while they more or less get to free associate. It leads to a dreamy quality as well as an academic quality to the doc, which gives it a distinct personality, especially when we’re watching scenes play out from one of the classic horror flicks of all time. Consider it one of the more enjoyable and interesting film school style lectures that you can watch, with deeply unique subject matter.

Filmmaker Alexandre O. Philippe has taken similar approaches to other cinematic topics in documentary form before, though this one feels rather distinct. Listening to these artists talk about the film is rather fascinating. Admittedly, not all of his subjects are created equal, in terms of how interesting their musings are, but no one bores you. Repetition does threaten to set in, but it never does, given the wide variety of clips that Philippe is utilizing. It’s not a tight doc, to be fair, but it’s a compelling one.

Chain Reactions runs a little long, but anyone who loves The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, or even is fascinated by it, would do well to check this documentary out. It’s unlike anything currently in the marketplace, that’s for sure. The doc will, if nothing else, leave you with a hankering to revisit the original film, which you’ll be doing with new eyes.

SCORE: ★★★