The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

A small group of young people encounter a cannibalistic family with a penchant for torture and sadism while on a otherwise pleasant afternoon drive through the rural part of Texas. The terror continues well into the night and if anyone survives, it will only be at the expense of their own sanity. Manages to shock and horrify with very little gore and lots of subtle pitch-black humor, much of which is disturbingly funny (though it may take multiple viewings to catch). Still praised by many as Hooper's best effort. Followed by three sequels and an inferior remake.

A gritty and horrific masterpiece in horror, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is utterly disturbing. Surprisingly, the film lacks blood and gore, instead letting the viewer's imagination fill in all the grisly details. This is for the better, as it makes the film much more psychological, and makes so much more of an impact on the viewer.