Chain Reactions

Philippe actively avoids traditional “movies about movies” traps in his filmography, which often play out through talking heads espousing anecdotes, trivia, or just their love for a movie. With “Chain Reactions,” Philippe almost leans into the hagiographic approach in a way he hasn’t really done before, but it works because of how he structures his five interviews. He takes a quintet of famous fans of Tobe Hooper’s “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” and basically asks them to explain why the movie has haunted and inspired them. All five are interesting speakers—a testament to Philippe’s interviewing skill—but what’s really fascinating about “Chain Reactions” is how much they approach Hooper’s work from personal angles. This was a movie that shaped lives. And that kind of ripple effect from one masterful artist like Hooper to others is interesting and even encouraging.