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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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141 - 156 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
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If this sort of thing is to your taste, it's a better-than-average example; but it will never achieve the cult status of Hooper's grotesque, unforgettable version.

Full Review Source: One Guy's Opinion | comment Comment
10/16/03
Frank Swietek
Frank Swietek
One Guy's Opinion

It's so caught up in concept and layout that it frequently forgets to push the jolt buttons.

Full Review Source: Newsday | comment Comment
10/16/03
Gene Seymour
Gene Seymour
Newsday

Drowns in red rivers of excess.

Full Review Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune | comment Comment
10/16/03
Colin Covert
Colin Covert
Minneapolis Star Tribune

I would like to officially start a campaign to nominate Jessica Biel's white tanktop as Best Supporting Actress in a movie this year.

Full Review Source: JoBlo's Movie Emporium | comment Comment
10/16/03
JoBlo
JoBlo
JoBlo's Movie Emporium

A remake that turns every kill into an opportunity for overkill.

Full Review Source: Entertainment Weekly | comment Comment
10/16/03
Owen Gleiberman
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly

There are so many jump-out- of-your-seat surprises that it's bound to be embarrassing for a number of moviegoers.

Full Review Source: Citysearch | comment Comment
10/16/03
Allison Austin
Allison Austin
Citysearch

An effectively scary slasher film.

Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune | comment Comment
10/16/03
Robert K. Elder
Robert K. Elder
Chicago Tribune

Completely watchable, but brings virtually nothing new to the horror/gore table.

Full Review Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution | comment Comment
10/16/03
Bob Longino
Bob Longino
Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Replaces horror with gore, social commentary with carny freaks and black humor with R. Lee Ermy

Full Review Source: Reeling Reviews | comment Comment
10/15/03
Laura Clifford
Laura Clifford
Reeling Reviews

Go you skeptics and be shocked all over again. This remake does not take a thing away from the original. It's a movie worthy of the name, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

Full Review Source: Juicy Cerebellum | comment Comment
10/15/03
Alex Sandell
Alex Sandell
Juicy Cerebellum

Hacks away everything different and inventive Tobe Hooper’s original film did for the horror genre.

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
10/15/03
Sean O'Connell
Sean O'Connell
Filmcritic.com

One of the best remakes I've seen.

Full Review Source: Talking Pictures (U.S.) | comment Comment
10/14/03
Tony Toscano
Tony Toscano
Talking Pictures (U.S.)

Grossly lacking in the social/political subtext of the original, but surprisingly effective on a sheer horror scale.

Full Review Source: Palo Alto Weekly | comment Comment
10/14/03
Jeanne Aufmuth
Jeanne Aufmuth
Palo Alto Weekly

If I hadn’t already seen the original film, and wasn’t desensitized from a lifelong horror addiction, I think I might have been frightened by some of it.

Full Review Source: Rue Morgue Magazine | comment Comment
10/11/03
Jovanka Vuckovic
Jovanka Vuckovic
Rue Morgue Magazine

Not only is this useless “revision” ignorant of history, it panders to its modern audience with look-Ma visual brouhaha.

Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | comment Comment
10/10/03
Ed Gonzalez
Ed Gonzalez
Slant Magazine

It is, first and last, a hardcore genre movie. The teens are hot, horny and high. The massacr-teers are grotesque, angry and out for blood. The air hangs heavy with death. And you’re never quite sure what’s coming next.

Full Review Source: Hot Button | comment Comment
09/30/03
David Poland
David Poland
Hot Button
 
 
141 - 156 (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...

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