Product Details

• Actors: Jessica Biel, Jonathan Tucker, Andrew Bryniarski, Erica Leerhsen, Mike Vogel
• Directors: Marcus Nispel
• Writers: Kim Henkel, Scott Kosar, Tobe Hooper
• Producers: Andrew Form, Bradley Fuller, Guy Stodel, Jeffrey Allard
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dubbed, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: New Line Home Video
• VHS Release Date: March 30, 2004
• Run Time: 98 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (693 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00018D45O
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #679,170 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "You're all going to die...", March 30, 2004

By 

Michael Crane (Orland Park, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (New Line Platinum Series) (DVD)

Just when you thought the original was disturbing, gross, disgusting, and frightening, now comes the updated version, "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre," which knows no limits when it comes to gore and intensely terrifying moments. Is it a remake? Not necessarily. However, it is more like a movie that pays tribute to a great classic by offering its own vision of a well-known nightmare of limbs and guts.

While characters and some of the story has changed, the deranged and murderous plot remains the same. An unspeakable turn of events (I will not give away how it all starts, as it is very different from the original) lands a group of teens in a nightmarish maze that throws a mutilated man who wields a giant chainsaw in their path. Not to mention the "crazy" family that turns out to be just as vicious and murderous. For these teens, a safe place is nowhere in their short and painful future.

As I said in the beginning, this is not a remake. Nor is this a sequel. So what is it? Well, I like to think of it as an "updated" version of the original--in fact, I consider it more of a tribute to the classic that redefined the horror genera as we know it. This movie, while much more darker, sinister, and sicker, is not trying to live up to the original, nor is it trying to outdo it. I had to smile, as this was not a step-by-step remake, such as the newer "Psycho" was. There are new elements, characters, and plot twists thrown into the mix. And to be honest... it works.

I must confess, I had an unquestionably hard time trying to watch this movie. There were a bunch of moments that made me want to shut it off, and yet--I continued to watch the debauchery. There is a sick and twisted fascination that this movie exploits from us, knowing that we're going continue to watch no matter what. The original was choppy and had a very low-budget, so while it was undeniably violent and brutal it wasn't as hard to take. This new version is in no way a Grade-B movie. It's extremely realistic in its absolute brutality. This shouldn't even be considered as a choice for people who have a hard time watching violence, gore and torture. This movie takes it to the limit and is unapologetic.

Even though this was a hard movie to watch, I have to confess that I liked it. It is great to finally see a horror movie that isn't overly goofy. This is a straight-up and serious slasher movie that does what it's supposed to do--TERRIFY US. An element sadly forgotten by most of the horror flops that come out now. Maybe they can take a page from this movie and perhaps learn something. The acting is surprisingly good, the script is quite believable and is rarely cheesy or lame, and the film looks fantastic. Not a bad job for director Marcus Nispel.

This 2-Disc special edition (a single disc version is also available for those who aren't giant fans of the movie) has some tasty extras. As I said, the film looks and sounds great. You even have the choice of watching it in DTS if your little heart desires to do so. Special features include documentaries, deleted scenes, commentary, trailers, TV spots and a whole lot more. The star of the special features is an exclusive documentary on the notorious killer, Ed Gein, who inspired the original film. It's a really interesting feature and is the main reason to purchase this edition of the movie. The behind-the-scenes documentary (over an hour long) is also worth the money, as well.

"The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" is an unforgiving bloodbath that sends you to the butcher's with bloody front-row seats. It's not better than the original, and it is not trying to be. This film is more of a tribute to an undeniable classic. It's an entertaining new vision and interpretation of the original. If you're looking for a straight-up horror movie that isn't trying to be cutesy or is striving for pop status, then this is the one for you. Just remember one thing... once you open the door, there's no going back. A disturbing, and yet involving horror film that will stay in your head for days. -Michael Crane

58 of 76 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A symphony of horrors, October 22, 2003

By 

A. Estes (Maine) - See all my reviews

I honestly don't understand how anyone who has actually SEEN this movie can trash it. I can describe in one word: Incredible. This isn't "Psycho 1999." This is a tasteful remake that actually turns out to be just as scary and brutal as the movie it's based around. As a fan of the original "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and it's sequels (well, part 2 was good anyways), I'll admit I had my doubts about this movie. I'm not a fan of remakes in general and it seemed like sort of a waste of time. But believe me when I say this, this movie will blow your mind. Leatherface isn't the coward he was presented as in a few of the sequels and the family is far-less cartoony. In fact, the whole movie is very loosely based on the first; it only shares a few common factors. The characters are very strong and very well "fleshed" out. This is the key to a good horror movie. When you care about the characters, you are in suspense when their lives are in peril. There are several gripping moments that completely lock you into this movie. Even when you may want to look away, you just can't. The story revolves around a group of five young adults, strangers to each other, on their way back from Mexico with a giant stash of marijuana, on their way to a Lynyrd Skynyrd concert (this, like the original, takes place in 1973). As it would happen, a series of events (which I shouldn't go into detail about) puts their lives in peril. This movie has everything: suspense, plot-twists, great characters, top-notch gore, good acting. The bond that is made and the unconditional friendship between the characters glues this movie together. I honestly can't think of a flaw. This movie just grabs you for the whole 100 minutes it stays on screen. I now sit here, after seeing the original dozens of times, and I can honestly tell you: this remake needed to be made. As much as I love the first, and even though I still prefer it, this "up-dating" was sorely needed. And maybe this is a bold statement, but this is, hands down, the best horror movie we have seen so far this millennium. And with plenty of other excellent horrors behind us this year (Freddy Vs. Jason, House of 1000 Corpses, Final Destination 2) I think it's safe to say that horror is alive (errr...dead) and well, and ready for business again.

26 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars IF IT AIN'T BROKE..., May 21, 2004

By 

Lawyeraau (Balmoral Castle) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (New Line Platinum Series) (DVD)

Having seen the 1974 original, I looked forward to seeing this re-make. The original had a quasi-documentary feel to it with its grainy footage and cast of virtual unknowns. The film was a visual cornucopia of terror and horror, though there was actually very little gore shown on screen. The unusually macabre sets and the relentless sound of the chainsaw bandied by Leatherface were enough to make the viewer tremble.

This re-make has stuck relatively close to the original in terms of a general story line, though there are, of course, some differences. In the re-make, a group of teens set off in their van on their way to a concert in Texas, where they end up in a rural area. After picking up a dazed, female hitchhiker, their world is turned upside down when she does the unspeakable.

They go looking for help and, unfortunately, come across a house inhabited by one heck of a family of crazies. From the moment they do so, the teens run hither and dither, as they are chased by a chainsaw wielding, leather faced maniac. Unlike the original, this film is a real slasher type horror film with plenty of blood and gore. This is the real difference between the original and the re-make.

While the re-make has much better production values than the original, as well as better acting by its cast, the original was far scarier. The director of the original, Tobe Hooper, did far more with far less. Still, if you are a fan of bloody slasher films, this is worth a rental. Better yet, rent both the original 1974 version, as well as this re-make, and then judge for yourself as to which is the superior horror flick.