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| Roadshow (Australia). Region 4, PAL. 1.85:1 (16:9 enhanced). English DD 5.1, English DTS 5.1. English (FHI) Subtitles. 94 minutes |
| The Movie |
| Cover Art |
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| Credits |
Director: Marcus Nispel
Starring: Jessica Biel,
Jonathan Tucker, Erica Leerhsen, Mike Vogel, Eric
Balfour, Andrew Bryniarski, R. Lee Ermey, David
Dorfman, Andrew Bryniarski
Screenplay: Scott Kosar
Country: USA |
The history of cinema has had a rocky road with
remakes, generally fans of an original story will
immediately talk against their 'holy grail'
being polluted by a modern team's tinkering,
but sometimes it works. Most horror or science fiction
fans will name John Carpenter's The
Thing as an important movie within both
genres and Carpenter was successful as he didn't
just remake it, he 're-imagined' it.
He took it's basic premise, but told a different
story. It worked with 1988's The Blob,
2004's Dawn of the Dead and
here with The Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake. The usual 'It shouldn't be done!'
rubbish surrounded it when it was first announced,
but scriptwriter Scott Kosar (The Machinist)
and director Marcus Nispel's (music video
director for Faith No More and Cher, amongst others)
proved that you can take an idea, in this case Tobe
Hooper and Kim Henkel's, and tell a vastly
different story with similar elements. This film
won many awards upon its release (BMI Film Music
Award – Steve Jablonsky, Catalonian International
Film Festival Best Art Direction – Scott Gallagher,
Teen Choice Award – Choice Movie Thriller)
and was nominated many times as well at many respected
film festivals.
The premise may sound familiar, but this story
is much different to the original 1973 Texas Chainsaw
Massacre. It is August 18th, 1973, and five youngsters
(Jessica Biel, Eric Balfour, Mike Vogel, Jonathon
Tucker, Erica Leerhsen), are traveling from Mexico
through Texas to see Lynard Skynard, when they
decide to stop and pick up a hitchhiker. Meeting
this hitchhiker causes a chain of events that
will have them meet the Hewitt family of Travis
County, and their lives will never be the same
again.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre, like Psycho and Silence of
the Lambs, is loosely based on the serial
killer Ed Gein, who kept the tanned hides of women
around his house, and occasionally dressed in
them. What helped to give this remake some credibility
was the involvement of original Texas
Chainsaw Massacre cinematographer Daniel
C. Pearl and the fact that original screenwriter's
Henkel and Hooper acted as co-producers. Unlike
the original, cannibalism is only suggested in
this redux, but the cruelty of the family seems
much more extreme. A special mention goes to R.
Lee Ermey's portrayal of the Travis County
Police's Sheriff Hoyt. Redneck through and
though, this is a great example of both inspired
casting and brilliant acting.
Marcus Nispel and Daniel Pearl also deserve much
respect for creating a very claustrophobic sensation,
even in the scenes that take place in wide open
fields, there is a sullen feeling of oppression
that cannot be shaken. |
| Video |
| The transfer for Texas Chainsaw Massacre is crisp
and clear and sensational. A real delight to behold. |
| Audio |
| A choice of Dolby Digital 5.1 or DTS 5.1, and
the subtleties of both are breath-taking. Every
drop of water heard in the background feels like
it is running down your back. |
| Extra Features |
| On disc one there are three of quite possibly
the best and well organized commentaries I have
ever heard. Even speaker states his or name before
they speak, therefore removing and misunderstanding
with regards to who is making what comment, although
Marcus Nispel's German accent makes it quite
obvious when he speaks, and no-one talks over
each other or interrupts each other. All are given
a fair go with comments appropriate to the scene.
Nispel has a voice on all three commentaries so
occasionally he repeats himself, but from different
points of view. There is a Production commentary
where Nispel is accompanied by Producer Michael
Bay and Executive Producers Brad Fuller and Andrew
Form to discuss the foundation elements of the
film: the casting, the locations and the general
ideas behind the look and tone of the film. Nispel
is joined on the Tech commentary by Daniel Pearl,
Greg Blair, Scott Gallagher, Trevor Jolley and
Steve Jablonsky to discuss everything from the
score to the cinematic elements of the film. Finally,
the Story commentary has Nispel along with Bay,
Fuller and Form, scripter Scott Kosar and also
cast members Jessica Biel, Eric Balfour, Mike
Vogel, Jonathon Tucker, Erica Leerhsen and old
Leatherface himself, Andrew Bryniarski, discussing
character motivations and backgrounds.
Disc two has a great load of brilliant features.
Photo Gallery and Art Gallery have pre-production
drawings of both Leatherface and the set design.
The Alternate Beginning and Ending have footage
that was originally to book end the feature, with
an interesting look into the future of one of
the main characters.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre Redux documentary is
a 1 hour 17 minute look at every aspect of the
remaking process. Interviewing Nispel, Bay and
others associated cast and crew, not to mention
fan favorite and favorite fan Joe Bob Briggs,
also looks at the origins of the original and
the crowd reactions both before and after the
first screening.
Deleted Scenes are the usual gambit of alternate
takes and additional scenes. I must say though,
the alternate Morgan Death scene is very visceral.
Ed Gein: The Ghoul of Plainfield is an informative,
if not incomplete (they completely overlook the
death of Ed's brother in a forest fire and
his grave digger assistant) 24 minute documentary
about the 'real Leatherface' Ed Gein.
Interviews with various historians and psychologists,
this is not only an interesting look into the
origins of Leatherface (and Norman Bates and Buffalo
Bill), it is also a fascinating insight into the
mind of serial killers.
Severed Parts (15 minutes 26 seconds) has us
take a deeper look at the deleted scenes and bookends
and why they were deleted and trimmed for various
reasons.
The theatrical Trailer is one of the best cut
trailers I have ever seen, with Leatherface not
seen until the very end and there is also a selection
of TV spots.
The Cast Screen Tests are the screen tests for
Jessica Biel, Eric Balfour and Erica Leerhsen.
The Music Video is a track by Motograter called
Suffocate. |
| The Verdict |
As far as a great movie/ DVD package is concerned,
this Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2
Disc set is the best!! A combination of a good movie,
with great commentaries and relevant extras that
don't appear to be sales propaganda, that
sets a new standard for others to aspire to.
Got something else to say? Spill your guts on the
Digital Retribution Message Forum! |
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