A little over a month after we lost George Romero another horror great has shuffled off the mortal coil. Yesterday, Tobe Hooper died at the age of 74. I don't need to tell you that Tobe Hooper was best known for his film Texas Chainsaw Massacre. To be honest, I was never really much of a fan of TCM, I recognize it for the classic that it is, but it's always bothered me that a movie that has "chainsaw massacre" in the title has only one chainsaw death. However, I really enjoy a lot of his other movies, and if you haven't seen them, then you totally should. Here they are in no particular order....
The Funhouse
The Funhouse is one of those quintessential 80's slasher film. A double date decides to stay overnight on the lot of a fair ground. If you've ever spent time at one of these things, the prospect of staying overnight in proximity of carnies doing god knows what doesn't sound like a romantic double-date scenario to me. You find out why as these kids are chased around and hunted by a creep in a mask. I'll get into more detail about this one later as it is on the Video Nasty list, so lets move onto the next one. Shout! Factory has recently done a remastered release of this movie and it is gorgeous.
Lifeforce
Three words: Naked Space Vampires.
If that doesn't sell you on this movie, Patrick Stewart gets possessed by one. If you've ever wanted to see Captain Picard pretending to be a voluptuous woman, you need not look further.
Body Bags (The Eye)
Technically, this is a John Carpenter movie. However, the third vignette in this anthology film was directed by none other than Tobe Hooper himself. It stars Mark Hamill as a Major League Baseball player who loses an eye in a car accident. It raises some interesting questions like: "If I got an eye transplant from a violent criminal would that turn me evil?" and "What does Mark Hamill's nutsack look like?" You will find the answer to those and more in this movie.