Like Psycho, Tobe Hooper's 1974 ultra-low-budget exploitation film The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was loosely based on the case of Wisconsin killer Ed Gein. But though both films prominently feature taxidermy, transvestitism, and brutal slayings, they don't have much else in common. In fact, while Psycho is still revered for its artistry and wit, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre remains a horror staple due to its distinct lack of both qualities. In many ways, the movie served as a bridge between Hitchcock's 1960 classic and John Carpenter's 1978 breakthrough Halloween, yet The Texas Chainsaw Massacre's stark realism and no-frills camera work ensure that Hooper's movie will always stick out from its more stylish counterparts. The film isn't really any gorier than Psycho or Halloween, but it's a lot more brutal and far more disturbing, with a plot that's clearly a precursor to the numerous slasher films of the late '70s and early '80s: A van full of young adults runs out of gas in the wrong part of Texas, falling prey to an inbred band of cannibals. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre has been interpreted as a parody of the nuclear family—"the family that slays together stays together"—and Wes Craven more or less ripped off Hooper's film for 1977's more overtly satirical but no less creepy The Hills Have Eyes. But the "special edition" DVD offers an entertaining audio commentary courtesy of Hooper, director of photography Daniel Pearl, and Leatherface actor Gunnar Hansen that indicates the film isn't quite as political as some make it out to be. Pearl, for example, can barely suppress a giggle when he says the movie was partly inspired by Watergate, and most of the commentary focuses on the grueling conditions of the shoot rather than any subtext that can be read into a chainsaw-wielding lunatic cross-dresser. Listening to the filmmakers reminisce while the movie plays out adds a note of levity to an otherwise humorless film, as their nervous laughter and stories of tormenting actress Marilyn Burns are at odds with the shocking, documentary-quality scenes transpiring on screen. Equally enticing are a series of bloopers and excised scenes, as well as several trailers, a fresh widescreen transfer, and new stereo sound. But be forewarned: This isn't for everyone, as even a bunch of DVD treats won't change the minds of those put off by Chainsaw Massacre's intensity and sadism.