A Horror Classic Reborn
Famed film critic Rex Reed called 1974’s “The Texas Chainsaw
Massacre,” “the most terrifying motion picture I have ever seen!”
Now, 30 years later, I am tempted to use that same statement to
refer to the remake.
While it may not achieve the same classic or cult status as the
influential original, the new version is definitely one of the most
horrifying films in recent memory. This is not one of those scary
movies that blends humor with scares. This is a down and dirty,
unapologetic horror film.
In case you haven’t seen the original, the story is basically
about a group of young people who tragically happen upon a clan of
cannibalistic maniacs, including the infamous Leatherface, living
in Texas. Leatherface is based on real-life serial murderer, Ed
Gein, who is also reported to have been the inspiration for such
films as “Psycho” and “The Silence of the Lambs.” Recent horror
movies like “Wrong Turn” and “House of 1000 Corpses” were also
influenced by “Massacre” as well.
A lot of the scariness of the original, and a lot of other
revered horror movies, comes from the film’s low budget, grainy
quality. And while that is absent in the remake, it is replaced by
some of the most beautifully filmed scenes of any horror movie
ever. It seems weird to use the word “beautiful” to describe this
movie, but its cinematography and sets are noticeably stylish and
striking.
If you are not someone who tends to enjoy darkly scary and
gruesome movies, you will likely be appalled by “Massacre.” I was
surprised to see only one person leave the theatre. Once the
carnage began, I expected to see more people start running for the
exits. Many people did verbally express their repulsion during the
movie, though.
The new “Massacre” is definitely the scariest movie since “The
Ring,” but it is also the only horror movie in recent history I can
think of that I found shocking. Due to decades of horror films and
an increasingly immune film-going public, for a film to be shocking
is a big accomplishment- an accomplishment that the 1974 original
no doubt achieved as well.
I mentioned the lack of humor in “Massacre,” but some comedy is
scattered here and there. However it is so disturbingly pitch black
in nature it is hard to classify it as humor. A lot of it comes
from the sadistic town sheriff, played by R. Lee Ermey (“Full Metal
Jacket”). Sheriff Hoyt is the definitive dirty old man, and he
effectively provides for some intensely unnerving scenes in the
film.
As for the rest of the cast and crew, they deserve applause,
too. This film marks Marcus Nispel’s film directorial debut and he
shows an obvious talent. The cast is a mixture of teen stars and
relative new comers. The film’s main heroine, Erin, is played by
“7th Heaven’s” Jessica Biel. It is just wishful thinking, but Biel
deserves major critical praise for her utterly convincing
performance here. The audience truly feels her character’s fear as
she struggles to keep her life and sanity in the face of the
horrors unleashed upon her.
Critic Roger Ebert gave “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” a “zero
stars” rating and one of the most undeservedly negative reviews of
a film I have ever read. I can see how some viewers could get
disgusted or sickened by this movie, but given the subject matter
and genre, isn’t that the point?
This remake is similar to the original, while still managing to
be vastly different. The film comes at an excellent time, given the
approaching Halloween holiday, and for genuine scares, you couldn’t
hope for a better horror movie. Just don’t eat much before you go
see it though, you might regret it afterward.
3.5 out of 4 rams
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