The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Reviews

A great 'reimagining' of the original

Lets face it. the original film sucked. The shock value which made it so controversial back in the 70s was laughable when the film was finally re-released. The plot of the film was decent enough, but for the most part the murders and acting weren't up to par.

Thank god then for this 'reimaginging' of the orignal. Since this is a 'reimaginging' rather than a remake, liberties have been taken throughout to expand and elaborate on things much more greatly, as well as give the film a wider appeal.

The gore on show in this film is simply flowing from every scene. Leatherface really goes to town with his chainsaw, and there is one POV shot going THROUGH a bullet hole in someones head that simply blew my mind.

The teen cast don't provide great performances; they're there to do what the gotta do - be worthless bait for Leatherface to have his way with. The exception to this is Jessica Biel, who actually does a good job as the 'screaming heroine who runs away alot'. I however, really liked Pepper, played by Erika Leerhsen. She really know how to look good.

The showstealer of this film however is R. Lee Ermey as the twisted Sheriff Hoyt. Best known for his role in Full Metal Jacket, Ermey does what he does best here with plenty of great one liners and shouting.

If you hated the orignal, give this a try as you may be pleasantly surprised. If you were a fan of the original, be prepared to be let down as the plot couldn't be further away from the original if it tried. Overall though this slasher horror film goes straight for the jugular and will keep you entertained throughout.

'None Shall Pass!'

“Monty Python and the Holy Grail”. King Arthur vs The Black Knight. “None shall pass!” Remember that? That’s the last time I remember slapstick levels of comedy limb-lopping before seeing the remake of “Texas Chainsaw Massacre”.

If you’ve not seen the original and don’t care it might well be terrifying. Its certainly very uncomfortable viewing. All the implied violence, gore, torture and abuse hinted at in the original movie without ever being seen is dragged out endlessly before your eyes in the new version. And it has none of the originals crazy humour that gives even a hint of sympathy to the rural family.

In fact you’ve no sympathy for anyone. The incredibly fit, thin, spotless (in the 70’s?) tourists face off against the genetically degenerate locals with an almost Nazi level of attention paid to the physical differences between the two . There are rampant levels of “I’ll just walk into the abandoned filthy meat factory on my own” stupidity and some silliness involving a dead body.

Perhaps the daftest thing is the way chainsaws and even a hatchet perform almost like light sabers, not only severing limbs with ease but also cauterising the wounds instantly.

On the plus side its well directed, well acted and looks fantastic. The only move I can see the remake going with is “Straw Dogs”, and I guess if you are in a mood for pitiless torture and abuse with a rural twist it might make for an interesting evening.

[Highly rated reviewer]

You little turd, you're so dead, you don't even know it

A pack of five teenagers on their way to a concert pick up a female hitch hiker who tells them, 'You're all gonna die!' before blowing her brains out with a concealed weapon. After stopping at a nearby gas station for help, the teenagers find themselves in an awkward position when a mutated backwoods hillbilly sends his chainsaw-wielding son after them.

What is great about this film is that it concentrates on pure terror. Not gore, gore, gore even though obviously it has gore it is not over the top or unnecessary. The whole film is pretty much the thrill of the chase and seeing what Leatherface is capable of. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a fast, often terrifying and ultimately extremely satisfying take on the original that is sure to please at least to some extent even the die hard fans.

At last

A remake thats better than the original. I remember seeing the original at about age 13, it scared the living daylights out of me. But as other people have said 'in todays standards its got no shock value at all'

the new one has, it seems to me to be a follow on from the original rather than a remake. Its shock in every corner. Well worth a watch if you like these sort of films. ;-)

Clever but stupid

Some good clever 'horror' techniques used in the film. It's an effective scary movie, however if you think about it logically at virtually any moment, it's absolutely stupid! The things the characters do/say just would not happen, and their reactions to things are senseless. If you take it at face value, and like a movie to make you jump from time to time, and if you like visually disgusting movies, you may 'enjoy' it... pretty sick idea though.

Hell for Leatherface

Not so much a re-imagining than a franchise extension, sadly what sets this version apart from the original are the things it lacks; shocks, vitality and the sheer primitive malice of Tobe Hooper's film. Not so much a chainsaw as a garden strimmer.

Probably a movie as good as the original!

Wow! What can i say? What a great film this was, I had heard so much of this film before it came out that I had to see it!

Ok, it is quite predictable and a cheesey story line which is so like so many others we have come across, but this film, unlike many others before it actually pulls this story line off.

Five teenagers, 3 boys, 2 girls, have come to texas for a break but after a shocking suicide there vacation falls on its head.. Great acting builds up suspense in this film like many of the horror films nowadays can not. 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' is a great modern horror that Im sure you can enjoy! Just rent it.

Ouch that had to hurt

I've not seen the original so I won't comment on its relationship to it.

But as its own film, its not bad, there were some tense bits in it, but overall it wasn't as much scary as it was depressing.

There were some cringe moments in it, I still have to cross my legs because of one of the deaths, but not as gory as I thought it would be. The acting was good, and 'SHHWING' would have to go to the leading lady, hello! Overall I would give the film a thumbs up, but don't watch it when your feeling down, it might just take you over the edge

'About as much fun as piles...'

Just to start, the original film is far better. Why? The list is long. Firstly the psychological fear of the first has been replaced with 'by the numbers' gory death sequences. Second, the slightly believable stupidity of the original characters have been with swapped for people so dumb it is a miracle they could even manage to remember to breath in and out. Third this remake looks too hollywood for its own good, it is supreemly slick. It looses that grainy feel of the first one and with it the Blair Witch style realism. There are many more but I can't be arsed to write them all down. Just simply, everything that made the first one great has been removed and all we're left with here is dull crap.

wow!!!

That was so coooool and so scary! I wasn't chewing my nails but my hand, sitting at the edge of the seat, looking away.

If you are not faint-hearted and like horror films this is the film you should watch!