Godspeed Tobe Hooper, Thanks For The Scares

Not very often in the horror community will a name get universal praise and admiration. But Tobe Hooper is one of those.

The last few years have not been good to us horror fans. First we lost Wes Craven and then George Romero, and now the legendary Tobe Hooper.

The horror world was rocked when we received word that the legendary director had passed away on Aug. 25, 2017, at the age of 74. Hooper, hailing from Austin, Texas, turned the horror world upside down with the release of the brilliant and seminal classic The Texas Chainsaw Massacre in 1974.

I doubt Hooper realized the impact this film would have such a huge influence on other filmmakers and the horror world. Hell The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was one of the films I fell in love with and drew me into horror, and I will be forever indebted to Tobe Hooper for that.

LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 05: Producer Tobe Hooper arrives at the premiere of New Line’s ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning’ at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on October 5, 2006 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images)

Shot for a little over $300,000 with a cast of new actors, they set out to make a terrifying horror film. The film succeeded and still stands the test of time and gets better with every viewing. What made The Texas Chainsaw Massacre so effective was by today’s standards it is not all that gory.

By showing very little blood and gore it is left up to the viewer to fill in the blanks. Hooper knew that an audience would make it worse in their mind than anything he could ever show on-screen. The first time you see it, you are pretty sure you saw a horrible bloody massacre, but you really don’t. And for that I salute his ingenuity.

I don’t want to turn this into a celebration of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre but to celebrate the man we lost and the other amazing films he has turned out over the years. Reading over Hooper’s filmography is like reading a list of my favorite horror films from when I was a kid and even now.

Some of the other masterpieces Hooper was responsible for directing include The Funhouse (1981), Poltergeist (1982), The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986), Salem’s Lot (1979). Hooper also did television work directing an episode of Tales From the Crypt (1991) an episode of Masters of Horror (2004-2005) and even an episode of Freddy’s Nightmares (1988).

LOS ANGELES – MARCH 30: Directors George Romero (L), John Landis and Tobe Hooper pose at a party to celebrate Showtime’s series ‘Masters of Horror’ at Element on March 30, 2005 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

With the loss of Tobe Hooper I feel like a part of my childhood is gone with him. The outpouring of support on Twitter from the likes of Stephen King, Eli Roth, John Carpenter, William Friedkin and Tom Savini show how much love and inspiration this one man could give.

Next: Thoughts from the ledge on Tobe Hooper

Everyone here at 1428 Elm is devastated and our thoughts are with the Hooper family in this difficult time. Godspeed Mr. Hooper and thanks for the scares.

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