1.1323057-3633887531
Matthew Bomer and Taylor Handley in New Line Cinema's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006) Image Credit: Supplied

A restored version of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre marking the slasher film’s 40th anniversary will be shown in Cannes next month as part of the Directors’ Fortnight.

Tobe Hooper’s 1974 horror movie about a group of friends who run into a family of cannibals was originally banned in several countries due to its violence.

But the low-budget film — made by Hooper for less than $300,000 (Dh1.1 million) — went on to become a box office smash leading to a hugely profitable and long-running franchise.

An independent event started by the French Directors’ Guild in the late 1960s, the Fortnight runs alongside the main May 14-25 Cannes Film Festival with the aim of discovering new talent and saluting the work of established directors.

Other films by established names include Queen and Country by Britain’s John Boorman and The Tale of Princess Kaguya by Japan’s Isao Takahata.

The non-competitive event will run from May 15-25.