Sci-Fi Bulletin: Exploring the Universes of SF, Fantasy, Horror and Spy-fi!

Legendary American director Tobe Hooper has died, aged 74.

Infamous for his helming of the original The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, released in 1974, Hooper was also the director of Poltergeist for Steven Spielberg, which followed eight years later. Other movies included Lifeforce, Invaders from Mars, and a Stephen King adaptation, The Mangler.

His work for television included the miniseries based on King’s Salem’s Lot, starring David Soul and James Mason, as well as episodes of Amazing Stories, Freddie’s Nightmares, Taken and Masters of Horror.

Tributes have been forthcoming from many fellow directors including Edgar Wright: “Very sad to hear of the passing of Tobe Hooper, another master of horror. He conjured some truly shattering, unforgettable moments in film.”