Chainsaws Were Singing Delivers a Wild Mix of Horror, Comedy, Music, and Old-School Grindhouse Flair
The Estonian genre film Chainsaws Were Singing arrives with a bold promise: a horror-comedy musical packed with chainsaws, gore, romance, and chaotic energy. Directed by Sander Maran, the movie blends slasher thrills, absurd humor, and occasional musical numbers into a low-budget but ambitious experience that’s already gaining cult-film attention.
Shot in 2013 but released only in 2024 after nearly a decade of post-production, the film follows Maria (Laura Niils) and Tom (Karl-Joosep Ilves). They fall in love instantly, but their new romance is wrecked when a chainsaw-wielding maniac known simply as Killer (Martin Ruus) abducts Maria. Tom teams up with a local eccentric named Jaan (Janno Puusepp) and sets out to rescue her, kicking off a bloody, bizarre adventure.
The movie stands out by mixing familiar slasher imagery with musical sequences that reveal character motivations rather than overwhelm the narrative. Even the Killer gets his own show-stopping number, complete with talking severed heads, knife juggling, and buckets of blood, leaning into the film’s over-the-top personality. Maran uses the musical format to compactly advance plot points while still embracing the movie’s gritty, intimate presentation.
Visually, Chainsaws Were Singing embraces the look of 1970s grindhouse cinema, using 16mm-style aesthetics that echo classics like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. The setting feels timeless and deliberately vague, often appearing as though it could exist in 1978, 1999, or today, which enhances the film’s retro-horror vibe. Fans of grindhouse visuals will catch the washed-out sun, dusty rural paths, and bright natural colors that define this throwback look.
Despite its modest budget, the film maximizes strangeness with cartoonish gore, exaggerated kills, and outrageous sight gags that lean into splatter-comedy territory reminiscent of films like Peter Jackson’s Dead Alive. Its characters are intentionally broad, but Martin Ruus brings surprising nuance to the Killer, giving him personality beyond typical slasher archetypes.
Chainsaws Were Singing has been well-received on the festival circuit, picking up awards such as Best Horror Movie at Fantastic Fest 2024 and Best Film at Buenos Aires Rojo Sangre 2024, with additional recognition at Fantasia International Film Festival. You can find official details on the film at its website: Chainsaws Were Singing. Distribution in North America is handled by Dark Star Pictures and Red Water Entertainment, with a broader rollout scheduled to continue through 2025.
The film runs approximately 117 minutes, and while some reviewers highlight minor pacing issues, most agree its wild creativity makes it a unique entry in the horror-musical niche. Critics also note that its absurdity and gore might not appeal to mainstream audiences, but genre fans will likely embrace its chaotic charm. Reviews from sites like Collider, Loud and Clear Reviews, and Bloody Disgusting consistently emphasize its unusual blend of styles and its confident commitment to weirdness.
Now available to rent or purchase on major VOD platforms, Chainsaws Were Singing is poised to become a midnight-movie favorite thanks to its bloody spectacle, musical detours, and playful affection for classic horror setups. For fans who love bizarre genre mash-ups, this film is absolutely worth seeking out.
