Sarah Stubbs | Bluesky | Instagram | Letterboxd | Website

October 11, 1974. Arguably, a date that changed horror. If you’re not familiar, this is the day The Texas Chain Saw Massacre was released. So why are we talking about it in August? Well, August 18th is known by horror fans as “Texas Chain Saw Day”! As I mentioned in my article about the Gastro History of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Franchise on Daily Dead, when fans see “August 18, 1973,” emblazoned across their screen, they know that they are about to see an "idyllic summer afternoon became a nightmare." Therefore, we thought it would be fun to celebrate with an issue celebrating this iconic film. We’ll have everything from franchise rankings, book recs, and more! We hope you enjoy celebrating this classic with us as much as we did putting this issue together for you!

Brett Petersel | Bluesky | Instagram | Letterboxd & Sarah Stubbs | Bluesky | Instagram | Letterboxd | Website

In a move that no one saw coming, Hot Topic will be acquired by Spencer Spirit Holdings, the company that runs Spencer's and Spirit Halloween. As a result, each subsidiary will continue to operate independently.

☘️ LEPRECHAUN is coming back! With a screenplay currently in development from Marcus Dunstan and Patrick Melton (THE COLLECTOR), it's safe to say that we're in for a special treat. No word yet as to whether or not Warwick Davis will be returning, but we'll be patiently waiting at the end of the rainbow for this!

🪚 With Texas Chain Saw Day coming up on August 18th. and the original 1974 playing in theaters (in 4K!) for that one night only, two exclusives will be heading our way: The first official still from the hand-animated rotoscoped version of the 1974 film has been released (with a 2027 debut planned). In addition, Dread Central, its parent company Be Afraid Media, and the Creepy podcast have teamed up to produce an original four-minute theatrical-only audio experience that will play before the film exclusively in theaters on August 18th. 

🐊 Who let the crocs out (Who?! Who?!)! Alexandre Aja is ready to get behind the camera once again to film a sequel to his film, CRAWL. This time around, CRAWL 2, which will star both Mason Gooding and Emily Rudd, takes place in New York where alligators will fill the streets following a hurricane.

😱 To celebrate the 30th anniversary of SCREAM, David Arquette will be touring around the U.S. as part of the Behind the Scream Tour, where he'll do a moderated interview and Q&A following a screening of the classic film. Learn more about the event and check out the tour dates here.

🧠 While we can't wait for SMILE 3, Parkin Finn has been busy with his latest film, POSSESSION, a remake (reimagining?) of Andrzej Żuławski's classic 1981 film, that will star both Callum Turner and Margaret Qualley. The film will be released in theaters on June 11, 2027.

The Horrorverse and Macabre Daily crew have put together their franchise rankings! Do you agree? Share yours in the comments!

Brett Petersel | Ryan Fitzmartin | Sarah Stubbs

Do you love The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and want to watch more films just like it? The Horrorverse Team has you covered! Here are our recs!

Sarah Stubbs | Bluesky | Instagram | Letterboxd | Website

Movie: Leatherface (2017)

Synopsis: A young nurse is kidnapped by a group of violent teens who escape from a mental hospital and take her on the road trip from hell. Pursued by an equally deranged lawman out for revenge, one of the teens is destined for tragedy and horrors that will destroy his mind, moulding him into a monster named Leatherface.

Why I Chose This Film: I selected Leatherface (2017) because not only do I have a fun recipe for it, but I actually really like this movie! It won't work for everyone but I think the way it subverts our expectations for the franchise is interesting. The only thing I don't love about the film it how, like the remake, it removed all elements of cannibalism. Despite that, it's still worth a watch!

Pairing Idea: Since Texas is known for barbeque and meat is generally part of Texas Chain Saw Massacre lore, I thought I'd share the sliders we did over on Geeks Who Eat when Leatherface had it's home release. They are one of my favorite recipes because I love the photos!

WHAT TO WATCH & TRAILERVILLE

Looking for new things to watch? Check out Sarah's Gastro Horror Guide for August and her July Highlights posts for some ideas! She also put together a list of some of her favorites from Week 1 of the 100 Horror Movies in 92 Days Challenge if you're looking for a bit more inspiration!

Sarah Stubbs | Bluesky | Instagram | Letterboxd | Website

Candi is in the process of moving this week so y'all get my recs this week! I thought instead of individual reviews of books that had vibes similar to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, I'd share some of my favorite books about the film itself. These won't include individual reviews because I love them all for the same reason: they talk about the various aspects of one of my all-time favorite films! Instead, I'm providing the publisher's synopsis of each.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre: The Film That Terrified a Rattled Nation by Joseph Lanza- Joseph Lanza transports the reader back to the tumultuous era of the 1970s defined by political upheaval, cultural disillusionment, and the perceived decay of the nuclear family in the wake of Watergate, the onslaught of serial killers in the US, as well as mounting racial and sexual tensions. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre: The Film That Terrified a Rattled Nation sets the themes of the film against the backdrop of the political and social American climate to understand why the brutal slasher flick connected with so many viewers.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre by James Rose- No-one who has ever seen the original The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) is ever likely to forget the experience. An intense fever dream (or nightmare), it is remarkable for its sense of sustained threat and depiction of an insane but nonetheless (dys)functional family on the furthest reaches of society who have regressed to cannibalism in the face of economic hardship. As well as providing a summary of the making of the film, James Rose discusses the extraordinary censorship history of the film in the UK (essentially banned for two decades) and provides a detailed textual analysis of the film with particular reference to the concept of 'the Uncanny'. He also situates the film in the context of horror film criticism (the 'Final Girl' character) and discusses its influence and subsequent sequels and remakes.

The Legacy of Leatherface: Essays on the Texas Chainsaw Massacre Series edited by Shane H. Weathers- This collection is the first to examine the The Texas Chainsaw Massacre film series in its entirety, with separate essays devoted to each of the films. Contributors analyze narrative and stylistic evolutions across the franchise, exploring how each installment reflects changing cultural attitudes while also considering how it builds upon or diverges from the original. The volume offers new insights into the study of film franchises, demonstrating how The Texas Chain Saw Massacre's cultural significance is inseparable from the sequels that followed.

💀 TABOO TERROR: The Adventures of Abe Snake & The Early Erotica of Wes "Hot Tracks" Craven (READ)

💀 COLLECTOR'S CRYPT - "SAURIANS" (VISUAL VENGEANCE BLU-RAY) (READ)

💀 SCARED SANE: “ARTICHOKE” (2026) Exposes The Heart Of A Survivor (REVIEW)

💀 “TEENAGE SEX AND DEATH AT CAMP MIASMA” (2026) Is A Surrealist Erotic Meta-Horror Slasher For Millennials (REVIEW)

💀 Reflections Of Extremity: Victim Blaming And Systemic Failure In "I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE 2" (2013) (READ)