In recent years, a new film genre has emerged: the remake of the horror movie classic. But far from capturing the sheer terror and often-profound psychological nuance of the originals, films like The Amityville Horror and When a Stranger Calls are characterized by an inappropriate, and inevitable, devolution into humor. Now, just in time for Halloween, we can forget about trudging to theaters to see ultimately disappointing slasher flicks that are more about blood and gore for its own sake than about capitalizing on our nation’s love of feeling vulnerable. So, forget The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning and check out the true beginnings of a genre that roots fear in the possible, not the implausible, with the restored and remastered original, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, for a truly revolutionary scare.
The film is ever so loosely based on real life murderer Ed Gein, and this allusion to reality—along with the elimination of the supernatural—is what made TCSM so innovative in 1974 and what makes it remain so horrifying for jaded scary movie watchers in 2006. TCSM tells the story of five young friends (a group that perfectly embodies youthful capriciousness and American entitlement) who venture into the heart of backwoods Texas where they meet chainsaw-wielding Leatherface—the beastly incarnation of Blue State xenophobia against the rural South. Fear of the Other is a horror genre staple, and here it’s firmly established by Leatherface’s dysfunctional family reunion, which reveals the history of his abusive redneck origins.
Where most horror movie plots become convoluted, bent on creating more and more chances to shock rather than on understanding what really terrifies, the simplicity of TCSM belies its scariness. From picking up a hitchhiker to exploring a house that is not their own, these friends redefine what it means to fear the unknown—and learn the consequences of not being fearful enough.
Bonuses include a feature-length interview with the director, cinematographer and actors and a documentary on the story behind the film—which is every bit as creepy as the film itself. This two-disc “Ultimate Edition” successfully presents TCSM in all its chilly glory.
