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‘The Texas Chain Saw Massacre’ With Bill Simmons and Chris Ryan
October 6, 2026 · The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) · Horror · 1:39:40 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill Simmons▶ 33:42The opening sequence, especially the on-screen date card (Saturday, August 18th, 1973) that makes it feel real
Great Shot Gordo Award
Bill Simmons▶ 45:42Didn't name a single definitive shot for this category; instead discussed several standout moments (the girl running into Jason's 'mom'/uncle reveal reference, the finger-sucking grandpa scene) without settling on one cinematic shot, and later praised the final shot of the film as an all-time great last shot
Chris Ryan▶ 41:54The shot of Sally looking out the door before the truck pulls up, debating whether to run, right before Leatherface arrives with the bag and rope
Chris Ryan▶ 45:53Also highlighted the final shot: Sally's blood-covered screaming face and Leatherface swinging the chainsaw in the dawn sun as one of the most haunting endings ever, though his main 'most rewatchable' pick is the Kirk kill buildup
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill Simmons▶ 47:37No, hitchhiking does not end in this movie's timeframe — it was still common through the mid-70s, aided by stories like his dad hitchhiking from Holy Cross to Boston College on weekends; he pegs mid-70s to late-70s as 'the glory era for serial killers' picking up hitchhikers, which eventually killed off hitchhiking culture (replaced later by the internet).
What's Aged the Best
Bill Simmons▶ 52:22The movie overall holds up well: the poster, the single chainsaw/outfit for Leatherface due to budget constraints, and its massive influence (inspired Ridley Scott's Alien)
Chris Ryan▶ 52:58Daniel Pearl's cinematography — easily the best aspect of the movie, ranging from Paris, Texas-style vistas to documentary-style handheld shots, remarkable given the shoestring budget
Is There a Better Title?
Bill Simmons▶ 56:46No better title exists; Texas Chainsaw Massacre is one of the best titles of the last 55 years
Chris Ryan▶ 56:46Notes alternate titles considered: 'Saturn's Return', 'Leatherface', and 'Head Cheese' (jokes Head Cheese isn't a bad title), but doesn't argue for a better title
Craig Horlbeck▶ 56:54Says 'Leatherface' is fine as an alternate but agrees Texas Chainsaw Massacre is the best
Butch's Girlfriend Award
Bill Simmons▶ 57:53Franklin - hates him as the weak link, calling him one of the most despicable characters who almost deserves his death
Chris Ryan▶ 58:30Agrees it's Franklin, highlighting the scene where everyone pairs off at the first house, making him the fifth wheel longing for connection
Overacting Award
Bill Simmons▶ 1:02:58Agrees the hitchhiker is a strong pick, jokes he's 'apparently the only SAG actor'; doesn't name a separate definitive pick of his own
Chris Ryan▶ 1:02:52The hitchhiker at the gas station/dinner scene ('you ruined it' and all that stuff)
Half-Assed Internet Research
Bill Simmons▶ 1:08:29Shares trivia that Gunnar Hansen regarded Leatherface as having an intellectual disability and portrayed him that way, and that John Larroquette performed the opening narration and was paid in marijuana; also jokes that his 'hottest take' is Leatherface was the victim, just defending his own house.
Chris Ryan▶ 1:06:25Notes the film had 'dubious funding' and that none of the actors participated in the profits despite the film becoming a hit, comparing it to the brutal, uncompensated working conditions on Obsession's set.
Dion Waiters Award
Craig Horlbeck▶ 1:09:15Discusses the windshield guy's role, speculates he's a part-timer not fully part of the family
Joey Pants Award
Craig Horlbeck▶ 1:09:15Goes along with the gas station guy bit, jokes he's a 'part timer' with a weird home life
Casting What-Ifs
Bill Simmons▶ 1:09:21Imagined a 1970s/modern recast of Texas Chainsaw Massacre with real actors: Jeff Bridges, Rob Reiner, and Ron Howard, with Rob Reiner possibly as the wheelchair character and Penny Marshall also cast.
Apex Mountain
Bill Simmons▶ 1:16:46Tobe Hooper's apex mountain is Texas Chainsaw Massacre (over Poltergeist); also says Leatherface is apex mountain villain (10/10 on Hans Gruber scale) and Michael Myers is apex mountain movie murderer due to body of work
Chris Ryan▶ 1:15:24Debates final girls (Laurie Strode as most iconic vs. Ripley as underrated) but doesn't commit to single apex pick; agrees Leatherface/Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise discussion without naming a definitive apex entry
Sequel/Prequel/Limited Series/Remake
Bill Simmons▶ 1:24:17He's a fan of Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1995, with Renee Zellweger and Matthew McConaughey)
Chris Ryan▶ 1:24:43Runs through the franchise's follow-ups: loves Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (Tobe Hooper), notes The Next Generation was written but not directed by Kim Henkel, mentions the Jessica Biel reboot, enjoyed the Netflix 'influencers' sequel, and notes the Leatherface prequel and a rumored Trey Edward Shults/Glen Powell reboot now at Skydance — doesn't commit to one favorite besides praising Part 2
Is This Movie Better With
Bill Simmons▶ 1:26:18Stephen A. Smith doing 'First Take' commentary on Leatherface the day after the chainsaw murders, defending him as the best slaughterhouse chef in the country
Chris Ryan▶ 1:25:34Did a Ben Affleck impression doing Leatherface's voice/lines, riffing on recent Affleck AI news coverage
Craig Horlbeck▶ 1:26:04Doug McCray (reacted positively to Chris's bit, says he needs to think of new guys)
Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Bill Simmons▶ 1:26:40In character as 'Stephen A. straight shooter,' says he doesn't care about the Texas murders of five young people — he only cares that Leatherface, 'the best slaughterhouse chef in this country,' might not be able to do his thing anymore.
Coach Finstock Life Lesson
Bill Simmons▶ 1:31:42The gas station attendant's line 'there's just something you do for to do it, you don't have to like it' - but the real lesson is don't pick up hitchhikers
Best Double Feature
Bill Simmons▶ 1:32:16Deliverance (road trip gone wrong) paired with Halloween, to compare/contrast directors Tobe Hooper vs. John Carpenter's career trajectories
Chris Ryan▶ 1:31:55Last House on the Left, though he admits it may not be a 'good' pairing since it's equally disturbing
Who Won the Movie
Chris Ryan▶ 1:32:35Agrees it's Hooper - he had the best career afterward, became a Hollywood hotshot, worked with Spielberg at Universal, directed Poltergeist
Movies Referenced (39)
Directors Referenced (4)
Tobe Hooper
8 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, Poltergeist▶ 3:51IMDb ↗Lb ↗
Penny Marshall
2 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Big, A League of Their Own▶ 1:09:37IMDb ↗Lb ↗
John Bloom
1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for Gandhi, Notes on a Scandal▶ 12:30IMDb ↗Lb ↗
Ron Howard
1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for A Beautiful Mind▶ 1:09:37IMDb ↗Lb ↗
Actors Referenced (6)
Ben Johnson
1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for The Last Picture Show, The Wild Bunch▶ 44:36IMDb ↗Lb ↗
Dennis Hopper
1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for Easy Rider, Blue Velvet, Speed▶ 1:27:34IMDb ↗Lb ↗
Edwin Neal
1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for The Texas Chain Saw Massacre▶ 26:23IMDb ↗Lb ↗
Luke Wilson
1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for Old School, The Royal Tenenbaums▶ 1:03:37IMDb ↗Lb ↗
Marilyn Burns
1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Texas Chainsaw▶ 7:44IMDb ↗Lb ↗
Writers Referenced (3)
Richard Brooks
1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Elmer Gantry▶ 32:24IMDb ↗Lb ↗
Thomas Harris
1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal Rising, Manhunter▶ 20:05IMDb ↗Lb ↗
Cinematographers Referenced (1)
Daniel Pearl
1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for National Treasure▶ 1:27:06IMDb ↗Lb ↗