Brady Corbet Reveals Details on His Horror-Western Epic Inspired by The Texas Chain Saw Massacre: “It’s a different period of world history”

Brady Corbet is currently enjoying widespread critical acclaim as his latest film, The Brutalist, has become a major success both within the Academy and beyond. The 2024 historical drama earned the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival and won Corbet Best Director honors at the Golden Globes and BAFTAs.

Additionally, the film received three Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay.

Corbet however has no plans to stop as he revealed that his next film will be a horror-western set in the 1970s, inspired by The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Unlike his previous films, this one will have a looser style while still exploring themes of immigration, specifically the journey from China to California.

In a recent interview, Corbet shared more details, saying the film will span 150 years, though most of the story takes place in the 1970s. He described it as being about American mysticism and other topics that deeply interest him.

“It’s a different period of world history… it spans 150 years. I would say a majority of the film takes place in the 70s. It’s sort of about American mysticism and many things I’m fascinated by.”

Corbet got the idea for his new film after hosting a Halloween watch party for The Texas Chain Saw Massacre with his partner, filmmaker Mona Fastvold, their 10-year-old daughter Ada, and some friends.

Corbet, a big fan of the 1974 horror classic, didn’t think twice about showing the cannibal-themed movie to his daughter. However, Fastvold, who had never seen it before, was shocked and told him he was crazy for thinking it was appropriate for a child.

Their reaction gave Corbet the idea for his next film. After the huge success of The Brutalist, which is expected to win big at the Oscars, he felt he had a unique opportunity. He told The New Yorker that his first thought was, “Now I can make something that really shocks people.” He believes this is the perfect time to create a film that challenges audiences and pushes boundaries, saying, “I think they can handle it.“

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