TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE:
The Next Generation

The Saw is still Family

There’s something about being on a deserted road in the middle of nowhere at night that’s more than a little unnerving – a sensation on a par with being stuck in a dark tunnel, or swimming in deep water where there may be sharks about. This atmosphere - that I describe as a "haunted house without the house" - was mined for horror film gold almost 25 years ago by a cheap but effective shocker named The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

Original TCM scripter Kim Henkel made this feature as The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre in 1994. Though promptly released in other parts of the world, no US studio had the balls to release it here, even on video. But now that Dazed and Confused co-stars Renée Zellweger (Jerry McGuire) and Matthew McConaughey (Contact) are big stars – and Scream is the surprise hit of the year – Cinepix has decided it’s safe enough to put out a R-rated version in limited release.

Henkel craftily pushes you off guard early on by indulging in lots of creaky slasher movie clichés, even including the old "sputtering flashlight" gag. Although roughly following the template forged by the original, thankfully this is one sequel that gets up on its hind legs midway through and succeeds in taking things ‘too far’ (and ‘too far’ is where things should go in a ‘Saw flick). Although I sorely miss the hilarious ranting of Jim Siedow, the new generation of the Lone Star cannibal Sawyer clan (led by McConnaughey as "Vilmer") does well by their elders. Quarreling and raving while they prepare the vittles, they conjure up a funhouse mirror of ‘90s family values, then take a side turn into twisted X Files territory. Henkel gives us a hint of the Sawyers’ true purpose by linking them with a certain secret society that I had better not discuss further.

Austin theater and radio personality Robert Jacks makes an excellent Leatherface, returning the character to his sexually-confused roots (and also sings a duet with Debbie Harry for the soundtrack).

The new edit takes some of the bite out of the mayhem – and some sense out of the continuity – but in general I have to label this one a "must-see" for psychotronic fans. Hopefully, there’ll be an uncut version available when it goes to video.

Watch for our old pal John Dugan (the original "Grandpa") as a cop, and TCM heroine Marilyn Burns has a ‘wheel-on’ part.

Cannibal psychos; illiminati; blood; gore.

[It's Only A Movie!] [Movie Madness] [Psychotronic Gift Shop] [Psychotronic Schedule] [E-Mail]

The Movie Madness section and its contents are ©2007 Brian Thomas