Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2

February 07, 2007

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986) directed by Tobe Hooper and starring Dennis Hopper, Caroline Williams, and Bill Moseley. This is a sequel to Hooper's successful original but it pails in comparison.

Leatherface and his "family" have been on the move since the massacre back in the original The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974). In those last 12 years they have been perused by Lefty, Hopper, who is an ex-Texas Ranger and uncle to the original kids that were killed back in 1974. This time around a Radio Disc Jockey records them killing 2 yuppies on her radio show and she thinks she can use the tape to lure them out and help the Ranger set a trap and catch them.

All right, I went into this movie with open eyes, having just read an incredible review about the Special Edition DVD from well another site.  They said the film didn't take itself seriously and was supposed to be a fun horror film. So I sat back and watched Tobe Hooper's follow up to the film that made him a house hold name… well a house hold that likes the Texas Chainsaw Massacre anyway.

I got a couple of issues about this film:

After watching it I clearly and honestly believe that Steven Spielberg actually directed Poltergeist (1982). A film that Spielberg produced but according to the credits Hooper directed and here is why (see my review of Poltergeist in my 31 Days of Horror to understand why). Usually filmmakers get with better age not worse. True, every once in a while they do a bad film but to go from Poltergeist then back to your own original material and do your own characters again one would think that this director really has some chops now let's see what he can do with a bigger budget and more experience! But Hooper falls flat on his face and makes his own characters boring… with great lighting… but boring. The film was terrible. The pacing and the story were all over the place. I was bored confused and even picked up a magazine and starting reading it about half way through.

The moment when I first tuned out was when I saw what he did to the character Leatherface. This is Hooper's icon of horror and he made him into a dopey, sympathetic goof. And for what reason? This is supposed to be the guy with the chainsaw… the one we are all supposed to fear… not feel sorry for. The other members of Leatherface's family were creepy but after about 10 minutes you think how do these idiots tie their own shoes let own survive on the run and avoid the police? I know its movie and there is a suspension of disbelief but they are supposed to be there to scare me not make me yawn.

My last issue when I watch this film is, it reminded me of a lot of a House of 1000 Corpses (2003) directed by Rob Zombie. In fact, in many ways, House of 1000 Corpses is really just a sequel Texas Cahinsaw Massacre 2. It even has the same actor, Bill Moseley, playing almost the same part. Now I didn't care for a House of 1000 Corpses to begin with (was not scared at all)… but now I really see it as a rip off. I thought it was supposed to be a modern take on Texas Cahinsaw Massacre not a direct unofficial sequel to Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2.