Tag Archives: Tobe Hooper

DtH Episode 126: Twice Told Tales – Toolbox Murders

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The Toolbox Murders (1978) and Toolbox Murders (2004)

In this Twice Told Tales segment, we take a look at a film and its “remake”, which can be about as far apart as you can get. Some might say a remake in name only. But nonetheless, two films that while are different, do have some similarities, even if it might be behind-the-scenes information. But what you do have is one very uncomfortable exploitation film and a more modern tale with a supernatural slight to it. Or does it? Both of these films are products of their time, in what they are showing us, what they are trying to tell us, and what they feel the need to show us. 

The one thing they do have in common is the way of people are killed. Novelty or highly creative, that is up for you to decide. As to what you think of the original and if the second one is an actual remake, or just a cash grab. But if they are both entertaining, does it matter?

Films mentioned in this episode:

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Movie Review: Salem’s Lot

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(1979)
Directed by Tobe Hooper
Starring Davil Soul, James Mason, Lance Kerwin, Bonnie Bedelia, Lew Ayres, Elisha Cook Jr., George Dzundza, Ed Flanders, Geoffrey Lewis, Kenneth McMillian, Fred Willard, Reggie Nalder

My first experience with the film Salem’s Lot was not a good one. I don’t remember seeing it when it was first broadcast on TV back in 1979, which seems odd enough. But in the early 80s, I began to dive into horror fiction, which spread faster than a vampire plague in a small town! When I got to King’s Salem’s Lot, I absolutely loved it and over the years, it would remain my favorite. Maybe because I grew up in a similar small town, though in Michigan, where everyone knew everyone’s business, but it really resonated with me. So, after finishing the book I went out and rented the VHS release of it, not realizing it was the shorter theatrical version. I absolutely hated it. I hated that Barlow looked like Nosferatu, which is completely different than he is in the novel. I hated they had left so much character development and backstory out. This was in my younger and naive days when I had no clue what it took to adapt a novel into a feature film, not to mention that the version I had just watched was condensed version of the full 2-part series.

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Soundtrack Review: Texas Chain Saw Massacre

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The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
Released by Waxwork Records, 2025
14 Tracks with a Total Running Time of 40 min.
Composed and performed by Tobe Hooper and Wayne Bell

I have quite a few soundtracks that are not what most would call “music” but just ambiance sounds, rather than a melody or any type of music. They can range from vibrating elements to loud and quick bangs or clanking, to just different notes being played for a long time to build up that uneasy feeling it might cause, or any kind of feeling. Some of these are highly effective, especially when viewed with the actual film they are from. A lot of the times, you never even notice it because it is so subdued, it is almost like white noise but can help get under your skin. Listening to them by themselves though, sometimes can lose the impact it has as the film score.

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Book Review: Cinema Speculation

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Cinema Speculation
Published by HarperCollins, 2022. 392 pages.
By Quentin Tarantino

This is sort of a first here at the Krypt, because this book isn’t really about the horror genre. While there is a chapter on Tobe Hooper’s The Funhouse (1981), it covers a bunch of other films, mainly in the action genre. So why am I covering it here? Simple. Because I can’t remember the last time I read a book where the writer’s passion for cinema was felt in every single word.

The title alone, Cinema Speculation, shows that this isn’t Tarantino making a statement that the titles covered are the best in the history of cinema, but he writes why they are to him. It is his “speculation”. And he goes into great detail as to why, all coming from his deep-rooted passion for them. Everyone knows anything about Taratino knows how much he knows about cinema. You can’t see an interview with him where he’s usually name dropping some obscure film that he loves. There are reasons for that.

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Bill Moseley at the Music Box

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Mark your calendars for two nights of Bill Moseley at the Music Box with screenings of two different features, Tobe Hooper’s Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986) and Rob Zombie’s House of a 1000 Corpses (2003), with Moseley appearing both nights for a Meet & Greet and a Q&A after each film, brought to you by Chicago’s own Music Box and The Horror House!

Texas 2 will be screening on Feb. 4th, at 7pm in DCP format, while House will be screening on Feb. 5th at 7pm, from a 35mm print. Moseley will be there at 6pm to meet with fans. If you never had the chance to see these cult films on the big screen, now is your chance!

Music Box of Horrors 2024

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This weekend, we’ll be heading back into Chicago for this year’s 24-hours of insanity, known as the Music Box of Horrors. This annual event is one that I look forward to every year and it just keeps getting better and better, as well as more popular than ever. The fact that this year’s marathon sold out before maybe even half of the titles had been announced is just insane! That tells me that the Music Box programmers have not only continued to have a solid lineup each and every year, but that they’ve built up the trust of the fans that will buy their tickets right away, not knowing or caring what the lineup is going to be, because they know it will be worth it. This year is no different.

Of course, we will be set up there in the lounge, pimping our usual wares of horror reference books, urging fans to dive deeper into this wonderful film genre that we all love. Might have some new and interesting titles for you to peruse so make sure you stop by our table and check it out. Or, just to say hello and chat. We love nothing more than talking about horror films!

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Intrada Goes to The Funhouse

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Tobe Hooper’s 1981flick The Funhouse was a nice combination between a slasher film and a monster movie and pretty entertaining. The score from John Beal, was originally released in a version that only ran 38 minutes. But now, thanks to Intrada, we’re getting the complete score, along with another half hour of extras and alternate musical tracks, all remastered from the 24-track session tapes!

The total running time for this release is over 77 minutes, which is going to make any fan of this movie and it’s score very happy. Priced at $21.99, you can order your copy either directly from Intrada HERE or from Screen Archives Entertainment HERE, which is where I usually get my soundtracks from. They have a huge selection and good prices.

Book Review: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

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TCM Film that Terrified a Rattled NationThe Texas Chain Saw Massacre: The Film that Terrified a Rattled Nation
Published by Skyhorse, 2019. 304 pages.
By Joseph Lanza

For those that are thinking this is just another book about the Tobe Hooper classic, reading more tales of the notorious film, they are in for a big surprise. I grew up in the early ’70s but am surprised to read about all the stuff going on in the world that I was apparently oblivious too because I was so young. With all the chaos on in the world back then, I’m kind of glad I was too young to know or care about. So a good portion of this book is about just that, all the craziness throughout the world, from gas shortages, meat shortages, trouble overseas, different political scandals and nefarious deeds, serial killers, all coming from the decade of peace and love.

Lanza knows his history and lays it out for the reader to intake, setting the times that Hooper’s film was coming to life and how it was effecting the production, not just in Hooper, but the entire cast and crew. While this book is not going to fill you with more and more details about the actual making of it, you will read about the possible influences that had a hand in shaping this film, then you will find this book very intriguing. There are some things that might be taking a stretch when it comes to hidden subtext, such as the signage at the gas station/BBQ joint the cook runs. But there are more than a few things that seemed like it definitely was the reasoning behind it, such as when the cook is worried about making sure the lights are turned off to save electricity. Continue reading →

Dust-to-Dawn Horrorfest at the Midway Next Weekend!

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midway1

Next weekend we will be heading out the Midway Drive-In for their annual Dust-to-Dawn Horrorfest, and this year they have one hell of a lineup. Then again, they always do! This year’s lineup consists of the following titles:

  • The Thing (1982) – John Carpenter’s incredible remake that has never lost its impact!
  • The Blob (1988) – Chuck Russell & Frank Darabont’s excellent remake of this great classic, and one that still holds up.
  • The Funhouse (1981) – One of Tobe Hooper’s lesser known films but that is a great chapter to his long career.
  • Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers (1988) – With a title like that, can you tell it was directed by Fred Olen Ray? Starring Linnea Quigley, Michelle Bauer, and Leatherface himself, Gunnar Hansen. As the ads say, “They Charge an Arm and a Leg!”

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