Tobe Hooper
“I want to scare people in the deepest recesses of their minds, to tap into their primal fears.” —Tobe Hooper
Chapter 1: The Tragedy of Tobe Hooper
In 1974, Tobe Hooper made one of the most terrifying and influential horror films of all time: THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE. It launched a new kind of American horror and introduced the world to Leatherface. But what should have been the start of a legendary career quickly became something else entirely—a story marked by studio interference, false starts, bad timing, and one of the most infamous authorship controversies in Hollywood history.
In this limited series, we trace the highs and lows of Hooper’s early career—from the raw brutality of CHAIN SAW to the chaotic grindhouse horror of EATEN ALIVE, to the network success of SALEM’S LOT, and his first studio-backed slasher THE FUNHOUSE. Finally, we arrive at the supernatural blockbuster POLTERGEIST—his biggest hit, and the film that left his legacy in question.
This is the story of a director who changed horror forever... and never got the credit he deserved.
Pt. 1: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
Pt. 2: Eaten Alive!
Pt. 3: Salem's Lot
Pt. 4: The Funhouse
Pt. 5: Poltergeist
Related Series
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Related Series |
The Unsung Legacy of
Dan O’Bannon
To get the full story on Tobe Hooper’s career, specifically in his time working with Cannon Films, we highly recommend listening to our series on Dan O’Bannon, whose career intersects with Hooper’s in a few big ways.
Chapter 2: The Cannon Years
After the box office success—and lingering controversy—of POLTERGEIST, Tobe Hooper signed a three-picture deal with the notorious B-movie powerhouse Cannon Films. It was a chance for the director of THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE to work with real budgets, studio resources, and total creative freedom.
What could possibly go wrong?
In this three-part series, we explore the wild, messy, and often misunderstood films that resulted from that deal. From the chaotic space vampire epic LIFEFORCE, to the critically panned remake of INVADERS FROM MARS, to the gonzo sequel that defied all expectations—THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 2—this is the story of how Hooper tried to evolve as a filmmaker… and how Cannon’s dreams of legitimacy collided with reality.
It's a tale of ambition, excess, and creative freedom run amok—just the way Hooper liked it.
Pt. 1: Lifeforce
Pt. 2: Invaders From Mars
Pt. 3: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2