Similarities and differences in TCM

SIM- Both movies are set in rural areas in the middle of nowhere
- Both follow the same “rules” of the slasher genre
- Both involve having the final girl
- Both are set in the 1970’s
- Both have similar characters
- Both involve killings
- Both are set around the true story of Ed Gine
- Both emphasise capitalism & cannibalism
- Both follow Todrov’s theory


DIFF-the final girl in TCM’74 is a bimbo
- The final girl in TCM’03 is empowered
- Females are part of the sadistic psycho families
- Erin goes back and forth with the car to kill him unlike in the first one.The new one is not censored



Texas Chainsaw Massacre Essay

There are various similarities and differences between ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ released in 1974 (TCM’74) and ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ remake in 2003 (TCM’03). There are obvious similarities as both movies involve a final girl and are set in the middle of nowhere in Texas. The fact the final girl was also put in there remake shows this generic convention proves to be popular with audience, which may be down to the fact there was a rise in feminism, and watching the female empower over the villain. Both films follow typical conventions of the slasher genre, such as the teens that are sexually active will die first. Also the characters are pretty much the same, such as ‘Leather Face’, however, the sadistic family in the remake involve female members, suggesting women are just as sadistic as men are. Pluralist argue the media just simply reflect what’s happening with in society, so they may argue TCM’03 reflects the rise in women serial killers, which have increased since TCM’74. However in the end of TCM’03 the final girl is seen as more of a heroine than the final girl in TCM’74. This is because final girl rescues the baby which connotes innocence, which all together suggests throughout all the killings Erin has rescued any innocence that still may exist. In TCM’74 the final girl, Sally, Is represented as more of a bimbo.


One similarity is the social group of friends; however with the change of their not being a disabled guy. Of course it is different from TCM’74 as the scene where the two teens are making out is a lot more explicit then the original, which reflects how desensitised the audience has become from it. Furthermore instead of the teens picking up a crazy hitchhiker, they stop for a disturbed one. When they tell her to come with them she warns them of what’s a head by saying “you’re going the wrong way”, then shooting herself in the head. This is a lot more shocking then the hitchhiker in TCM’74, who just cuts on of the teens. TCM’03 most likely changed it to shock the audience who have already seen TCM’74. The fact the girl shoots herself in the head and is in the mini van for the rest of their journey until they get to the psychos, her body is a dramatic symbol, foreshadowing and warning the teens of their future. Another similarity is the “rules” of a slasher film, which shows how the generic conventions are being repeated. In addition TCM’03 has more clear shots of the blood and gore, of course because of the special effects which have improved since 1974, a lot.


One difference is TCM’03 involves a sheriff. This sheriff is part of the psycho family, and helps to kill the victims, which connotes he’s sadistic. It also promotes the ideology that you can’t trust anyone in today’s society not even the law enforcement. Also the fact the sheriff abuses his powers to do evil things, and make the teens do things they don’t need to, raises the issue of the rise in corrupted police officers in America toady.