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Movies / On DVD / The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

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The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)

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Reviews Counted:151

Fresh:54

Rotten:97

Average Rating:4.8/10

Consensus: An unnecessary remake that's more gory and less scary than the original.

Runtime: 1 hr 38 mins

Genre: Horror/Suspense

Synopsis: On August 20th, 1973, police were dispatched to the remote farmhouse of Thomas Hewitt, the former head-skinner at a local slaughterhouse in Travis County, Texas. What they found within the confines... On August 20th, 1973, police were dispatched to the remote farmhouse of Thomas Hewitt, the former head-skinner at a local slaughterhouse in Travis County, Texas. What they found within the confines of the cryptic residence was the butchered remains of 33 human victims, a chilling discovery that shocked and horrified a nation in what many still refer to as the most notorious mass murder case of all time. Wearing the grotesque flesh masks of his victims and brandishing a chainsaw, the killer, known as “Leatherface,” would gain infamy when sensational headlines were splashed across newspapers throughout the state of Texas: “House of Terror Stuns Nation – Massacre in Texas.” Local authorities would eventually gun down a man wearing a leathery mask and declare they had their killer, which abruptly closed the case; however, in the years that followed, many close to the grisly murder case would come forward to level accusations that police had botched the investigation and knowingly killed the wrong man. Now, for the first time, the only known survivor of the killing spree has broken the silence and come forward to tell the real story of what happened on a deserted rural Texas highway when a group of five young kids inadvertently found themselves besieged by a chainsaw-wielding madman, one who would leave a trail of blood and terror that would forever become known as “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.” New Line Cinema presents The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, a terrifying journey into a heart of unimaginable darkness as five young adults are stranded in a rural Texas town, only to find themselves fighting for their lives against Leatherface and his bizarre clan. Inspired by the 1974 classic film of the same name, the new film stars Jessica Biel, Jonathan Tucker, Erica Leerhsen, Mike Vogel and Eric Balfour. Co-starring are screen veteran R. Lee Ermey, Lauren German, David Dorfman, Andrew Bryniarski, Terrence Evans, Heather Kafka and Marietta Marich. Marcus Nispel, the mastermind behind many of the most powerful images and story-telling themes in contemporary music videos and commercials, makes his feature film directorial debut. New Line Cinema presents in association with Michael Bay and Radar Pictures a Platinum Dunes/Next Entertainment Production. The film is produced by Michael Bay and Mike Fleiss. The executive producers are Ted Field, Jeffrey Allard, Guy Stodel, Andrew Form and Brad Fuller. The screenplay is by Scott Kosar (based on a screenplay by Kim Henkel and Tobe Hooper). The creative behind-the-scenes team is led by cinematographer Daniel Pearl (who also served as director of photography on the original 1974 release), production designer Greg Blair, costume designer Bobbie Mannix, special effects make up artist Scott Stoddard, special effects coordinator Rocky Gehr, editor Glen Scantlebury and composer Steve Jablonsky. New Line Cinema will release The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (rated “R” by the M.P.A.A. for “strong horror violence/gore, language and drug content”) in theaters nationwide on October 17th, 2003. [More]

Starring: Jessica Biel, Jonathan Tucker, Eric Balfour, Erica Leerhsen

Starring: Jessica Biel, Jonathan Tucker, Eric Balfour, Erica Leerhsen, Mike Vogel, Lauren German, R. Lee Ermey

Director: Marcus Nispel

Director: Marcus Nispel
Screenwriter: Scott Kosar
Producer: Michael Bay, Mike Fleiss, Andrew Form
Studio: New Line Cinema

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Reviews for The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

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101 - 120 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

I don't know if Nispel and Scott Kosar, who make their feature film debuts here, are the worst director and writer in the world, though they might well represent the United States if anyone holds a competition.

Full Review Source: Charlotte Observer | comment Comment
10/17/03
Lawrence Toppman
Lawrence Toppman
Charlotte Observer

Exists to scare teenagers the old-fashioned way and generate sequels. In that, it will probably succeed, as it's catering to a less-than- discriminating crowd.

Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
10/17/03
Mark Keizer
Mark Keizer
Boxoffice Magazine

This is easily the most gruesome, most pointless, episode of Scooby Doo ever.

Full Review Source: Boston Globe | comment Comment
10/17/03
Wesley Morris
Wesley Morris
Boston Globe

The original movie has been ripped off so many times over 29 years that a genuine remake comes off as a copy of the copies.

Full Review Source: Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL) | comment Comment
10/17/03
Jeffrey Westhoff
Jeffrey Westhoff
Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch | comment Comment
10/17/03
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

What's scarier then a faceless chainsaw wielding psycho? Right! A redneck inbred faceless chainsaw-wielding psycho!

Full Review Source: Blunt Review | comment Comment
10/17/03
Emily Blunt
Emily Blunt
Blunt Review

Marcus Nispel's modern take ramps up the gore, eliminates the subtext and delivers a run-of-the-mill modern slasher movie that isn't even scary, much less unsettling.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Daily News | comment Comment
10/17/03
Glenn Whipp
Glenn Whipp
Los Angeles Daily News

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Hollywood.com | comment Comment
10/17/03
Guylaine Cadorette
Guylaine Cadorette
Hollywood.com

For the new generation of slasher fan, the remake is a true gross-out with plenty of satisfying frights. For the rest of us, it's one more chapter in a neverending story.

Full Review Source: New York Daily News | comment Comment
10/17/03
Jack Mathews
Jack Mathews
New York Daily News

A contemptible film: Vile, ugly and brutal.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
10/17/03
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

All about style and Jessica Biel in a wet t-shirt...what's wrong with that? Not much.

Full Review Source: Supercala.com | comment Comment
10/17/03
John Venable
John Venable
Supercala.com

Reminds us what the “slasher flick” genre is all about and why we used to love it so much

Full Review Source: Tooele Transcript-Bulletin (Utah) | comment Comment
10/17/03
Audrey Rock-Richardson
Audrey Rock-Richardson
Tooele Transcript-Bulletin (Utah)

The blood and other body parts are plentiful, and some special-effects shots (like a pull-back through a woman's freshly cored skull) are beyond gratuitous.

Full Review Source: Salt Lake Tribune | comment Comment
10/17/03
Sean Means
Sean Means
Salt Lake Tribune

So creepily obsessed with the specifics of torture and pain that it's not much fun.

Full Review Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press | comment Comment
10/17/03
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
St. Paul Pioneer Press

It is its own nightmare -- recycling the past in a frightful present.

Full Review Source: PopMatters | comment Comment
10/17/03
Cynthia Fuchs
Cynthia Fuchs
PopMatters

A well-oiled suspense machine.

Full Review Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram | comment Comment
10/17/03
Scott Von Doviak
Scott Von Doviak
Fort Worth Star-Telegram

...the film never improves upon Hooper's vision, so why bother?

Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews | comment Comment
10/17/03
David Nusair
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews

The original wanted to scare you. This one just wants to separate you from your money.

Full Review Source: Planet Sick-Boy | comment Comment
10/17/03
Jon Popick
Jon Popick
Planet Sick-Boy

Rent the original.

Full Review Source: Flick Filosopher | comment Comment
10/17/03
MaryAnn Johanson
MaryAnn Johanson
Flick Filosopher

It took The Texas Chainsaw Massacre about 15 minutes before all my anticipation was completely stripped away and replaced with utter boredom.

Full Review Source: Critic Doctor | comment Comment
10/17/03
Peter Sobczynski
Peter Sobczynski
Critic Doctor
 
 
101 - 120 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 >> >|
all

Latest News for The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

January 31, 2008: Platinum Dunes, New Line Announce Plans for New Nightmare on Elm Street
In a move that should surprise no one, New Line has announced a partnership with Michael Bay's Platinum Dunes banner to reboot the Nightmare on Elm Street series. More...

November 14, 2007: Marcus Nispel to Direct Friday the 13th Reboot?
You can't keep a good man down. Nor, apparently, can you keep an undead, hockey mask-wearing lunatic off the big screen. According to The Hollywood Reporter, director Marcus... More...

May 09, 2007: Jessica Biel: "Street Fighter"?
Remember that pretty rotten Jean Claude Van Damme movie that was based on a video game called "Street Fighter"? Well, you can bet the producers of the new version wish... More...

January 18, 2007: Box Office Guru Preview: "Hitcher" Aims to Terrorize Moviegoers
After a busy MLK frame which concluded with the Golden Globe Awards, Hollywood lets the dust settle this weekend as only one new film enters wide release - the horror remake... More...

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