SPOOKTOBER chapter 13:
A Re-watch of an installment from a long running horror franchise
The first, but not last prequel in "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" franchise is helmed by the consistent but rather tame Jonathan Liebesman ("The Killing Room", "Battle Los Angeles"), and sets out to tell a story taking place before 2003's remake of the original. One of the bits of the series I haven't re-watched the longest time. So, good news is that it is more of the same, which is all gory and groovy, but the bad news is that even the entire plot is practically the same.
It's 1969, and two brothers, before going to Vietnam, take their girlfriends on one last road trip, and after an unfortunate accident they start crossing paths with members of the heartwarming Hewitt family, winding up in the famous murder house, where certain someone is wielding a big ol' chainsaw.
The structure, idea, the skeleton of the film is practically the same as Marcus Nispel's remake, but it's undeniably full of what we the bloodthirsty fans want, violence, mayhem and killer insanity. Forget about any real substance, you're in for a happily splattery, down and dirty adventure. Storywise, "The Beginning" at least does the minimum and explains some details from the previous film, for example why Grandpa Monty don't have a leg. Just like in the remake, the unique R. Lee Ermey and his filthy sheriff shtick steals the show at times here as well. The man was a menace.
It's a straight-forward freakshow, mean and without a message, and nothing new by the franchise's standards. If the 2000's brand of horror, gore, torture and insane southern murder families is up your horror alley, it probably won't disappoint. My rating: 6/10.
The first, but not last prequel in "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" franchise is helmed by the consistent but rather tame Jonathan Liebesman ("The Killing Room", "Battle Los Angeles"), and sets out to tell a story taking place before 2003's remake of the original. One of the bits of the series I haven't re-watched the longest time. So, good news is that it is more of the same, which is all gory and groovy, but the bad news is that even the entire plot is practically the same.
It's 1969, and two brothers, before going to Vietnam, take their girlfriends on one last road trip, and after an unfortunate accident they start crossing paths with members of the heartwarming Hewitt family, winding up in the famous murder house, where certain someone is wielding a big ol' chainsaw.
The structure, idea, the skeleton of the film is practically the same as Marcus Nispel's remake, but it's undeniably full of what we the bloodthirsty fans want, violence, mayhem and killer insanity. Forget about any real substance, you're in for a happily splattery, down and dirty adventure. Storywise, "The Beginning" at least does the minimum and explains some details from the previous film, for example why Grandpa Monty don't have a leg. Just like in the remake, the unique R. Lee Ermey and his filthy sheriff shtick steals the show at times here as well. The man was a menace.
It's a straight-forward freakshow, mean and without a message, and nothing new by the franchise's standards. If the 2000's brand of horror, gore, torture and insane southern murder families is up your horror alley, it probably won't disappoint. My rating: 6/10.