Plot: What’s it about?
A van travels down a stretch of rural road, as the passengers talk about sex, smoke reefer, and think about the next chance to get drunk. But the jovial mood soon turns serious, when a young woman appears on the side of the road. She is no ordinary hitcher, as she is covered in blood and seems to be in a state of shock. The woman details a horrific ordeal from the night before, a tale of madness and slaughter that she barely survived. After she recalls the sordid events, she is unable to cope with her suffering and takes her own life. Of course, this stuns everyone in the van and they begin to look for assistance. In search of answers, the friends contact local law enforcement and hope for kind of help, but find a dead end. Sheriff Hoyt (R. Lee Ermey) isn’t concerned about the situation, which makes the group even more nervous. Just a few hours back, they were safely back from a run to Mexico for drugs, but now they face an unknown evil. A little more detective work leads them to a rural homestead, one described by the suicidal woman. The door opens, but the welcome is not a warm one, to say the least. It soon becomes obvious that the residents are inbred maniacs, the same ones encountered by the deceased hitcher. Will anyone from the group be able to survive the sheer terror that will follow?
The name of the game these days seems to remakes, which means all the old classics are being reworked. Of course, that just signals the lack of creative drive in filmmakers out there, but as long as the box office pays off, I am sure the trend will continue. This time around, a genuine horror classic was targeted for remake status, which sent fans into a spiral, with good reason. After all, the original The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is not just a genre classic, but a film that influenced endless filmmakers and remains a respected picture. As expected, the remake was panned by critics and audiences, but is this remake that bad? The filmmakers here chose to veer from the elements that made the original such a success, such as genuine atmosphere, chilling characters, and a gritty, brutal sense of realism. Instead, we have a modern approach to the genre, which translates to over the top gore, thin characters, and cheap scares. The level of violence in this movie is high, so gore lovers should be pleased, but a genre classic this isn’t. So if you want a movie that scares, this isn’t your release, but I still had fun. A big budget B movie, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre has liberal doses of blood, sex, and genre conventions. I’d recommend not expecting much, but in the right hands, this movie can be a fun fright. This two disc edition from New Line is the only way to go, since the single disc edition lacks most of the supplements. So grab your chainsaw, head out to the store, and bring home this bad, but fun release.
This is by no means the movie to watch if you want great performances, or even mediocre ones for that matter. But this is a horror movie and as a result, we can overlook the unpolished turns and such. In this movie, we have the usual band of young stars and while most simply serve as fodder, one stands out from the pack. Jessica Biel, once the vision of wholesome female when she starred on the television 7th Heaven, falls into darker lands here. That alone makes her role of interest, since it is so far from her usual work. But then again, if she seeks to leave that image in the past, these kind of roles do serve a purpose. Is she just a pretty face though, or can Biel handle herself on screen? Of course, she is a gorgeous woman with a killer body, but Biel does have solid talent to match. This movie doesn’t allow her to showcase her talents much, but she looks good and does all she is asked. So not a role that offers a step to higher projects, but for Biel, it is a step toward breaking her typecast situation. Other films with Biel include I’ll Be Home for Christmas, The Rules of Attraction, and Summer Catch. The cast also includes R. Lee Ermey (Full Metal Jacket, Dead Man Walking), Erica Leerhsen (Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2, Hollywood Ending), and Eric Balfour (What Woman Want, Tv’s Six Feet Under).
Video: How does it look?
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. This movie has a very stylized visual presence, but as usual, New Line is more than up to the task. As expected from a new release, the print is in excellent condition and shows no real flaws, even grain is never a problem. The image is razor sharp throughout, with no signs of even slight softness and a lot of depth, even in darker scenes. But you never see too much, thanks to the stark and refined black levels, which always provide flawless visual detail. The colors here are often pumped up or toned down, as intended. The result can look a little odd at times, but rest assured, the color scheme is just as it was in theaters. So in the end, we have a dynamic, almost reference level visual treatment, another knockout for New Line.
Audio: How does it sound?
The roar of a chainsaw has never sounded sweeter, thanks to the inclusion of Dolby Digital 5.1 EX and DTS ES soundtracks. This material has ample needs for cunning audio, in order to enhance atmosphere and build cheap scares. The jump scares are tuned to perfection, which means some spilled popcorn and screams are assured. I was impressed with the overall atmosphere also, as the eerie, tense environment is well replicated. You’ll feel like ducking down behind the sofa too, once the atmosphere begins to build. The surrounds also come to life with the music, which adds even more depth to the experience. These are just two dynamic, very creative mixes that are certain to delight fans of the film. The dialogue is never shoved out however, so all the vocals can be heard, even in the louder sequences. If you have the option, go with the superior DTS track, but either one is bound to please. This release also includes a 2.0 surround option, as well as subtitles in English and Spanish, should you need those.
Supplements: What are the extras?
You can listen to a total of three audio commentary tracks, each of which focuses on one aspect of the production. The first features director Marcus Nispel and a few producers, who detail the process of getting the greenlight for production. The second is a technical session, with Nispel back again, this time joined by several crew members. The third track is more laid back, as Nispel is teamed up with numerous cast members, who provide a lighter, but still insightful take on the rigors of being in a horror movie. The second disc holds the rest of the extras, including the highlight, Chainsaw Redux: Making a Massacre. This seventy-five minute piece is an in depth, incredibly insightful piece that shouldn’t be missed. A slew of candid, informative interviews provide a lot of insight, as does footage from the shoot itself. This is not your usual behind the scenes featurette, so make sure you give it a spin. A half hour featurette on serial killer Ed Gein is also included, but most folks have seen all this material before. This release also includes a featurette on the deleted scenes, some screen tests, a selection of still photos, seven television spots, a music video by Motorgrater, and the film’s teaser and theatrical trailers.
