Jennifer Banko - Little Girl
Ron Brook - TV Newsman
William Butler - Ryan
Miriam Byrd-Nehtery - Mama
David Cloud - Scott
Tom Everett - Alfredo
Ken Foree - Benny
Kate Hodge - Michelle
Toni Hudson - Sara
R.A. Mihailoff - Leatherface
Viggo Mortenson - Tex
Joe Unger - Tinker
Duane Whitaker - Kim
Michael Shamus Wiles - Checkpoint Officer
Caroline Williams - TV Newswoman (uncredited)
Writer - David J. Schow
Producer - Robert Engelman
Executive Producer - Robert Shaye
Associate Producer - Michael De Luca
Cinematography - James Carter
Original Music - Jim Manzie
Makeup - Howard Berger, Robert Kurtzman,
Gregory Nicotero, and Scott Oshita
2nd Unit (1st Asst. Dir.) - Benita Allen
2nd Unit (2nd Asst. Dir.) - Skot Bright
Sound - Patrick Giraudi
Special Effects - Tod Ryan
Stunt Coordinator - Kane Hodder
Viggo Mortenson as Tex
PLOT
Leatherface returns with a new family of psychotic cannibals to cause mayhem and destruction. Ryan and Michelle are traveling cross country to deliver a vintage car to her father. Along the way they drive passed a mass grave in rural Texas filled with the putrified remains of about 50 people. Yum Yum. After they drive through the night they arrive at an out of the way filling station - Last Chance Gas. Here's where their day starts to get wierd. First they meet Alfredo, a wise cracking pervert, who tried to get a free show by watching Michelle in the bathroom. While he is doing this a cowboy Tex arrives looking for a ride to his home. Ryan turns him down on the grounds of their time schedule. He does point out a new route for them to take (uh oh). When Tex discovers that Alfredo is having fun Ryan and Michelle drive off. But not before he shoots out their rear windshield and then shoots Tex. They speed off and a little while later a large pickup truck pulls out of the gas station bay with Alfredo running outside with his gun shouting "It's Armaggeddeon!" The pickup catches up with the couple and throws a dead coyote onto the hood which causes Michelle to blow out her front tire. The truck disappears into the night and Michelle and Ryan quickly change the tire but not before Leatherface shows up with his chainsaw a blazing. They manage to escape again but accidentally crash into a ditch when trying to avoid Benny's jeep. Benny a survivalist helps the couple and tries to calm them down. He does not believe their story until he sees the saw marks on the car. He hurries back to his jeep when Tinker shows up with a wrecker. He asks Tinker to help him turn his jeep back on it's feet, but Tinker has other plans. Benny sensing trouble retrieves his M-16 and narrowly escapes the collision with the wrecker. Falling down a hill he comes face to face with Leatherface and a great hand to hand fight ensues with Leatherface getting the upper hand. But before he can finish off Benny one the family's hostages shouts and Leatherface pursues her. Benny tracks Leatherface and Ryan and Michelle look for help. Leatherface quickly kills his prey and then chases Ryan and Michelle. Ryan gets caught in a bear trap and is cut up by Leatherface. Michelle runs to an isolated farm house where she meets a little girl who stabs her and Tex subdues her. Ryan is ultimately killed by the family and Benny arrives to save Michelle. Tex is immolated by a gasoline fire while Tinker is shot up. Leatherface and Benny have a great fight in the bog near the home where Leatherface emerges victorious but Michelle takes care him before he can get out of the water. Michelle emerges the next day near a rural road when the Last Chance Gas pickup pulls up next to her. It's Benny! He picks her up but Alfredo is lurking still and Michelle makes swiss cheese out of him and Benny and her drive off. When they disappear Leatherface walks into the scene hoping for another confrontation.
This was a great surprise for me. I love the Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies and this one does not dissappoint. Well it does on the gore factor, but that's a minor problem for me. Actually seeing this movie reminded me of Friday the 13th, Part 7: The New Blood. It has a similar feel in the exterior shots, and the lack of gore, and with William Butler and Jennifer Banko with small roles in both movies. All the characters were first rate, I loved Ken as Benny. He was scared and confused at first but kicked ass when the time came for it. Viggo Mortenson in his pre-Lord of the Rings role was also excellent as Tex. Tinker and Alfredo were creepy as hell and provided some comedy relief. This is a definite pickup for fans of Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Ken Foree.
New Line Cinema is releasing this onto DVD with a full complement of extras, including deleted scenes, audio commentary, and making of documentary. This is scheduled to be released on 9/30/03.
Movie Rating
