When Sally and Franklin Hardasty hear that their grandfather's grave has been desecrated they call up three friends and set off to investigate. They to travel to their grandfather's old farm, stopping only to pick up a hitch-hiker. So begins their introduction to a cannibal family and an extensive array of power tools.

Like any decent slasher movie, there's something unsettling about "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" that goes beyond the blood and gore. Leatherface is a purely murderous creature (there's no reasoning or placating him) but he's still a plausible one. And the shaky camerawork, lo-fi special effects, and down-and-dirty screams and chainsaws soundtrack all help give the film a terrifyingly believable documentary quality.