The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Well said, Rothman. Whatever this movie is supposed to be, it fails on every level. It's not scary, it's not disturbing, it's not entertaining, it's only funny periodically when you can't believe how stupid it is, and it essentially killed the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise until it was rebooted a decade later.

The only reason anyone would have any inclination to watch this is because of its leads - Renee Zellweger and Matthew McConaughey - who were young and naive back then, but they did they best they could with the material they had. Renee played a fine damsel in distress and McConaughey was perfect as an insane cannibalistic psychopath. You can tell he was having fun with the part, and the fun he has is contagious sometimes especially knowing how huge he has become since.

The movie itself is downright horrendous. It starts off as a typical slasher: a few teens leaving prom get stranded in the woods, then they encounter strange characters, and from then it devolves into a nonsensical screaming battle between everyone. Literally there are scenes in this movie where the only lines are "AHHHH!" Leatherface has gone full transvestite for this installment. They also end the movie with some sort of conspiracy that these cannibals have been around for thousands of years and there are men in suits that check up on them or something. It makes absolutely no sense and trying to piece it together will ensure a loss of brain cells.

This is the worst of the pre-millennial TCMs by a long shot. Only watch if you're a die-hard TCM completist or you want to watch McConaughey yell like crazy for a while. Either way, you're bound to be disappointed.

The latest Texas Chainsaw Massacre, is absolutely no rest from the bizarre first three horror films. Leatherface here is performed just like Gunnar Hansen's take in the 1974 granddaddy of all horror films, " The Texas Chainsaw Massacre." The actors seem to overact sometimes, it's pretty corny...still the humor and craziness of the flick are entertaining, as well as the music and atmosphere. Definitely the best film of the two leading stars, who would go on to become Hollywood heartthrobs. You'll have a lot of fun if you're a horror fan who likes to see some weird B-ish stuff.

I expected this film to be extremely terrible because of all the negative reviews I'd heard about it. However, in reality, I found myself to like the film in all its warped oddness, clumsy editing, confused storyline, and mediocre to bad acting. The four teens, Jenny, Heather, Barry and Sean, were all extremely annoying, so it's not like you're really rooting for them to get out alive or anything. I myself thought Heather would have been a better leading girl than Jenny - Renee Zellweger's character almost seemed to like getting chased around by Leatherface and tortured and whatnot by the other demented family members. The best actor in this movie overall would have to be Matthew McConaughey. He was excellent as the psychotic Vilmer and seemed to take over for Leatherface, who in this entry is not scary at all and spends a lot of time screaming like a woman and putting on makeup and whatnot. Matthew's role is indeed the highlight of this confused, low-budget mess. I found myself insanely turned on by his sexy, rugged presence as the movie progressed - call me sick, but hey, Renee Zellweger seemed to want some of that when he kept going after her. Other points to mention include the strange subplot involving the FBI (I'm still trying to figure that out, I just don't get it) and also how it seems that this film was originally conceived as a remake but once it got to video they are marketing it as this all new entry in the "Chain Saw" series. Not so. It adds nothing new. It's just a rehash of the original '74 classic, which is, of course, the best out of all the "Chain Saw" movies. If you like trashy type, low budget movies, you will like this. Keep in mind, it's not really bloody at all and no one is killed with a chainsaw. Another strange and frustrating point in this mess of a film.

The makers of THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE: THE NEXT GENERATION missed a huge opportunity by not setting it to music. All the elements are there, including Matthew MCconaughey as a deranged, bug-eyed hillbilly with a remote-controlled leg, and Renee Zellweger as a "teen" victim, running, screaming, and jumping through windows!

Annnd, who could forget the 9' tall Leatherface (Robert Jacks), constantly squawking and screeching like he's on fire!

Plus, there's domestic violence as foreplay, skeletal remains as home decor that works, and an old man who just might be dead!

The dialogue simply begs to be belted out in song! Example: "You're a bona fide Mo-ron!".

Indeed, this could / should have been the next HAIR or JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR! Alas, we shall never know...

At one point, a terrorized Jenny screams "I don't understand!" And Vilmer replies "Welcome to the real world." For me, this sums up everything I like about this movie.

The TCM series has -- at the best of times -- been about random violence...usually for the sake of sensationalism. But underneath it all is the creepy realization that not everybody thinks like you do. Some of them do things which make no sense to you. When you step into their reality, you're at their mercy, and you'll never understand exactly why.

This installment plays the "why?" theme to the hilt, eventually copping out somewhat near the end when they should have just left us wondering. Darla is wonderful as Vilmer's girlfriend, alternately getting hung up about seemingly trivial things -- having a quiet dinner for a change -- and goading Vilmer into continuing their twisted, mutually abusive relationship. Vilmer himself has fantastic moments, though none of the actors quite live up to Perensky & Zellweger's standards of convincing nuttiness and terror, respectively. Though Newmyer is also great in a role which is too small.

Outside of the mayhem, there's some wonderful dialogue, especially the first few lines in the movie: the teacher who simpers around the students and then gripes, "f*** I hate kids." Heather's friend with the absolutely bizarre mannerisms explaining that the gossip-monger is just trying to cause trouble. Heather saying that they might end up slaughtered and hidden away in somebody's basement, with Sean retorting, "that's stupid, the houses around here don't have basements." And finally, my favourite line: "Too bad about her face, Leather, but you can have her shoes!"

Despite all the bad press this movie's received, I hope Kim Henkel enjoys what she created as much as I enjoy watching it. Goofy, funny, real, unreal, terrifying and witty: good job.