Stephen King Reveals the One Horror Movie That Disturbed Him the Most

Stephen King has spent decades scaring readers and movie fans, but one horror film managed to deeply disturb him long after he watched it.

The famous author recently spoke about the movie that stayed with him more than any other. The comments came from a clip shared by Variety from a new documentary called Chain Reactions. The film looks at the lasting impact of the 1974 horror classic The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The documentary is set to premiere on September 19 in New York City.

According to King, the movie hit him harder because of when and how he saw it. He did not watch The Texas Chainsaw Massacre when it first came out. Instead, he saw it years later in a mostly empty theater. That quiet setting made the experience even stronger.

King explained that watching a movie alone can make it feel more intense. “I was in the theater almost by myself. That’s when a movie really has a tendency to work on you, to get its cold little fingers under your skin,” he said in the clip.

He also talked about how real the movie felt. The rough look of the film and the lack of polish made it scarier to him. “It just looks f**** real,” King said. He pointed out that the people on screen did not feel like actors. “They look like they came from the nearest little Texas town,” he added.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was directed by Tobe Hooper and co-created with Kim Henkel. The movie introduced the character Leatherface and followed a group of people who fall into the hands of a violent family in rural Texas. Over time, the film grew into a major horror franchise with several sequels and spin-offs.

The Chain Reactions documentary does not focus only on King. It also features other voices from film and pop culture. These include comedian Patton Oswalt, filmmaker Karyn Kusama, director Takashi Miike, and horror critic Alexandra Heller-Nicholas. Each of them shares how the movie affected their work and their view of horror.

King’s comments stand out because of his status in the genre. He has written many stories that became famous films, including Carrie, The Shining, Cujo, and IT. Hearing that a single movie still unsettles him says a lot about the power of that film.

True horror does not need big effects or complex stories. Sometimes, a raw and honest film can be far more disturbing. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre proves that fear can last for decades when it feels real. What do you think about Stephen King’s choice? Did that movie scare you too, or is there another horror film that stuck with you? Share your thoughts in the comments.