Hello everyone, we are almost there. Texas Chainsaw Massacre '22 is almost upon us. One more day till we can see it on Netflix. I am really interested in seeing what they did with it. And I can definitely say that tomorrow I'll have my thoughts on the film as soon as possible because we all know that I don't get much sleep and am up by 4 am anyway.
After Platinum Dunes' success with their two Chainsaw films, they ultimately had written themselves into a corner. There was absolutely no way that they could have continued the story. Well, I more or less was able to figure out ways that they could have done so. But they were just done with Chainsaw. They thought themselves as above it and were focusing on revitalizing other horror brands. So, they let the rights go and with it Leatherface went dormant for a time.
Lionsgate, Millennium Films, and Mainline Pictures ended up getting ready to make an installment as Lionsgate had secured the rights. At that point, they were trying to figure out how they could potentially bring Leatherface back to the big screen. Horror was undergoing another shift in what was big at the time like we see from time to time. Originally, a plan for a new trilogy was pitched. The films would be released out of chronological order, with the second film coming out first and being set almost entirely in a hospital. The next film would be a prequel explaining the events that led up to the hospital scenario. The third film would complete the storyline. Fearing it was too ambitious and risky, the producers opted for a follow up to the original instead. Now that I know this information it kind of makes a little more sense as to where they ended up going with this installment.
They ended up bringing in Adam Marcus, who we know from the superb Jason Goes to Hell, and his wife Debra Sullivan to figure out the story for Texas Chainsaw. What they came up with was enough to sell the studio on the film and had impressed Tobe Hooper. It was a direct sequel to the original. It had a proper timeline and had the story take place in the 90s. The whole goal of that script was to explore Leatherface's relationship to his family and fill out some more of the mythology. That honestly sounds like a solid approach to me. So what had happened between that script and the finished film?
Well, I have a very strong feeling that studio meddling occurred. They brought in Kirsten Elms and director John Luessenhop to take another crack at the script. It was during this time that they shifted the film to take place in the present day. Why did this need to be? It didn't. I can just hear the studio head saying "It's got to be set in modern day because kids won't notice any small details. It's got to feel fresh. Oh, kids these days have their fancy phones. Throw something in there with a phone.". Thus, we got a whole sequence with an officer and his cell phone. And it does go down from there the more you think about it.
Ultimately, this is why I shut my brain off when watching this film. While they were going for monster film approach, it honestly feels like a blockbuster popcorn horror film. It's something to throw on for background noise from time to time. Just try not to think on things too much.
I remember in the buildup to see Texas Chainsaw 3D, I was pretty excited. I mean getting to see Leatherface on a big screen was nice. I ended up winning a contest and scoring two tickets to see it in 3D. So, I ended up going to see the film twice in the theater. And with those two watches, I found myself enjoying Texas Chainsaw. Was it a solid film? I honestly don't think so. There were just so many times that I found myself questioning what was happening in the story. I mean if Alexandria Dadarrio just listened and read the note, the film would have been over. Come on, just listen to the old man. I also didn't enjoy any of her friends. Outside of the chef, the rest of the group felt like garbage people. I mean come on, her boyfriend is screwing around with what's supposed to be her 'best friend'. And then when they were attacked, Dadarrio still tried to save that friend. She was better than at least three out of the four. It kind of felt like they were just trying to pile things on for Dadarrio's character to the point where she could just fuckin snap. And honestly where the film goes with that, it makes sense. It's just sad how it gets there.
One thing that I didn't mind is that opening with the Sawyer family. I mean we get Bill Moseley as Drayton Sawyer this time around. That was something that honestly had me wishing we could have had more time with this family. We also get to see Gunnar Hansen as another member of the Sawyers. It was interesting getting to see what the consequences were of that first film. I mean it ultimately led the Sawyers to be massacred themselves. The whole character of Verna Carson was one that I enjoyed. Knowing that this was Marilyn Burns, who played Sally in the original, was so interesting. It added such a beautiful layer to the film.
Outside of the family story and what I have mentioned already, the rest of the film just doesn't work. Is it exciting? Nah. Is it entertaining? Yes, in a I'mma turn my brain off to enjoy this kind of way. I was really interested as to where the story could have gone next with that end-credit sequence. It set up something interesting with the idea of Dadarrio taking care of Leatherface. Would I have been interested in that film? Yeah.
I think the biggest disappointment was that the studio had changed Adam Marcus and Debra Sullivan's initial story. What could have that story been like? I honestly am really wishing that we could see that one made. No script changes to it. That script entirely.
So I guess, in conclusion, if you are looking for a film that's something for background noise. Check this out.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
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