A group of friends driving through Texas are terrorized by
a sadistic sheriff and a vicious psychopath with a chainsaw. HORROR
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The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)Directed by Marcus Nispel
Written by Scott Kosar Starring Jessica Biel, Eric Balfour, Jonathan Tucker, Erica Leerhsen, Mike Vogel, R. Lee Ermey, Andrew Bryniarski, Lauren German Remake of 1974's The Texas Chain Saw Massacre |
I am not one for remakes. I find them unnecessary and almost always considerably weaker than the original film. While 2003's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre does not surpass the original horror classic, it does stand on its own as a gory funfest and an enjoyable ode to the grittiness of the 1970's. After a slew of terrible sequels, it was nice to see a decent Texas Chainsaw film.
The best part of this film is R. Lee Ermey, who pulls off the role of sadistic Sheriff Hoyt with scene-chewing gusto. He's clearly channeling his Gunnery Sergeant Hartman, and it helps make Hoyt a great secondary villain. Then you have a great depiction of Leatherface, who once again comes off as terrifying as opposed to laughable. As I said, the grittiness of 1973 Texas helps establish a gross and horrifying atmosphere that makes the film really unsettling. I believe this remake to be an enjoyable film for horror aficionados and fans of the original. If you're looking for an Oscar winner, look elsewhere. If you want a decent horror film that doesn't take away from a classic, check this out. |
Being a major horror fan, I've grown accustomed to seeing some of the major, classic horror films get remade. While I've never been a big fan of the trend, mainly due to many of these remakes being terrible, some have turned out surprisingly well. The 2003 version of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is one of those. While it obviously doesn't hold a candle to the 1974 original, this version is an entertaining, gory horror fest that fans will like.
While the main characters are decently interesting to watch, even though they tend to fall into the horror movie stereotypes, the main star of this is R. Lee Ermey. He plays the corrupt, sadistic Sheriff Hoyt, a role he seems to be really enjoying. He makes for a terrifying watch as he is wholly unpredictable. Rest assured horror fans, he doesn't steal the spotlight from from the star of this decades long franchise, Leatherface. The horror icon is absolutely terrifying and still knows how to massacre people with that trusty chainsaw of his. His introduction in this movie alone is one of my favorite moments, with him charging into the camera with the chainsaw revving. A fitting way to introduce new audiences to the legendary horror icon. The 2003 Texas Chainsaw Massacre is still one of my favorite horror movies, regardless of it being a remake. It honors the original by keeping the grime and grit intact while also updating other things like the gore. Compared to most remakes, this one is a winner that most horror fans may actually like. |