The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) See below for preview scenes

Seeing as I just posted my review of the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre not too long ago, I’m not going to go through the whole story again.  I’m just going to jump right in here.

This was much more of what I was expecting from this title.  This remake gave me so much more of the Leatherface I had envisioned from the hype and previews surrounding the original film, which left me feeling sorely unsatisfied.

However, in updating the story here, there are a few differences.  None of them make a real negative difference in comparison to the original and in fact, actually make the story more fluid, in my opinion.

For instance, the five teens are on their way to a Lynyrd Skynyrd concert.  This is so much more believable than the idea that they are checking on grave robbings or going to see an old family home. 

Also, our crazed-out hitchhiker from the original has been changed to a hysterical surviving victim that has escaped the evil clutches of Leatherface and his demonic cohorts.  That’s a nice foreshadowing effect that’s been added.

Plus, none of the teens are related and the one dude isn’t in a wheelchair making their movements through the movie much more acceptable and believable to the viewer.  And, a big reason that Leatherface and his family are killing people is because his mother wants to "protect her boy" and is angry that everyone thinks they are too good for him.

They have changed all of the character names (except Leatherface, though he's not referred to by that in the movie) and even though the events still take place in 1973, the wardrobing in this remake fell a little short in some areas, I suspect they were trying to appeal to the younger generations but, I don’t think there were a lot of cargo pants being worn in the early 70s.  I’m also pretty sure chicks weren’t wearing their tank tops like Jessica Biel does in this film but, hey, whatever gets the viewers, right?

The kills are a lot better in this movie, the screams are better, the scares are there (as much as they can be), the chase scenes are decent, there’s thrill, suspense and anticipation, which was terribly lacking in the original, and even though it is somewhat predictable, it is still a fun movie to watch. 

I would definitely say that if someone wanted to see a Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie (not a sequel, mind you) THIS is the one I would have to recommend at the moment.  This was what I was hoping for out of the original.  It just took Hollywood thirty years to get it to us.

RATING

3.5/5 Stars