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The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Review by: Bruce Bluett

(BruceBluett@TheCinemaSource.com)

This is why I stay out of the south. Hailed by critics of today and years past as one of the quintessential horror films of our time, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre does not fail to live up to the praise. One viewing of this cult-classic quickly puts the teenie bopper horror films of today to shame. Now in a souped-up DVD release, Leatherface has been revived"¦

This is the tale of five teens carousing the roads of Texas in search of a little danger. After getting wind of a mysterious grave robbing, they set out to check the status of a family grave. They soon welcome a demented hitchhiker into their shagin' wagon "¦and the oddities ensue. One by one, the friends confront their wildest fears at the hands of some of the Lone Star state's most crazed villains.

This was my first time ever seeing The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, so I wont try to compare it to the other remade versions. All I know is that what I saw was enjoyably disturbing. Every blood-curdling scream, mallet to the skull, and bone snap hit home with a vengeance. I watched it with a friend who has seen it before, and even he admits that Texas Chainsaw gets him every time. It's not a suspenseful movie (most of us have become experts as to when and where a character will perish) but the way in which the deaths occur is macabre and gruesome. And the fact that the story was inspired by true events made it all the more horrifying.

The Special Edition DVD contains some very solid features to quench the blood-thirst of die-hard fans. What was traditionally shown on dull and grainy VHS has been converted to crystal clear digital quality. Director Tobe Hooper supervised the transition of both the film and audio with the help of modern technology. The result breathes a fresh and eerie beauty into the 1974 film. Also included is an audio commentary with the Director Tobe Hooper, Director of Photography Daniel Pearl, and"¦you guessed it"¦Gunnar Hansen. Finally, we hear the sweet angelic voice of Leatherface himself. I would also recommend checking out the Blooper Real feature; it's quite hilarious to see how humorous flesh lumberjackery can be.

If you're already a fan of horror, you probably don't need me to tell you to see this movie. However, I can say that the DVD is really cleaned up and has some special features I would recommend for any horror buff. Unlike some classic movies that get transferred to DVD, this one underwent some technological tweaking. You can really see and hear the increase in quality, but they did not

go so far as to change the original film in any way. It's the same movie you've come to fear and love"¦just a little prettier.

In closing, sometimes you just have to let grave robbers do their thing"¦and stay out of the way.

Movie Grade: B

DVD Grade: B+

Overall Grade: B