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| Tobe Hooper taking questions at a 40th anniversary celebration of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre in Paris Photo: Lionel Allorge |
Tobe Hooper, the horror legend behind The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Poltergeist, The Funhouse and more, died yesterday in Los Angeles at the age of 74. Falling in love with film when he first held a camera at the age of nine, he devoted his whole life to the industry, and though he never won a mainstream award he has been credited as one of the most influential filmmakers of his generation.
The news of Hooper's passing hit hard at Frightfest, where horror fans had gathered together to watch, amongst other things, the eighth film in the Texas Chainsaw series, Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo's Leatherface. Maury said that it had been "a real pleasure" to work with the characters and scenario he created. Barbara Crampton, also attending the festival, said "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is the best and scariest horror movie of all time."
Hooper was widely respected not only for his craft as a filmmaker, but for his wide ranging knowledge and insight into the industry. He had many friends in the close-knit horror community. James Wan described him as "one of the nicest people."
Alongside his films, Hooper made music videos and directed a popular TV mini-series adaptation of Stephen King's book Salem's Lot.
Hooper is survived by two sons.
