Monday, February 9, 2015

Tobe Hooper

Another "Master of Horror," Tobe Hooper is best known for the grindhouse, Drive-In classic, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. However, his credits include such films as Poltergeist, Lifeforce, and Salem's Lot. Almost all of his work has been in the Horror field and his influence on horror and exploitation filmmaking cannot be understated.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre revolutionized the film industry and set the tone for the Slashers of the 1980s. Leatherface and the Sawyer Family went on to appear in numerous remakes, sequels, and relaunches, but Hooper was directly involved in only the first sequel (he produced several of the remakes). While the original sequel, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre II, is notable for its overt sexuality, comedy, and freakishness, and some of the later adaptations are entertaining, Hooper's original masterpiece remains just that.

For many years, Tobe Hooper's credit as director of the Steven Spielberg produced Poltergeist was in hot contention. Some said he had less to do with the film than the credits suggest - that the film was actually directed by Spielberg. However, Hooper's use of tracking shots and other filmmaking elements seen in his previous films are on display throughout the movie. He, and many others close to the making of the movie, insist the production was a collaboration of efforts, including directorial efforts, but that Hooper was the Director of Poltergeist.

Hooper has gone on to write and direct numerous movies and television shorts in the Horror genre but will always be best remembered for Texas Chainsaw Massacre I and II.


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