Documentarian Alexandre O. Philippe (Memory: The Origins of Alien) takes a unique approach with his upcoming documentary Chain Reactions, exploring the lasting impact of a horror classic.
Chain Reactions opens in NYC & LA on September 19 before expanding nationwide on September 26.
In the documentary, “Fifty years after Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre shocked the world and forever changed the face of global cinema and popular culture, Chain Reactions charts the film’s profound impact and lasting influence on five great artists – Patton Oswalt, Takashi Miike, Alexandra Heller- Nicholas, Stephen King, and Karyn Kusama – through early memories, sensory experiences, and childhood trauma. By crafting a dynamic dialogue between contemporary footage and never-before-seen outtakes and delving into personal impressions triggered by distinct audiovisual formats (16mm, 35mm, VHS, digital), Chain Reactions goes to the heart of how a scruffy, no-budget independent film wormed its way into our collective nightmares and permanently altered the zeitgeist.”
The goal? In Philippe’s words, to “forever change the way you watch or think about the film.”
Alex DiVincenzo wrote in his festival review, “Without an overarching narrative, Chain Reactions can feel more like a collection of featurettes (albeit quite handsomely produced ones) than a proper documentary, but its intimate structure is a refreshing change of pace from the standard talking-head format.”
Philippe has developed his own brand of “cinema essay,” exploring the art of filmmaking and its practitioners through unique genre-focused documentaries including Psycho doc 78/52, Memory: The Origins of Alien, Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on The Exorcist, and Lynch/Oz. His latest, Kim Novak’s Vertigo, will premiere at the Venice Film Festival on September 1st, 2025.
Watch the new trailer below, which spotlights Stephen King, and look for Chain Reactions next month.