crustpunx

Some films shouldn't be remade, especially if they spring out sequels/prequels to the remake. TCM is a canonical piece of horror film and should be left untouched. The remake was quite watchable movie, but it doesn't mean that the franchise should be going on, chiefly because TCM:B brings nothing new to the series.

The Beginning is supposed to be very dark, grim and disturbing movie. Well, considering it's done in MTV style - with rapid cuts, pompous music, cute girls/handsome boys just waiting to be slashed - we've seen it all. Screenwriter seems to have the list of plot features that he felt he have to include in the picture. Leatherface born? Ticked Off. Leatherface's mask? Ticked off. And so on... There is nothing new to the scenario beside this few short moments that drew upon the mythology of the series. The rest is a typical slasher movie, which offers absolutely nothing new under the sun to the viewer.

The killings aren't very disturbing if someone saw any of the recent torture trend in horror genre. OK, they're nasty, gruesome and bloody, but not very shocking or repulsive.

There are some homages to Hooper's original but to me they seem totally out of place. The Beginning is nothing new, nothing revolutionary, nothing really catchy, so trying to hop on the wagon of the legend is plain usurpation.

On top of that, film is unintentionally funny at times, which doesn't help at all. Sheriff Hoyt is not as impressive as in the remake. And dark frames don't allow to admire Jordana Brewster - so sad...

In two words - unoriginal and boring.

I am not very familiar with Lamberto Bava oeuvre, but after 'The Torturer' I don't know if I want to become familiar with it. Story, if there is any, revolves around young director whose work is in vein of grand guignol, and his new mistress - a wannabe actress. She shows up for an audition, but eventually they become lovers. In the background there is plot about mysterious torturer, who does couple of nasty things to some fine looking young woman. But it is really irrelevant, as the main point of the movie is to show some nudity and sex, and a little bit of torture. Movie is done in porno aesthetics - camera focuses on women's breasts and crotches (nothing hard core of course), and the viewer isn't spared camera angle from between one heroine's legs. Acting is completely lame, plot laughable, so it's hard to sit through it. Of course nudity and violence compensates a little the rest of the movie, but only a little bit. Nods to gialli (especially Argento's work) are completely redundant, as they don't add up to the story. Yet violence sometimes becomes very graphic and nasty. and actresses are really good looking. nothing really catchy in here, but one can give a look.