From the first frame of the 1973 Tobe Hooper classic, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, there is a specific focus on the aspect of the sublime. Through the use of wide shots, the vastness of the Texas landscapes are captured in a raw, beautiful nature. This contrasts directly with the horrific and macabre imagery present throughout the Sawyer family’s house and their killings throughout the film. Through the use of the sublime, the film not only reflects how the average person was feeling at the time but also the powerless of the 1970s.
One might ask, “What is the sublime?” and more specifically, “How does it relate to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre?” Before those questions are answered, one should know what the sublime is in the first place. The sublime is defined as something that invokes a feeling of awe, dread, and horror (Cherry 89). However, the sublime also focuses on calling attention to human mortality, insignificance, and humility. Through this, man is supposed to be confronted by the eternal, meaningful, powerful attributes of the world. The sublime and its power over mankind also directly parallels the feelings of the general public during the time the film was made. The 1970s were a tumultuous time. Between the Vietnam War going on overseas and the struggles at home, Americans had a feeling of unease and powerlessness regularly.
In The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, the sublime is captured using a variety of filmmaking techniques. The first is the aforementioned wide shot. The sprawling, huge landscapes of Texas give the viewer a sense of insignificance and a feeling of being small. The comparison between the Sawyer family and the teens can be directly related to the sublime and mankind. In the film, the Sawyers are taking on the the role of the sublime in a way. Their presence is sprawling; they are everywhere. Whether it is on the road and hitchhiking, working at the gas station, or being at the house, the Sawyers have a sense of omnipotence to the teens. Through their killings and terror, they are playing the role of the sublime. Subsequently, the dynamic between the Sawyer family and the teens also directly parallels the sublime and the American people during the 1970s as well.
The sublime features a sensibility that is equally horrifying as it is beautiful. Through the mise-en-scène, especially in the Sawyers’ house, this is brought out subtly yet effectively. Throughout the rooms, there are various pieces of furniture constructed out of human remains, primarily bones. These include couches, chairs, chandeliers, and lamps. It is the dichotomy presented through the imagery of these piece of furniture that bring out the theme of the sublime. The act of killing a human and making furniture out of their remains is grotesque. However, when seeing these pieces of furniture and their craftsmanship, they have an inherent beauty to them. This very well might be due to the fact that this is fictional. However, it is a very strange and almost paradoxical feeling to have while viewing it. How can something so macabre also be beautiful and aesthetically pleasing? It is this paradoxical balance that the imagery strikes that further exemplifies the sublime.
Overall, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is certainly an unconventional film to associate with the concept of the sublime. Though it is not cosmic or grandiose in its presentation, there are plenty of elements in the film that bring out the sublime. Through its use of sprawling wide shots of Texas landscapes and imagery that borders between macabre and beautiful, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is an incredible film that ultimately leaves the viewer feeling as helpless as the teenage protagonists.
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