Customer Reviews

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre [VHS]

5 star:		(308)
4 star:		(154)
3 star:		(80)
2 star:		(45)
1 star:		(106)

 

 

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

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.

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.

Although I love the ingenuity and imagination it takes to rehash an old classic for the kids today that don't realize the classic exists in the pursuit of fast cash-money, this, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake thoroughly offended me as a fan of the horror genre. Whenever watching remakes of old horror films that I love, I try to keep an open mind and leave my inner horror purist in the closet, but sometimes (and definitely in this case) it's hard. So for those of you that have see the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre, you will most likely be let down by the remake due to the fact that it carries none of the qualities of the original. Here's how they match up:

Original Texas Chainsaw Massacre:
1. Dark sense of humor that lay inside of dialog such as "Look what your brother did to the door!", etc..
2. We don't get any over-indulgent bullsh*t backstory about the cannibal redneck family to bog us down or to slow the pacing.
3. Leatherface maintains his annonymity by keeping his mask on.
4. All of the kids die in a pretty seamless and quick fashion.
5. The original film was much more frightening in it's semblence of realism. The cheap looking quality made it look almost documentary-esque, as if you're right there with them.
6. The crazy hitchhiker, grandpa, and the other couple of great family characters that all had contrasting personalities.
7. Leatherface had more personality and DIDN'T take off his mask (I feel the need to emphasize this).

The New Texas Chainsaw Massacre:

1. A bunch of whiney kids that I actually want to see die.
2. New "clean" hollywood look
3. A failed attempt at giving the plot a bunch of twists and turns with the family's history which just becomes redundant and boring.
4. Leatherface takes off his mask and we see his face (this killed it for me).
5. They never actually indicate that the family are crazy redneck cannibals, as far as we know leatherface just kills people for fun.
6. Leatherface had no personality at all, and served no purpose in the plot aside from the fact that he runs around with a chainsaw.
7. The pacing and poor plot development made the 92 minute film seem like a 2 hour excersize in torture (not because it's scary, because it was crap).
(...)

I could go on and on about the many flaws I see between the original and the crappy remake, but to tell you the truth, even if this wasn't a remake, it's still not a good film in any way. I was at least hoping for more gore if they were going to remake TCM correctly, and they didn't even provide me with entertainment in that department. I loathe this movie as a horror fan and as a film appreciator, it is a worthless piece of crap, used to sucker unknowing masses of teenagers into dropping their 7 bucks so that the director may reap the benefits of his rip-off-artistry. I read these reviews which describe the horror and grotesqueness of this film, how shocking an experience this film is. To those of you that wrote such a review, or feel this way about the film anyway, see the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre if you really want to see horror. You'll be getting basically the same product, except this time around you'll go running back to your precious remake begging that it take you back into the realm of polished horror, away from anything as visceral as the original.

Many people have written reviews of this film, this version and the original, and NEITHER IS A TRUE STORY! The crimes in the original version are loosely based on some unspeakable acts in the 1940's and '50's by one Ed Gein, who had nothing in common with "Leatherface". Gein lived alone in his mother's house, like Norman Bates from "Psycho," after his father drank himself to death, his brother died in a suspicious fire, and his mother's poor health finally got the best of her. He nailed all the doors to all the rooms shut, except for the kitchen and living room, the bathroom, basement, and shed. (it was a large house)

His morbid fascination with anatomy, doubts about his own sexuality, and all the insane Bible-thumping by his mother all those years, as well as his own instability, led to grave-robbing, the grim decor of the house; arm chairs made out of real arms, bowls made out of sawn-off skull caps, and many, many more grisley details, which resemble the house in the original 1974 version of the film.

Sound like the "true story" of this film?

Not in the least. No remake or sequel has ever matched the impact of the original either, not by a long-shot. I hate most remakes, and it's a trend I really wish Hollyweird would abandon. With that in mind, I went to the theater when this presumed dud came out, because the previews looked interesting, this could be an exception; and it was. I had a little trouble with the "Blair Witch" element that book-ended this film, but given the trend of film makers today, I took it in stride. Missing was the old "Dick Tracy Rogues Gallery" quality that the original family had, Leather's brother in the original had that grimy look to him, he was the one your parents warned you about, none of that here. These people reminded me more of "The Far Side." Look at the women, the cat-eye glasses, one morbidly obese one ("My,my,my,my,"), her eyebrowless daughter, the daughter's lookalike brother; those teeth look like Bill Moseley's "Chop-top" character in 1987's TCM2, and the Sherriff (R. Lee Ermey). He was the drill instructor in "Full Metal Jacket," similar character, but now a boozed-up redneck, an odd bunch.

I haven't appeared to say many positive things about this film, but as far as remakes go, this is about as good as it gets. Some people whose day is about to get REALLY bad, is the premise of this. The corruption of the human condition, unchecked in a small backwoods town, where this near-mutant can do as he pleases, and law enforcement is only paid lip-service to, becomes all the more disturbing when you see five relatively normal people try to do the right thing for somebody, and find themselves on the receiving end of the unspeakable.

If, during viewing, you find yourself uncomfortable, this film was effective; it's not pleasant, it's not supposed to be.

Well, this 2003 remake of "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" creeped me out. Of course I waited until late at night to watch it, which is what you were supposed to do with a horror movie, because lately even when a horror film has a good start, such as "Jeepers Creepers," they almost always end up being laughable. Now, I will not go so far as to say this is a great horror film, and I am not suggesting that it replace the raw power of Tobe Hooper's original in any one's mind, but it sure creeped me out more than anything I have seen in a while (except for last month when I watched "The Exorcist" again).

What does this remake have working in its favor? Well, first the film is selective in what it takes from the original. We have the same beginning with the grainy film and the same narration talking about "one of the most bizarre crimes in the annals of American history" (again narrated by a now considerably more famous John Larroquette), and we have the same basic idea that a group of teenagers in 1973 make the mistake of running into Leatherface and his kin. But in terms of the specifics the screenplay by Scott Kosar does not treat the original like gospel: the hook is still there, but we lose the bizarre dinner scene where the original really lost me.

I was also surprised to see that cinematographer Daniel Pearl is back to show what he has learned since 1974, which is apparently a note. Maybe the music video sensibilities of director Marcus Nispel have something to do with this at well, but this horror film looks the way that horror films are supposed to look. You know that things are going well when you are getting the wiggins and the sun has not yet set in the film. There are plenty of bad things to see in this film, but the camera does not wallow on them the way so many splatter flicks do.

Maybe part of the effectiveness of this remake is that for those of us who watched the original we know the basics of what is going to happen so that there is a sense of anticipation that no matter what is happening on screen something really bad is about to happen. But if I were going to point to something else beyond the cinematography it would be the fact that this time Leatherface (Andrew Bryniarski) is not the really scary one. No, the honor goes to R. Lee Ermey who brings his drill sergeant from hell to the character of Sheriff Hoyt. Even before Leatherface shows up these teenagers are in way over their heads.

Ripe for the slaughter are good girl Erin (Jessica Biel), her boy friend Kemper (Eric Balfour), young stud Andy (Mike Vogel), the friendly hitchhiker Pepper (Erica Leerhsen), and for comic relief stoner Morgan (Jonathan Tucker). They are driving through Texas to get to a concert when they almost run over a disoriented and frightened girl walking along the road. They try to help, but she is beyond help and so, as she plainly tells them, are they.

Biel, still trying to put her good girl image from "7th Heaven" behind her, manages to play a scream queen without going off the deep end like she did in "Gear" (even in a freezing meat locker). Often these films come down to the good girl character trying to survive the maniac with their weapon of choice and in that regard Biel is one of the better to come along. Yeah, she is smart and sexy, but for once when she gets to the part where she has to fight back you actually believe she might pull it off.

This is a grim and relentless film that assaults its audience as much as it does its characters. After so many horror films that fail on that score perhaps the biggest shock is any film could get this far doing what it is supposed to be doing and if you come here expecting a cathartic ending abandon hope on that score right now. Also, when you decide to watch it late at night, remember not to turn all the light out.

I had to wonder, initially, why anyone would go through the trouble of remaking a "classic" that already had numerous sequels to begin with. I came into it with "low expectations," in other words. But I must say that after watching it a couple times, I'm not disappointed with the effort.

The only reason for knocking it down to 4 stars is the clumsy framing device. It strives for the same sort of verisimilitude that the original had. Grainy archive footage of some State Investigators going down into the basement of the house of notoriety, filming the grisly scene. It's obviously not original stock footage, but just some attempted levity on the part of the filmmakers. It doesn't work. Yes, we all know that the original film was based on a true story, at least loosely. The actual dude who was the mass killer lived in Wisconsin, not Texas, but that's beside the point.

What this remake does deliver on is "fear factor" moments. The actors portraying the crazies really do sell their insanity, particularly in the "trailer trash" scene. The over the top Sherrif (fans of Full Metal Jacket will recognize Mr Psycho Drill Sargeant) is also very effective. If you have a good sound system hooked up to your DVD player, the soundtrack and sound effects alone will put you into mild seizure. That's something the original Hooper DVD can't deliver. Chainsaw noises will haunt your consciousness for at least a day or two!

I also like the way the production team depicted the Chainsaw guy. The quick cuts never give us a clear picture of the face. He's quicker than the original Leatherface. Moves like a cat. He's also not depicted as a totally brain dead avenger of Satan. Just a boy who had problems adjusting in grade school, I guess. "Vengence is Mine," sayeth the Leathered One!

BEK

Review no.590.Decent remake of the classic 1974 horror flick that so many of us remember seeing at the drive-in way back when.A group of teens happen to stumble across a small town where a bunch of circus sideshow freak rejects(from the 110th level of hell)begin pursuing and horrify them,who turn out to be blood thirsty cannibals.Included in the gang is sexy good girl,Erin Hardesty(Jessica Biel).Some really sickening scenes in this movie include decaying pig carcasses,crucified dummy dolls and severed body parts in a mason jar.Two most memorable scenes:when redneck Sheriff Hoyt(R.Lee Ermey)tricks one of the teen dudes into shooting him with an empty gun and second,when Biel looks for help and stumbles across a trailer-trash home with a demented woman and her freak daughter,with a kidnapped child inside.Ugh!Certainly hope that rather large woman is the result of a good make-up job.After seeing this flick,I may never want to visit a strange resident in the boonies again.Like I said,it's a decent remake.Check it out.Think twice about eating when you watch this DVD.

First of all, shockingly enough, this film has is not the same as the original. Stop the presses! It's changed. They have better use of color and cameras, that must mean it's "hollywood-ized". Well, get over it. You can't live in the past. Just because a movie has new camera techniques or make up artists, doesn't mean it sucks. People who think that are ridiculous.

The film opens up with 4 young adults going cross country after picking up some drugs. They are driving along, minding their own business, when they pick up a girl walking down a desolate road. They pick her up and make sure she's alright, which of course she isn't because she's gone through what they are about to experience. She tells them bits and pieces of her story, which make no sense, and then suddenly kills herself. The 4 of them freak out and pull over to the nearest gas station to get some help.

Throughout the movie you are hoping that someone one is going to survive, but you don't know how anyone can possibly get through this. One by one the lead female watches as her friends are massacred. She's the heroine in this film, so she does try to save them to a certain extent, but when you are in this situation you're mind doesn't think. Instinct takes over and all you care about is surviving. To see who lives and dies in the movie, you're going to have to watch it, because I don't want to tell you that everybody dies.

This film is one of the best horror films I've seen. I've watched the original, and I actually prefer this one. While there was some gore, it's not an extreme amount, which I'm okay with; the story is supposed to be more disturbing than bloody. It's about being put in that situation and doing something about it. Jessica Beil's performance was flawless. To think she came from 7th Heaven is pretty amusing, she's got a future in her acting career. All in all, definitely rent it if you haven't already.

I am a huge horror fan and i just love these slasher movies with gory scenes and thrills.This movie isnt your typical slasher its got suspense from the first 10 minutes to the last. its not like your typical horror movie where there some boring 30 minutes -scene at the beginning. It gets right to the action so you wont fall asleep at the beginning. 5 teens are drivin through texas with a pinata full of weed that they just got from mexico when they pick up a hitchhiker thats a bit strange and it all goes to hell from there and they end up being chased by Leatherface a man who has a skin disease so he sews together his victims faces on his so it looks like he has a real face"well it dont look any better " his favorite weapon is a chainsaw and he knows hwo to use it. theres only five main characters so u get to know them pretty good so ur actually kinda sad when they get slaughtered to pieces which i think is good cuz it just makes the whole movie scarier.Jessica Biel(erin) does a great job at acting and looking rele scared and she does a lot of running.leatherfaec ahs sum freaky family members too the crazy cop with the plastic wrap,grandpa in the wheel chair,crazy skinny sister. and to make things alot better there all cannibals YAY! well its a rele great horror / suspense movie and if u like either of thoses too categories i think u shudd watch the movie if u dont like them then dont even bother watching it and writing a bad review for it . its not that gorey