I’ll admit it: I’ve always been afraid of watching The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Call me crazy, but I’m a little apprehensive about watching a power tool-wielding serial killer and his inbred cannibal family hunt down college kids.

So when I heard the American Cinematheque was screening Tobe Hooper’s 1974 film on a rooftop as part of the Old Pasadena Film Festival, I decided the time had come to confront my Leatherfaceophobia.

Before writing the rest of this post, I’m going to pop this bad mother into the DVD player and take it for a spin. In case I don’t survive, here are all the pertinent details for tonight’s event:

The movie screens tonight at 10:00 p.m. on the rooftop of the School House Structure (33 East Green St.) in Pasadena. Admission is free and is first-come first-served. Director Tobe Hooper will [HOPEFULLY]* introduce the film. Additional information is available on the festival’s official site.

Okay, here we go. My reaction after the jump.

Oh my God.

What … have … I … done?

Did I mention they’re also showing Mary Poppins on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. as part of the Festival?

Or Roman Holiday the following Friday?

Or how about Casablanca, Grease, or the Lord of the Rings trilogy? All are also showing the following weekend.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to do something I haven’t done in quite a while.

Our Father,
Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name . . .

* UPDATE: The Cinematheque is hoping that Tobe Hooper will introduce the film. But it’s not 100% guaranteed.
Image: Gunnar Hansen (top) and Marilyn Burns in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

Related posts:

1. bLA podcast: Edgar Wright with Timothy Dalton and Joe Dante
2. Chainsaw Awards!
3. Men Fear Death, as Children Fear to Go in the Dark
4. It’s shorts weather.
5. For hate’s sake, I spit my last breath at thee