10 Things A24 Needs To Do To Save The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Franchise

A24 now owns the rights to the troubled Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise, and there’s a lot the studio can do to revitalize this classic horror series. The original 1974 Texas Chainsaw Massacre was groundbreaking, and Tobe Hooper’s low-budget film quickly became a worldwide sensation. It was a gritty, impactful slasher that launched a new wave of horror and left a lasting impression on film history.

After the harsh realities of the Vietnam War, typical horror movies felt tame compared to the nightly news. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was created to shock audiences already numbed by real-life violence, and it broke new ground by blurring the line between what was real and what was fiction. Even today, over 50 years later, the film remains a frightening reflection of a nation struggling with turmoil.

It’s not surprising that The Texas Chainsaw Massacre became a series, but it struggled to find lasting success. Over 20 years passed before a sequel was made, and none of the follow-up films matched the impact of the original. While franchises like Halloween, Friday the 13th, and A Nightmare on Elm Street thrived, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre repeatedly failed to gain traction.

After several years of talks, A24 now owns the rights to the popular Texas Chainsaw franchise. The studio plans to create both a new TV show and a movie, though specifics are still under wraps. While A24 seems like a good fit for the series, they’ll need to make smart choices to revitalize it.

10. Dump All The Sequels

Given the past struggles of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre series, A24’s first priority should be to avoid repeating previous mistakes. While earlier sequels all attempted different approaches, the new film needs a consistent and focused creative direction to be successful.

The best way to make a new Texas Chainsaw movie is to focus on the original 1974 film and build from there. Trying to combine details from all the different sequels wouldn’t work well, as each one generally ignores what came before. While it could be helpful to understand why previous Texas Chainsaw sequels didn’t succeed, that’s really all they have to offer A24’s new projects.

9. Take The Franchise Seriously

While making money was probably the main reason for so many Texas Chainsaw sequels, none of them really treated the source material with respect. Most had a playful, almost joking tone, which didn’t do justice to the deeper ideas in the first film. If A24 wants to make a successful Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie, they need to approach it with seriousness.

Most slasher series have some lighthearted moments, but the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre relies on pure, unsettling fear to be scary. If the new film from A24 can recreate even a little of that original feeling, it will be the best sequel the classic horror film has ever seen. It’s important they avoid making it too silly or over-the-top.

8. Don’t Try To Go Back To Basics

After so many unsuccessful attempts to revive the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise, it might seem smart to go back to the original formula. However, that would be a mistake, and would probably lead to another disappointing film like the one Netflix released in 2022. The problem with the sequels isn’t that they tried to do too much, but that they simply weren’t done well.

A24’s new Texas Chainsaw film can’t rely too much on typical horror tropes, as that isn’t where the studio excels. The original 1974 movie was so innovative that anything less feels underwhelming. The series needs fresh ideas, but they must be executed skillfully.

7. Avoid Rehashing The Same Ideas

As a huge movie fan, especially of horror, the biggest mistake A24 could make with the new Texas Chainsaw Massacre is just retreading old ground. We’ve seen so many legacy sequels lately that are basically just copies of the originals, and horror is especially bad for doing that – bringing back the same old ideas with a fresh coat of paint. Texas Chainsaw has been remade, rebooted, and sequelized to death already, so honestly, it needs to be something truly new to get me excited.

The original Texas Chainsaw Massacre’s most famous scenes, like the dinner table sequence or Leatherface’s sudden attacks, have been endlessly copied. If A24 can create a genuinely terrifying new moment, their version of the film will immediately stand out as far superior to the other sequels.

6. Don’t Explain Too Much

The original film offers a brief, unsettling glimpse into a hidden, disturbing side of America, deliberately leaving many questions unanswered. This ambiguity is a key part of what makes The Texas Chainsaw Massacre so compelling, inviting viewers to imagine what lies beneath the surface. However, it’s proven difficult to maintain that same sense of mystery over the years with so many follow-up films.

If A24 wants Leatherface and his family to be genuinely scary, they need to avoid over-explaining their backstory. Revealing too much detail actually diminishes the fear, making the characters seem ordinary or even silly. The new film and series should create a sense of mystery, leaving the audience intrigued without giving everything away.

5. Connect The Texas Chainsaw Massacre To The Modern Day

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre reflects the anxieties of the era it was made in, and was directly inspired by real-life events. The most effective horror films feel rooted in reality, though achieving that is often difficult. A modern update from A24 could revitalize Texas Chainsaw and make it relevant again.

Fifty years after the original, a lot has changed, and the Texas Chainsaw franchise needs to move forward. While the spirit of Tobe Hooper’s gritty, shocking film was perfect for its time, a new film could explore relevant issues facing audiences today. It doesn’t necessarily need to be political, but it should feel current and not like a retread of the past.

4. Put Filmmaking First

A24 has built a reputation for making smart, well-crafted horror movies, and they prioritize good filmmaking. They need to stay true to that with the new Texas Chainsaw Massacre film. While the original is a classic, many of the sequels and remakes have focused on quick profits instead of quality, sacrificing artistry for cheap scares.

As a huge cinema fan, I really think the next Texas Chainsaw movie needs to focus on being genuinely good first. Forget about just trying to shock people – a well-crafted film is what the franchise deserves. What’s lasted all these years from the original 1974 movie isn’t the gore, it’s the artistry and clever filmmaking from Tobe Hooper, and that’s what they should build on.

3. Avoid Sequel Baiting

The original Texas Chainsaw Massacre has a surprisingly powerful ending because it doesn’t fully resolve the story or obviously hint at a sequel. Despite leading to over 50 years of follow-up films, it still feels like a satisfying, complete experience on its own. A24 should aim for the same approach with their new version.

While hinting at future sequels isn’t necessarily a problem, A24 should be careful not to do that with The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Overplanning can hurt a movie, and many franchises stumble because they focus too much on what could happen instead of making each film strong on its own. Letting each installment develop naturally often leads to better results.

2. Make Leatherface A Supporting Character

While Leatherface is the most recognizable figure in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies, the strongest films actually don’t center around him. Keeping him as a supporting character is what makes him truly frightening. The less we understand his motivations, the scarier he is, and he works best as a powerful enforcer for his dangerous family.

Despite his terrifying appearance – a mask made of human skin – Leatherface is still fundamentally a human character. However, when he’s the main focus, he often gets portrayed as an unstoppable villain, similar to characters like Jason Voorhees or Freddy Krueger. A24 needs to be careful not to overexpose Leatherface if they want to maintain the same level of fear he evoked in the original 1974 film.

1. It Has To Feel Real Again

Although the real story behind The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is now well-known, A24 should aim to recapture the gritty realism of the original film. The first movie felt almost like a documentary, with a dirty and unsettling visual style. A polished, modern look wouldn’t suit The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and should be avoided in favor of a more raw and authentic approach.

A raw and imperfect style would make the new Texas Chainsaw Massacre film feel more authentic, particularly if it truly blurs the line between reality and illusion. While this will be a significant hurdle for the filmmakers, it’s the most reliable path to revitalizing the struggling franchise.

2026-05-30 21:13