Canon-Strike XI: Never Ending Horror

[Neon Ignition]

Movie 65 - The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre
The casting trend continues with this fourth entry that stars Renee Zellweger and Matthew McConaughey. Three of the original films stars also cameo in this entry that sees four teens stalked by the family, the film saw a limited release before being re-edited and re-released under the title The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation though both underperformed. In later years this entry too has developed a cult following with it featuring a stronger parody sense to it akin to the second film.



A Decent Entry in Bridget's Diary?

[Dogg Thang]

On Texas Chain Saw, I have only ever seen the first two and the remake. I think the first is one of the most effective horrors ever made and I’ll never watch it again. It makes me feel dirty, like there is a layer of grime all over that movie. By all measures, it shouldn’t work. It’s cheap, odd-looking (old man makeup sticks out, for example), and it’s not even anywhere near as gory as some seem to think it is. But it’s so effective. I hate it. There was a really interesting book on its making years ago that I have buried in a box. The thing most people know is that it was funded largely by a film company set up by the mob, so when the film did huge money and came out about just who those people were, few people who worked on the film went looking for their cut. The company was later dissolved and so, in spite of generating a fortune in revenue on a tiny budget, most people responsible never got paid.

The second is a whole different beast and, while I don’t actually like it all that much, it’s a fun watch. Hopper hams it up hilariously and the whole thing is played in an over the top cartoony way.

I have no real desire to see the others. But the first deserves its kudos.

[QualityChimp]

Echo everything you say, DT.
TTCM1 It's a wildly successful horror film because it's a low-budget smash, not reliant on franchises, but also the final product is something pretty grotty, so it's successful at shocking viewers and being memorable.

I didn't have nightmares that Leatherface was under my bed, but I thought that's one I can cross off and have no desire to see again.

[Neon Ignition]

Movie 66 - The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
As part of his run of trying to reboot multiple horror franchises in the 2000's, Michael Bay's company restarted the franchise and so this bigger budget affair kind of cheats yet still technically continues the run of notable castings. Jessica Biel led the film which was a straight up remake, the film scored poor reviews but was a financial hit for the studio making three times its budget back on just the opening weekend from the US alone.



A Worthy Remake?

[Neon Ignition]

Movie 67 - The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
With the remake making solid money, a prequel was greenlit which is set four years before the events of the previous film and features Fast and Furious' Jordana Brewster in the lead which goes much heavier in explaining the history of the family. The film was poorly reviewed and made a lot less than the previous entry but still came away with roughly over triple the costs to make it.



Too many films on the same set up?

[QualityChimp]

You'd think the authorities would have stepped in by this point.

[Neon Ignition]

In some MAGA states they probably think it's a series of documentaries about rounding up Democrat voters

[Neon Ignition]

Movie 68 - Texas Chainsaw 3D
The next film pulled that modern era trick of disregarding all prior sequels and acted as a direct sequel to the original 1974 film. Faces that would later be recognisable in other films continued with Alexandra Daddario taking the lead this time as she discovers she is adopted and so goes looking for her birthplace, only to discover Leatherface and his family. The film faced a similar reaction as the prior release, reviews coming in weak and yet still turning a profit making just over double its budget.



A Massacre of Film?

[QualityChimp]

Lawd! How many of these things are there?

[Neon Ignition]

They're still not done, I might add them to our 31 nights of horror roster next year given how few I've seen

[Neon Ignition]

Movie 69 - Leatherface
The massacre never ends as we arrive on another entry into the franchise. The film is essentially a follow up to the previous film but is a prequel to the 1974 original explaining the origins of the title character. The film hit rights issues and saw such a limited release that it scored just over $1m at the box office causing the studio to lose the rights to the franchise.



All these Gifs look like the same film don't they?

[Neon Ignition]

Movie 70 - Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Released in 2022, the latest entry is canon with the original film and in official placement returns to the original timeline making it the fifth entry. The events take place 50 years after the original film and brings new teens into the frame as people come to the town having heard of the killings in the prior decades. Though most of the family is gone, Leatherface still remains and so does Sally, the survivor of the original film.



How does the franchise rank in the Horror hall of fame?

[Dogg Thang]

I feel like, even if I had seen these, I’d have lost track long ago.

[QualityChimp]

Not sure who's still queuing up to see these by this point.

[Neon Ignition]

Movie 71 - Silent Hill
Adapting, to a degree, the plot of the original game but with some changes such as making the lead a mother rather than a father this film tried to recreate the atmosphere of the franchise using creature designs and music as well as visuals from across the first two games. The result was a rare, modestly successful attempt at taking game to film at a time when the franchise still carried some heft.



How successful an attempt did you find the film to be?