It is tough to keep track of all the Texas Chainsaw Massacre films. Fortunately, to enjoy the most recent entry in the franchise, confusingly titled Texas Chainsaw Massacre, viewers only need to have watched the debut classic that started it all.
The new movie takes cues from the recent Halloween films, being a direct sequel to the first movie and directly following up on its events and characters. Will this new take on the classic homicidal Texan spawn more films? How will audiences enjoy it? If they agree about any of the entries on this list describing what we love and don't about it, then they'll definitely see the new film as a mixed bag.
8 Loved: The Kills
Anyone who enjoys slasher movies has to be somewhat of a gorehound. Slashing is in the name, after all. Texas Chainsaw Massacre absolutely delivers in this regard. There is an above-average body count and each kill is grizzly.
Some of them are pretty creative. There is one scene on a bus that is bound to go down as one of the most absurd killing scenes in recent memory. Leatherface just goes to town on a bunch of unsuspecting party people on a bus.
7 Didn't Love: There Is Nothing About The Slaughter House
Meat and the way people methodically butcher animals for food series' subtext. This is completely missing from the new film. This theme creates part of the franchise's identity. Without it, the movie feels more like it is about a generic serial killer with a chainsaw rather than the Legendary Leatherface.
There are hints in the movie that a continuation might bring back this idea, however. To be fair to the new movie, it does try something new with the character and uses Texas as a part of its story.
6 Loved: The Humor
Director Tobe Hooper has always contended that there is black humor in the original film most audiences didn't react to. Because of this, the first sequel feels more like a black comedy.
The new movie has moments of humor as well, mostly revolving around the differences between the protagonists and the native Texans. The most absurdly humorous moment is on the bus before Leatherface starts decimating everyone. One guy takes out his phone and says the murderer is canceled if he does anything rash.
5 Didn't Love: It's Not Scary
While the movie is extremely violent and puts its protagonists in harrowing situations, it is ultimately just not that terrifying. There are a few reasons for this, mostly pointing at its use of clichéd horror tropes.
On the other hand, this could be a positive thing for viewers. Texas Chainsaw Massacre feels like a comfortable blanket for horror movie fans. Sometimes, all someone wants is a run-of-the-mill slasher film.
4 Loved: It Doesn't Overstay Its Welcome
One can never tell how long a horror movie will be. Some are extremely short and then there are epic movies like The Shining. Fortunately, Texas Chainsaw Massacre does not overstay its welcome for one minute.
It is just barely over 80 minutes long, shorter than most feature films. It moves quickly and once the action starts and does not relent. If the movie were any longer, it would probably be a little harder to sit through. There's no reason not to give it a chance with such a short runtime.
3 Didn't Love: Sally Hardesty Feels Shoehorned In
This movie's hook is the protagonist of the first film, Sally Hardesty, returning for vengeance against the killer who tormented her. It is not as effective of a plot device as it is in the new Halloween films. She does not have a lot of screen time, and she is not given a lot of characterization.
She just kind of shows up. It should also be noted that she is played by a different actress. The original performer, Marilyn Burns, passed away in 2014.
2 Loved: A More Sympathetic Leatherface
Most slasher movies have stupid teens or young adults. In Texas Chainsaw Massacre, they do something genuinely bad to Leatherface in order to ignite his rage.
They don't deserve to be slaughtered the way they are throughout the movie, but it is a little easier to see where Leatherface is coming from. A clearly deranged individual was wronged by these strangers, and this is the way he gets payback.
1 Didn't Love: Dumb Hero Tropes
Part of why Texas Chainsaw Massacre is not scary is because of how stupid the protagonists are. There are so many moments where they should obviously be able to escape or harm Leatherface and just don't take the opportunity to do so.
Sally Hardesty is the biggest offender of this. She has Leatherface in her sights at point-blank range with a shotgun and simply does not take the shot. Then, the heroes shoot the villain several times but never confirm the kill. A film immediately loses a lot of its terror when the characters stop acting believably.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre is can be streamed on Netflix.
