★★★★

Through the testimony of five creatives, each distinctly influenced by Tobe Hooper’s 1974 film, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, director Alexandre O. Phillippe gets his hooks into exploring the lasting legacy of the grimy, raw, and iconic cinematic classic. Nothing looked or felt like Massacre when it was released and that still holds true today.

Actor Patton Oswalt, director Takashi Miike, film critic and writer Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, author Stephen King, and director Karyn Kusawa offer personal reflections and discuss the film’s cultural legacy.

While the significance of the film may still be dismissed by non-horror movie fans, there is a reason why the film has stood the test of time for more than 50 years. By digging into the complexities of the story, praising the artistry and the emotions it stirs within viewers, Chain Reactions does all it can to convince the non-believers.

Chain Reactions was viewed as part of the 51st Seattle International Film Festival.