The Texas Chain Saw Massacre among 5 notable horror movies turning 50 this year

The year 1974 was significant for the horror genre thanks to the release of hugely influential slasher films like Tobe Hooper's The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Black Christmas from director Bob Clark. Both films helped to pave the way for the next generation of horror, influencing other classics like Halloween, The Hills Have Eyes, Evil Dead, and more.

In honor of it being 50 years later and the upcoming official anniversary date of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, we're taking a look at other horror movies from that year that hit the big 5-0 in 2024.

1. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

Considered one of the best and most influential slasher movies of all time, Tobe Hooper's The Texas Chain Saw Massacre single-handedly laid the groundwork for decades of horror movies to come. The film gave us a fantastic (and underrated) final girl in Sally Hardesty (played by Marilyn Burns) and introduced Leatherface into the horror lexicon.

2. Black Christmas

Director Bob Clark is a notable filmmaker responsible for some of Canada's most popular movies. Black Christmas sometimes gets overlooked despite being one of the prototypical slasher films, even predating John Carpenter's Halloween. Thankfully, the film has garnered a significant cult following over the years and has even been remade twice, in 2006 and 2019.

Considering the era in which this movie was released, it's impressive to rewatch it in 2024 and appreciate how progressive Black Christmas was for its time with its titular character (and final girl) Jess (Olivia Hussey) planning to have an abortion and openly discussing it in the movie.

3. It's Alive

One of director Larry Cohen's most memorable movies, It's Alive is one of the earliest "evil child" movies around, predating even The Omen and Children of the Corn.

The 1974 film spawned a few follow-ups, including It Lives Again and It's Alive 3. In 2008, German filmmaker Josef Rusnak remade the movie, though the film was critically panned. It's Alive might not be considered a hallmark of horror classics, but it does feature one of the scariest kids in horror movie history.

4. Phase IV

Outside of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Black Christmas, many 1974 horror movies grew in popularity long after their release due to forming a cult following. Phase IV, a sci-fi film about giant invading ants, is one of several that has garnered such a following, largely in part due to being featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000.

5. Vampyres

This British horror movie about a pair of lesbian vampire lovers has received its fair share of scrutiny over the years due to its depiction of female sexuality, but I have to say it was a pretty formative film for me as a young bisexual woman, and it's understandable why this film has formed a devoted cult following since its release.

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