The Texas Chain Saw Massacre 50th Anniversary Chain Saw Edition — Overview

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Tobe Hooper’s 1974 cult classic The Texas Chain Saw Massacre has reached its 50th anniversary and now Dark Sky Films has given the film a premium edition packaged release in a gorgeous new collectible set. Coming housed in a chain saw replica and now featuring Dark Sky’s restored 4K restoration (previously reviewed here on their SteelBook release) on 4K Ultra HD as well as a new fully-restored Blu-ray as well as VHS (!) copy of the film, this is one gorgeous and fan-worthy set. Only 5000 copies of this set have been made, so hurry up and order one if you want one.

The 4K & Blu-ray Feature Film discs include the same previously available audio commentaries:

Dark Sky Films has loaded this release with a ton of bonus features, many previously released, but well worth owning and watching or listening to anyway. The four audio commentaries are all great listens and the new documentary from Second Sight on the impact and history of the film is a must-watch for fans. There is also a two-sided poster included.

4K & Blu-ray Bonus Features:

• Commentary with actors Marilyn Burns, Paul A. Partain, Allen Danzinger, and art director Robert A. Burns
• Commentary with director Tobe Hooper, cinematographer Daniel Pearl, and actor Gunnar Hansen
• Commentary with director Tobe Hooper
• Commentary editor J. Larry Carroll, cinematographer Daniel Pearl, and sound recordist Ted Nicolaou

And the Blu-ray bonus disc also includes the same previous bonus features as the earlier released 4K disc from Dark Sky, but it does add two new features noted below.

Bonus Features Blu-ray Disc:

• NEW The Merchandise of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
• NEW The Restoration of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
• The Legacy of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1080p; 01:22:45) – An excellent documentary from Second Sight that includes interviews with filmmakers on the impact of the film.
• The Cinefamily Presents Friedkin/Hooper: A Conversation About The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Between William Friedkin and Tobe Hooper (1080p; 00:54:09)
• Flesh Wounds: Seven Stories of the Saw (SD; 01:11:42)
• A Tour of the TCSM House with Gunnar Hansen (SD)
• Off the Hook with Teri McMinn (1080p; 00:17:02)
• The Business of Chain Saw: An Interview with Production Manager Ron Bozman (SD; 00:16:26)
• Deleted Scenes & Outtakes (SD; 00:25:23)
• Grandpa’s Tales: An Interview with John Dugan (1080p; 00:15:48)
• Cutting Chain Saw: An Interview with Editor J. Larry Carroll (1080p; 00:10:47)
• Blooper Reel (SD; 00:02:21)
• Horror’s Hallowed Grounds: TCSM (SD; 00:20:21)
• W.E. Barnes Presents “Making Grandpa” (1080p; 00:05:30)
• Still Gallery (1080p; 00:02:48)
• Trailers
• TV Spots

I have included some of my personal shots of the set as well as promo shots provided from Dark Sky in the gallery below.

The Final Assessment

A true horror classic that is nightmare inducing, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre may never look great, but it looks darned good in this Dark Sky restoration. Dark Sky have made it even more worthwhile for horror fans with this ultra-collectible 50th Anniversary edition, which you should grab while you can from their Dark Sky Selects website.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is out on 4K Ultra HD SteelBook February 28, 2023, from Dark Sky Films.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre 50th Anniversary Chainsaw Edition is the third of many iconic Dark Sky titles that will be available this year. Additional limited-edition releases of fan favorite films and merch will be announced throughout the year, which will only be available direct to consumer at DarkSkySelects.com.

• Rating Certificate: R
• Studios & Distributors: Vortex | Dark Sky Films
• Director: Tobe Hooper
• Written By: Kim Henkel (screenplay by) | Tobe Hooper (screenplay by)
• Run Time: 83 Mins.
• Street Date: October 2024