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Fortunately, "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" (we assume you're referring to the original 1974 masterpiece) is a work of fiction. We regret to report, however, that it was inspired by real life incidents that were far more lurid than anything the film portrayed. The crown jewel of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre Yahoo! Category is undoubtedly Tim Harden's fan site. This massive resource is truly a labor of love (or obsession), replete with location and filming details, a "where are they now?" feature, and an exhaustive
FAQ. As Mr. Harden explains, the film's writer and director, Tobe Hooper, was partially inspired by the infamous Ed Gein case. Throughout the 1950s in Plainsfield, Wisconsin, the severely disturbed Mr. Gein basically laid the blueprint for sexually confused psychopaths. This BBC article offers the details, but please be advised that they are extremely graphic. (Ed Gein's story inspired other horror classics, including Psycho and The Silence of the Lambs.) According to the Urban Legends Reference Pages, Tobe Hooper found additional inspiration in a display of chainsaws in a department store.
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