Are you still with us? Here we are, four films deep into the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise. It's been an interesting experience. I have done this before, but this is the first time viewing the films in a more critical way. Last time, we took a look at Texas Chainsaw Massacre '03 from Marcus Nispel and Platinum Dunes. It was an interesting, more serious take on the story. But one downside was that it felt like they had used up everything in one film. Interesting thing is if it was made today, they wouldn't have thrown all the eggs in one basket would they?
After the success of the 2003 Texas Chainsaw Massacre, people were asking for more Leatherface. The large question I remember asking was How in the hell could you do a sequel? Well, you don't go all in on a sequel. That would have been too much of a risk for them probably. I mean if you're going to do another Chainsaw, you have to make sure you have a solid story right? That's what Michael Bay, Andrew Form and Brad Fuller were all saying in the Behind the Scenes. So what do you do?
Well, there was a time in Hollywood where it felt like prequels were all the rage. You make a movie and it's successful. How else can you explore that world? Well, if you don't want to do a sequel - you do a prequel. I mean George Lucas did it with Star Wars and that went well, right? Platinum Dunes sure thought so as they developed The Beginning.
It's a film that's set three years prior to the 2003 remake and gives fans more of what they thought was interesting about that film - the Family. I mean that's what worked really well about that previous film. But sometimes going back to tell a story can be a hinderance. It writes you into a corner potentially. You're not getting to develop the characters further, you're adding more personalities to them that would hopefully carry over into the subsequent film in the timeline. So then what's the point?
Now, it may seem like I'm just shitting on TCM: The Beginning. I actually really like it a lot, probably more than the remake if I'm honest. The brothers and their girlfriends are all solid characters. The way that each of them play off of one another in the scenes before they meet the Hewitts is interesting. There is a bit more depth with these characters when compared to the kids from the remake. They are all more likeable. I found myself caring for what was going to happen to them. I wanted someone to be able to make it out of the film alive. However, that's one of the big problems. It's set three years prior to the remake. Leatherface is still out there and no one is fully aware of him yet. Therefore, no one can make it out. Personally, I would have had Jordana Brewster make it out and then she could have been so terrified and PTSD from this situation that she would have went in to hiding. It would have also set up the possibility of using the character if they had wished to bring them back in a sequel to the remake. You could have also brought back Jessica Biel for that said sequel if interested. But instead, we got the easy way out.
Being this is a prequel, we also have to establish how Leatherface was born for some reason. This was something that I felt we didn't need. We could have had Luda Mae find Leatherface still or something. But instead we are shown the birth of Leatherface on the Meat Factory floor because plot. One of the things that I do appreciate is seeing how Sheriff Hoyt became the 'Sheriff'. It adds a lot of depth to an already colorful character. I mean now it makes things even more out there considering Hoyt spent three years in this newfound 'job'. When one thinks more about it, would it have been plausible? Honestly, it probably would have because there is practically no 'town' nearby them. My question though is Was the gas station something that they had owned and run before? Was it a family owned business for the Hewitts? Or did they take that over like Hoyt had taken the position of Sheriff? Moving on, we have Luda Mae, Uncle Monty, and the Tea Lady. I honestly don't think we get enough with these characters. They kind of are just there going along with things. Hoyt barks Monty to clear up the car accident and such. But outside of getting his legs cut off, is there a point for Monty? Yeah cause of plot. He didn't have his legs and we need to see how he lost them. Luda Mae goes along with things cause she believes in Hoyt? That's what we're saying? I just wish they had more with the characters. And as for the Tea Lady, ultimately she's like an easter egg for those that had watched the remake. She serves the purpose of being shoved up against the door and blocking it at one point.
The cinematography for The Beginning kind of works. Does it work in tone with the remake? No. It absolutely does not. Yeah, it's supposed to tie in to that film. But compared to the remake, The Beginning is full of hot warm lighting. It's an absolute stark contrast to that 2003 remake. But I guess that's probably the point. But honestly, it doesn't allow the two films to gel together very well.
Blood and gore? Yeah, The Beginning is not afraid to show everything. I remember going to see this at the theater and being astounded at how much they were getting to show on the screen. And then watching the Uncut Version later when it hit DVD, holy crap. It just expands on the gore. But an interesting thing about that version is that it does add some small things to the plot. They may be small and it mostly focuses on restoring the gore to its full glory, but it honestly does add a bit. Something that was interesting about the Behind the Scenes on that DVD is seeing the work put into the effects from KnB. They did an astounding job. It's a great sight to see physical effects being done on screen vs. computer doing everything.
While I loved The Beginning, I don't find that it works too well with the 2003 film. It works better as its own standalone because of the continuity issues between the two films. I mean Leatherface is said to be suffering from a skin eating disease in the 2003 film, yet he's not that far gone in The Beginning. And that's with a three year gap between the two films. If they hadn't shown Leatherface unmasked in the 2003 film, it would have helped immensely. The Beginning also was written into a corner by having to make sure that things line up with the 2003 film and it does feel it a little bit. It does have memorable characters though everyone is doomed to die.
Rating: 4.25 out of 5.
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