Take a photo of a barcode or cover
42 reviews for:
Chain Saw Confidential: How We Made the World's Most Notorious Horror Movie
Gunnar Hansen
4.09 AVERAGE
42 reviews for:
Chain Saw Confidential: How We Made the World's Most Notorious Horror Movie
Gunnar Hansen
4.09 AVERAGE
funny
informative
fast-paced
“The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” is probably my favorite horror movie, tied with “The Shining,” so I definitely couldn’t pass up Gunnar Hansen’s memoir!
It was pretty much everything I wanted. It read like a more thoughtful DVD commentary, going through the movie scene by scene and narrating how it was made, how the cast and crew thought about it at the time, and how it fits into the broader landscape of the film. Hansen is a good writer, and the book is thoughtful, well-paced, and well-structured. He also did a lot of homework to write the book, going back and re-interviewing his fellow castmates and the crew for more insight.
I do wish we’d gotten a little more of how the background of the 70s influenced the film (Vietnam, inflation, gas shortage) because I think it’s a fascinating time capsule. But we do get some, and overall the book was so much fun to read, I can’t complain. I’m ready to sit down, re-watch the film, and get scared all over again.
It was pretty much everything I wanted. It read like a more thoughtful DVD commentary, going through the movie scene by scene and narrating how it was made, how the cast and crew thought about it at the time, and how it fits into the broader landscape of the film. Hansen is a good writer, and the book is thoughtful, well-paced, and well-structured. He also did a lot of homework to write the book, going back and re-interviewing his fellow castmates and the crew for more insight.
I do wish we’d gotten a little more of how the background of the 70s influenced the film (Vietnam, inflation, gas shortage) because I think it’s a fascinating time capsule. But we do get some, and overall the book was so much fun to read, I can’t complain. I’m ready to sit down, re-watch the film, and get scared all over again.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
I don't even know if there's a way to accurately explain or quantify how happy I am to have been able to read this book, and to listen to the late Gunnar Hansen himself narrate the audio version. I refrained from trying to find and buy a physical copy of the book, since it's out of print and every copy I see go up for sale starts around $150 going price and only goes up, and Amazon listed this as a free book with an Audible Unlimited 1-month trial. I don't care to give Amazon my money any more than I already do, I don't really use Audible, but I'm not at all opposed to taking a free trial and getting a couple of free audiobooks, especially considering what I was facing with the reality of trying to find a physical copy of this. Now, having finished listening to it, I do want a physical copy for my personal library, but that's going to be more of a long-term, far-flung goal.
I do recommend to anyone who has even a mild interest in reading this book to try out the audiobook anyway, because getting to hear it narrated by Gunnar Hansen really helped bring it to life more. It felt sort of like he was having a conversation with the listener than anything, just recounting the story in his own words, and I loved that so much. I could wax a bit more poetic but right now I'm still just reeling a little from having finished this, and I'm just too emotionally overjoyed and happy I got to read/listen to this book to do much more than babble incoherently right at the moment.
I do recommend to anyone who has even a mild interest in reading this book to try out the audiobook anyway, because getting to hear it narrated by Gunnar Hansen really helped bring it to life more. It felt sort of like he was having a conversation with the listener than anything, just recounting the story in his own words, and I loved that so much. I could wax a bit more poetic but right now I'm still just reeling a little from having finished this, and I'm just too emotionally overjoyed and happy I got to read/listen to this book to do much more than babble incoherently right at the moment.
informative
I really wasn't sure what to expect from this but it makes a good comparison to the Princess Bride book "As You Wish", by Cary Elwes, which I read at the end of last year. As there - in fact, more so here - I know plenty about the movie in question as it's always been, if not a favourite, at least of great interest to me. The latest blu-ray of Chain Saw has no less than 4 commentary tracks which, along with the existing documentaries etc surely cover everything Gunnar Hansen has to say here. Yet it came across to me as much fresher, thorough and enjoyable than the Princess Bride book. Hansen doesn't just recount the making of the movie but goes into the reaction to the movie, its meaning and legacy. In both cases he may just be pulling together all the information that's already out there, but he does a fine job of making it into something that feels truly definitive.
I am a horror movie buff and grew up with this style of horror movie. This is a must read for anyone with the same interests. It contains a first-hand account of the making of the movie. Tons of interesting (and freaky) tidbits and facts that you would not otherwise know. As soon as I finished the book, I rewatched the movie with new eyes and it was so cool. Definitely recommend!
adventurous
dark
funny
informative
tense
medium-paced
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
I highly recommend the audiobook narrated by Gunnar himself.
Not only a good take about making one of the most beloved Horror movies of all time, but just a fun story of how a story goes from thought to completion.