*** Official THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE Discussion Thread

ChrisConklin · 10-08-2003, 11:50 AM

I saw a sneak preview last night at my university so decided to do a little write up. I have to say that i never saw the original so watching this movie was the first that i got of this story. Despite how loud the crowd was (laughing and screaming at moments that were good, but not particularly THAT funny or scary) i enjoyed myself but couldn't get totally envelloped in the movie, thus wasn't as scared as i should have been if the theater was quiet. Jessica Biel looks awesome and they (purposely i'm sure) have her in a white tank top throught the movie and throw in some rain and puddles for good measure. The rest of the teenagers are good actors and very quickly did i start to relate to them and care about them. Although set in the 70's they are still dressed in clothes that could be considered hip nowadays and some scenes you forget this was based over 20 years ago. The sound is awesome, the chainsaw is loud and gets a lot of screentime, this will make a great reference DVD. There are some good surprises littered throughout the entire movie and definately lot of shocks. The actor who plays the cop turned a good movie into a great movie in my opinion (i won't say his name, since it was a nice surprise to recognize who it was since its hard to make out in the trailer). Bottom line, go see this movie when it comes out. I saw it for free but definately would justify paying to see it, I will definately be buying the DVD for multiple viewings. Overall score, A-/B+.

Larry Talbot · 10-08-2003, 11:58 AM

I didn't even know they were remaking this. Although it sounds good from your review, the original is such a classic it seems strange to even try to remake it. Remember the remake of Psycho? A totally pointless exercise, doomed from the start.

ChrisConklin · 10-08-2003, 08:35 PM

Yeah it comes out on the 17th, some ads are playing on TV. And from what i've heard they carried on the concept and changed that plot some so it shouldn't be considered an exact remake at all (ala Psycho).

Justin_S · 10-14-2003, 12:30 AM

Since the film is four days away, I decided to reply here. Well, that, and the fact that I'm REALLY fucking excited!

When I first heard about this remake, I admit I was pretty pissed, as the original is pure perfection in my eyes. After seeing the trailer a few months back, I quickly changed my views, as this film looks like its going to be truly fantastic! The trailer had a great use of sound, the film looks beautifully shot, and all of the scenes shown in the trailer look intense and outstanding. I also love Ermey in anything he's in, and I'm growing to like Biel more and more as well. I'm all over this when it opens! I have a damn good feeling that this is gonna join the elite of horror remakes come Friday!

Will K · 10-14-2003, 09:47 AM

I was pretty livid, too, when news broke last year of this remake, even more troubling that Michael Bay was attached. After all, the original was one of the most unnerving, terrifying films ever made.

Upon a screening last night, I'm thrilled to report those fears have been laid to rest. Is it as good as the original Chainsaw? Of course not, but the filmmakers have smartly avoided trying to mimic the original and come up with their own bag of tricks. Sure, there are some nods to the original and the general concept is same, but this 'Saw is a totally different movie. Fans will recognize that the filmmakers have employed Daniel Pearl, who also photographed the first film. The movie looks beautiful and on occasion, the color palette actually looks like it may have been shot in 1974.

Plotwise, the similarities stop after the kids pick up the hitch-hiker. The film then veers off in a totally different set of circumstances, where we meet a plethora of new and different characters to the TCM mythology. As Chris mentioned, a popular character actor appears as the ornery sheriff, who may or may not be part of the deranged family.

Is it as scary as the original? That's more subjective. Some moviegoers obviously frighten more easily, but this version works on a different level of intensity. The original had more of an more in-your-face, shred-your-nerves, nightmarish feel. The new one goes for a more conventional cat-and-mouse, psycho-stalker type of third-act. There's nothing inherently wrong with that and it does work to great effect. Audiences will be pleased that the title weapon does get plenty of screen time. Make no mistake, this is a nasty little movie and folks die horribly.

I can tell you this: it's a hell of lot better than the unwatchable Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation, which rightfully has been banished to the $5.88 DVD bin at Wal-Mart.

I still prefer the raw, more primitive original, but this 'Saw will rank as one of the better horror remakes in history. Treat yourself and reward New Line for not screwing it up, go check it out when it opens this weekend.

**HTF Ads**

Larry Talbot · 10-14-2003, 01:22 PM

"the filmmakers have smartly avoided trying to mimic the original and come up with their own bag of tricks."

Very smart, indeed. That is the only valid reason to re-make a classic in the first place IMO - to capture something of the spirit of the original while adding something new or updated to it.

Chuck L · 10-14-2003, 03:26 PM

When I first heard about a Texas Chainsaw remake, my mind was flooded with horrible images of the movies of the past several years. Gus Van Zant’s horrid attempt at a revisit of “Psycho,” or the lame entries of “13 Ghost” or “House on Haunted Hill,” it made me wonder if there was nothing sacred in the horror genre any longer. The continued ripping off of the past in order for companies to make either color updates, a hot teen cast, or simply make money off the new generation sickened me. My goodness, after all, these films are classics!

Now…first off, I am not that big of a fan of Tobe Hooper’s original TCM. It isn’t the film itself, but the hype that has surrounded the film. In fact, it wasn’t until I was 28 years old that I saw the film and honestly I was stumped as to why people were scared of this movie. Over time though, I have come to be able to appreciate it for what it is and what it helped cause…the horror explosion of the seventies.

So…what did the new version of the film what was going to be rewarding to me? After all, though Leatherface is a horror Icon, he was never in the top five slashers, or maybe even top ten for me. The director first off meant little me as well. In fact, Michael Bay in my eyes is pretty much a worthless director with some of the least appealing films in recent memory to his credit. So…without expecting much, I went to last night’s sneak preview.

From the get go, this film never let’s up! While adopting a beginning style reminiscent of “The Blair Witch Project,” the film proceeds to introduce a new batch of teenager’s to mayhem. From this point on, forget about everything that you know about the original film. Forget about a wheelchair bound pain in the ass relative. Forget about the “Family” the way that you think that you know it. Forget about the Leatherface that you have known to come to love.

As for the cast in this film, they all do a wonderful job and bit more time is spent on providing a relationship between the members than in the original film. The only drawback in this is that they all look just a little two perfect. The main female not only acts effectively but looks wonderful as well and provides a lot to look at (sorry guys, no nudity in this movie so you will have to use your brain a little bit). The other female lead is played by the Wicca chick from “Book of Shadows.” The guys do wonderful job as well with the material (though I do have to admit that at any given moment I was hoping that it could have turned into a 70’s gay porn flick). The supporting cast is not only effective but wonderful unnerving and delve into their roles with much relish.

None of these are bad things. In fact, they are very refreshing. While holding on to the simplicity of the original story, this new ‘chapter’ in horror history brings a fresh new twist and style. All in all, it is a fun movie that provides the scares the scares and jolts and (deliciously) one of the most unforgivable mean-spirited films to come along in a while. Newline did a wonderful job with this film and will make lot money off this…it is one of the best remakes and honestly one of the best horror films of the year. This though doesn’t make it perfect…

Spoilers....

Spoiler:

Scott Weinberg · 10-15-2003, 02:12 AM

Still working on my review, but it also gets a big

from me. And I was one of the biggest skeptics out there!

I'm a huge HUGE fan of the original, and I'm telling you horror freaks that you'll probably have a great time with the remake.

JohnE · 10-15-2003, 02:51 AM

Damn you guys have made me excited. I was also very worried about the remake, especially with Bay attached to the project. I'm glad to hear they've managed to pull this off. Can't wait to go see it.

Kenneth English · 10-17-2003, 09:30 AM

Has anyone read Roger Ebert's review yet? Check it out:
Roger Ebert reviews the new TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE

Zero stars. Wow.

I didn't expect that.

He reeeeaaaaally HATED it. Ripped it to shreds and sh*t on it's steaming corpse.