The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (****):
Wow. What a movie. This movie was insanely intense, and it didn't let up. From frame one, with the strange police footage, to the final one, my eyes were glued to the screen. This is a prime example of what horror movies should be like...intense, suspenseful, and well, scary. The first 5-10 minutes introduces to these seemingly nice characters who are on their way to Dallas for a concert. They nearly hit a hitchiker wandering along the road, she seems lost, and they decide to take her along...BIG mistake. The hitchiker's friends have been killed, so she kills herself as well...look for stylish shot #1 as the camera goes through the hole where the bullet went through...This movie is messed up.
I've seen most of the original, and I can honestly say that this isn't fully a remake. They changed quite a bit around, mainly so that this wouldn't be the same movie all over again. What happens to these five friends is quite entertaining...and scary...The fact that this may be a true story makes an even bigger impact. When Erin (Jessica Biel) and Kemper walk into the house for the first time...I knew this was going to be one hell of a movie. Things fall into place there...and that is where we get our first view of Mr. Leatherface...scary. This movie is a stylish horror film (gotta love the shot of Erin's ass...in TIGHT jeans, I might add) and it's done to the point where it's not too distracting. There is excellent cinematography, as well. The movie has a kind of dirty feel to it...things are gross, too. The movie's not afraid to shy away from the gore...it gives things to you, unflinchingly. The sets are very well-designed, from the house, to the mill, to the BBQ place...there's a sense of dread in each scene, and then something happens...The stalk sequences are pretty great, too. Scary stuff, as well. I'll admit that I became obsessed with the ceiling during certain points, but I still jumped, anyway. People screamed, followed by nervous laughter...then the movie began to get intense...
While the last 30 minutes do seem to become a bit repetitive, I'll admit that's the first time things have ever been so tense in a movie theater. She hides, she runs, she hides, she runs...repetive, like I said, but it was just SO intense. I've never felt like this during a movie.
I didn't really have any problems with the ending...that last boo scare got me...I will say that things did feel a bit "Blair Witch-y," but that was one small gripe...I can't exactly express how good this film is, and it's pretty unforgettable. PERFECT for Halloween...want to get scared?? Go see this. Hell, I'll go with you...I want to see this again!
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