Post by doomedbloodwork on May 24, 2004 3:56:54 GMT -5
With the success of the recent CHAINSAW remake, it seems fitting to go back to a sequel that has grown in stature over the years as one of the best. Indeed, from what I read on this website and others, it is either loved or hated equally.
TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 2 (1986) is quite simply one of the most innovative of horror sequels, a gem of a it's ilk that, had they spent more time on developing the script, would have rivalled that year's other great offering ALIENS.
The concept of having the Ed Gein family as a travelling group of murderers preempted the serial killer genre of SILENCE OF THE LAMBS and HENRY - PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER (interestingly enough, the latter film was made in the same year, although not receiving any form of release until 1990)
As it stands, the opening sequence, in which a pair of not-so-smart college boys are given a lesson in road rage, is simply one of the greatest openings of any horror film I have seen in my lifetime. Cutting to the chase and eliminating exposition that a lot of horror sequels do have (possibly even some of the more famous ones) it puts one over.
From there, we are introduced to the two key characters pursuing Leatherface, Stretch (could this be Penelope Spheeris pre-WAYNE'S WORLD a la Caroline Williams) and Enright (Dennis Hopper) who team up to track down the perpetrators of doom. Into this comes the manic and excellent Chop-Top (Bill Moseley, in the film's best whacked out performances or, as he describes himself, a 'far-out fan'.
Although some of the shortcomings are evident, most horror films do have these to some degree and ultimately if, like me, you do like the atmosphere that a Friday late-night horror experience creates in a movie theatre, this one is one of the best.
Please do catch it on DVD or in late-night theatrical release form (CHAINSAW 1 was one of the most popular of these next to ROCKY HORROR) and hope for the longer version which has been mentioned from time to time by other fans.
The buzz is back - and here to stay....
TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 2 (1986) is quite simply one of the most innovative of horror sequels, a gem of a it's ilk that, had they spent more time on developing the script, would have rivalled that year's other great offering ALIENS.
The concept of having the Ed Gein family as a travelling group of murderers preempted the serial killer genre of SILENCE OF THE LAMBS and HENRY - PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER (interestingly enough, the latter film was made in the same year, although not receiving any form of release until 1990)
As it stands, the opening sequence, in which a pair of not-so-smart college boys are given a lesson in road rage, is simply one of the greatest openings of any horror film I have seen in my lifetime. Cutting to the chase and eliminating exposition that a lot of horror sequels do have (possibly even some of the more famous ones) it puts one over.
From there, we are introduced to the two key characters pursuing Leatherface, Stretch (could this be Penelope Spheeris pre-WAYNE'S WORLD a la Caroline Williams) and Enright (Dennis Hopper) who team up to track down the perpetrators of doom. Into this comes the manic and excellent Chop-Top (Bill Moseley, in the film's best whacked out performances or, as he describes himself, a 'far-out fan'.
Although some of the shortcomings are evident, most horror films do have these to some degree and ultimately if, like me, you do like the atmosphere that a Friday late-night horror experience creates in a movie theatre, this one is one of the best.
Please do catch it on DVD or in late-night theatrical release form (CHAINSAW 1 was one of the most popular of these next to ROCKY HORROR) and hope for the longer version which has been mentioned from time to time by other fans.
The buzz is back - and here to stay....
It surprised me and actually had some good scenes of twisted gore in it. Hopper vs Leatherface in a chainsaw fight! Nice. 
