Horror Extreme Movie Catalog

This remake of TCM doesn't really add anything new to the horror genre, nor is it necessarily an improvement when compared with the original, but when viewed without any expectations it makes for a solid thriller.

The formula is pretty standard: Pretty kids get shredded in creative ways by a gruesome killer. What I liked most about this film is the well crafted atmosphere of isolation and decrepitude. The environs of the forgotten little southern town where all this takes place are creepy yet believable, albeit in a "all southerners are inbred crazies" sort of way.

The film contains enough gore but doesn't go over-the-top, and it's clever enough to keep leatherface at least partially concealed for the majority of the film. They also made the good call of casting Jessica Biel, who's tight fitting white tee is frequently wet.

The DVD has limited extras - Some TV spots and trailers and a music video by some heavy metal band. Dolby 5.1 is available. I recommend this version if you're into horror movies and not emotionally attached to the original.

Introduction: For starters, I never really planned on watching anything related to the Texas Chainsaw Massacre series, mostly because it reaches outside the type horror films that I can stand to watch (and no, I'm not talking teen-slasher flicks). Excessive amounts of blood and gore have never been a selling point nor a entertainment factor for me, yet the curiosity of wanting to see what the hub-bub about this film was about (and why it was considered so excellent among Horror aficionados) drew me toward the film regardless. That and I learned Mike Vogel was in it. That aside, I went into watching this film with no knowledge of the prior films before it, beyond what I've seen on television during the Halloween season and I'm happy to say that I was not disappointed. The Michael Bay produced remake of TTCMR lives up to praise and becomes far more than just another slash-happy gore fest of a film.



(Spoilers)
Plot: On August 18th, in the summer of 1973, five young collage students (Kemper, Andy, Pepper, Morgan, and Erin) are on their way Lynyrd Skynyrd concert in Dallas, Texas, carrying with them a piñata full of marijuana (unbeknownst to Kemper's girlfriend, Erin). Their journey is delayed, however, when they nearly hit a young woman wandering in the road. Against the wishes of the three boys, Pepper and Erin usher the girl off the road into their van; Obviously traumatized, the girl falls into a fit of madness when she realizes they are taking her to get help. She kills herself with a hidden firearm, frightening the five young men and women. When they go to find the proper authorities they get the run-around from the townspeople. Kemper and Erin (Jessica Biel) are directed to an old farm house to contact the police. In their absence a policeman arrives and carries the girl's body away. When Kemper goes missing, Erin and Andy (Mike Vogel) venture back to the old farm house to search for him only to be attacked a wild-man with a chainsaw, realizing too late, that they've become the unfortunate players in game of cat and mouse.



Like Silent Hill (Widescreen Edition), this movie scared the bejesus out of me; I probably spent more time pausing the DVD to catch my breath and composing myself before re-immersing my buzzing imagination into the horror; It literally left me shaken. The great thing about the Texas Chainsaw Massacre though is that the film is no in hurry to reveal Leatherface to the audience. Instead it invests about the first half hour or more into the five young adults that will more than likely become the victims of Leatherface's chainsaw.

Depending on your taste in characters, you'll find yourself caring about what happens to them throughout the duration of the film. They won't be just another bunch of jaded twenty somethings you'll be more than glad to see die. Whomever is your favorite, your gonna hate it when they perish. When Leatherface is revealed, you'll have a hard time trying not cover your eyes if your the squeamish type (which I am). TCMR is completely unapologetic in its violence, blood and gore. Naturally some things may be censored for extreme graphic violence, but a lot of will be shown and in a slow painstaking manner. The filthy surroundings, semi-saturated contrast of the film, and the sweat running off many of the actors set the tone of the movie. The setting of the film actually feels like the 1970s instead of rural southern area in modern world of the 21st century. And somewhere during the film I realized that Jessica Biel's man-beater shirt was simply used to stimulate the male populace, should they become bored. I'm not just saying that.

Performances in TCMR are far beyond what is usually given to the audience in a horror movie; Not a single person was just going through the motions of screaming and running for their lives; They invested all their talent and range into bringing these characters to life. Jessica Biel really proved that she could move past the staple that she once-associated with [7th Heaven], becoming a full fledged actress with her performance as Erin. Granted most of it was composed of "screaming", yet even when she was Biel was fantastic. The then-newcomer, Mike Vogel, (Cloverfield) fresh off his earlier two films, Grind, and MTV's Wuthering Heights, would become famous for loosing his leg to Leatherface; his performance in the movie overall, was a memorable one. Ironically, the actors playing the other three young adults were persons I've seen in movies before, they certainly didn't disappoint in their performances either. And lastly, Leatherface was a gruesome character, who plays out more like a misunderstood "freak" you'd be more than happy see get beaten by Jessica Biel. The only negative thing I can say about TTCMR is the fact its third act is a little drawn out in some places, but overall its a great horror flick. --- [a 4 out of 5]