Reviews & Ratings for
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre More at IMDbPro »

0 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
I guess it's just not my thing anymore., 1 November 2004

Author: Michael DeZubiria (miked32@hotmail.com) from Luoyang, China

You know, I remember being hugely impressed with this movie when I last saw it when I was in high school. I watched it again recently to get a look at the older movies before watching what I have heard is a "stupid, stupid remake," and was amazed that I ever enjoyed this movie. I respect it in that it is incredibly effective, especially as horror movies go, but the last time I had seen it was at a time when I was also impressed but absolute garbage like the Faces of Death movies – movies that there is no reason for anyone to watch. Ever.

The movies is based on a true story, as they say (how loosely based is still a matter of debate), which adds an element of intrigue to the story, but it is simply an unappealing and sick movie that it's difficult to enjoy, even for horror fans. I am a huge horror fan, but when I see a blonde girl screaming in terror literally nonstop, it gets a little hard to take. It's cool to see a teenager scream and then get slashed by a masked killer, but to watch a teenager screaming endlessly as this sick and twisted family forces her to participate in their disgusting family rituals is not amusing in the least. What is this, an exploration of the depths of human depravity?

The movie gets high marks because it certainly is well made and effective, I just can't help being put off by it. It's not fun to watch, even as a gory horror film, which I think counts against it in the end. There is a way to make a movie like this without being too over the top and gratuitous but still remaining faithful to whatever it was that really took place that summer in Texas. Glamorizing the violence and shoving the audience's faces into the sick things that this family was into is not the way. Texas Chainsaw comes off as a hugely effective movie that's really weakly made. They allowed to sheer disgustingness of this family tell the story, rather than use the endless opportunities afforded by the medium to create a fascinating story, and a whole series of stupid sequels did not help much.

Ah well…

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