Esssay

Similarities And Differences

Similarities:


They both have a final girl
Both stories are set in 1970’s
Issues and debates such as, captialism, canniblaism, is emphasised.
Both follow todorovs theory

Differences

In first one sally the final girl is shown as a bimbo
In the second one erin the final girl is shown as a heroine as she is shown to be hot wiring a car.
The new one is not censored
The ending is very different

Texas Chainsaw Massacre Essay:

Both The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (2003) are b from the slasher genre and follow the same generic convention such as the final girl and the stereotypical male killer.

As both the films have been produced in different eras the audience’s will vary and therefore there expectations of the films will also be different. The 1974 Texas chainsaw massacre will appeal to a target audience of 15-20 teenagers however the new one could appeal to an older audience as well as teenagers as the older audience may want to watch the remake as they have seen the 1974 version. The 1974 Texas Chainsaw massacre was censored therefore the audiences reaction to the film will differ hugely to the 2003 Texas chainsaw massacre as that one is a a lot more gruesome and creates more of a visceral reaction as the shots and sounds they use in the 2003 TCM are a lot more effective.

The narrative of the two Texas Chainsaw Massacre are also very different, the beginning of Texas Chainsaw Massacre the five friends pick up a crazy ,male hitchicker who slits his arm with a knife however the 2003 Texas chainsaw massacre opening is of 5 friends that pick up a female hitchicker but instead of slitting her wrists she shoots herself, this refelect’s society as gun crime is increasing.

The final girl must follow a theory of sex equals death. This theory is applied in the 2003 TCM as the couple die as they have had sex.There is a visible final girl in both 1974 TCM and 2003 TCM, this gives the idea that they are seen to be more superior to males as they are the ones who survive. This goes against the stereotypical women that are often portrayed on other films. The ‘final girl’ is a character used in many slasher films.

Todorov narrative theory is applied to both of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre films, the equilibrium is where everything is calm and exciting with the 5 friends, the disequilibrium occurs when the killing begin and the resolution can be showed through the final girl survivng the killer.

The ending of the films is also different in some aspects, at the end of the first film the character relies on someone else to give her a lift back to safety, in the new film the final girl makes her own way back home by steeling the police car and then driving away, even though it may seem irrelevant, the way the film ends is important in terms of female representation.The female character made her own way home this shows the movements of females and that they have the ability to be independent by helping herself it reflects the way women are in today’s society.

Over all both the 1974 and 2003 Texas Chanisaw Massacre share many of the same aspects however also have differences.