Plot: What’s it about?
Michelle (Kate Hodge) and Ryan (William Butler) are traveling to Los Angeles, on a path that leads them through some isolated stretches of Texas. A routine stop to refuel introduces them to a slick drifter named Tex (Viggo Mortensen) and the gas station attendant Alfredo (Tom Everett), who is totally off his rocker. The encounter is strange to say the least, especially when Alfredo turns sour and runs all three of the visitors off. Alfredo stirs up some gunpower, but all three manage to escape unharmed, at least for the time. Michelle and Ryan soon find themselves on a detour, one which leads them through a notorious area. The Sawyer family were well known cannibals and sadistic murderers, but only one of them was captured. It was believed that Leatherface was simply a dual personality of this family member and as such, he was executed. So it would seem the remote Texas lands were safe again, but is the saw silenced? The detour the two were forced to take will cause them to learn the truth about the madmen out in the middle of nowhere. As time passes, the two find themselves lost, not to mention pursued by unknown people. Is Leatherface still out there with his trademark saw, just waiting for new blood to arrive?
The original Texas Chainsaw Massacre stands as a horror classic, but this second sequel fails to spark the same kind of reaction. Of course, it was hacked to pieces thanks to the ratings system and that makes it hard to judge. Even in the unrated version found here excises some material, though this one was doomed from the start. Leatherface was supposed to be a sick, sadistic, and violent motion picture, one which would earn it a place in horror cinema’s pantheon of shockers, but much of the graphic gore & violence never left the pages. That is a shame, as the movie offers some nice moments and shows potential, but you can tell the filmmakers were either holding back, or had their work chopped to satisfy a ratings mandate. I am pleased New Line has included the unrated version, which runs about four minutes longer than the theatrical edition, not to mention a selection of deleted scenes. As a diehard fan of the original Saw, I have always had a soft spot for the sequels, just because Leatherface is so damn cool. This movie could have been a genre staple, but worries over violence caused too many trims and exclusions, so what could have been a legendary shocker winds up as a mediocre genre effort. Even so, the movie is worth a look and New Line’s disc is excellent, so check out Leatherface.
Video: How does it look?
Leatherface is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. This is the best edition of the film I’ve seen, which is good news, since I’ve seen numerous home video incarnations. A few scenes have more grain than others, but this seems to be infrequent and for the most part, the print is on the clean side. A few nicks and such arise, but nothing serious and even when grain is present, it is never that much of a distraction. The image is fairly sharp, given the film’s low budget roots and what not. I found contrast to be good, with stark black levels and solid detail level at all times, but there are some scenes that are inconsistent. The colors have good presence also, with bright hues and no signs of errors to report. So this might not be a pristine visual treatment, but Leatherface has never looked better on home video.
Audio: How does it sound?
I didn’t expect New Line to do much in this department, but in a bit of a shock, we have brand new Dolby Digital EX and DTS ES soundtracks. I am thrilled that New Line went to all this trouble, as the movie sounds better than ever, even if the material isn’t prime audio dynamite. The surrounds get a lot of mileage here, but is no audiophile’s wet dream, as the emphasis is on chainsaw roars and general atmosphere. So don’t expect a balls-to-the-wall soundtrack here, though there is ample power when it needs to be present. The tension is enhanced and the cheap scares are more effective, so these new remixes stand up quite well. The dialogue is clean and easy to understand, while the music is well presented here also. This disc also includes a 2.0 surround option, as well as English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
An audio commentary is available on the unrated version, in which director Jeff Burr is joined by various cast & crew members, including a New Line executive. The session is a good one, as the assorted stories of cuts and censors are discussed at length, giving us an idea of what might have been. I would have liked a session with Burr alone as well, but this is a terrific track, no doubt about it. The name sounds cool, but The Saw is Family isn’t that great as a behind the scenes featurette. We learn a little about the production’s tribulations, but not much beyond the commonly known aspects. This was a chance for the filmmakers to tell the entire story, but instead, we’re left with an average look inside the troubled production. This disc also includes some deleted scenes, an alternate end sequence, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
