The Texas Chainsaw Massacre : The Beginning

Review by Clint Morris

“From 1969 to 1973, the Hewitt family murdered thirty-three people across the state of Texas. To this day, it is universally considered the most notorious and brutally sadistic killing spree in the annals of American history: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.”

Thirty years later, any chainsaw is bound not to work as well as it did when the tag was first ripped from its handle - which begs the question, why pour unleaded into something that clearly requires super?

An unnecessary sequel to an unnecessary remake – the appeal of Tobe Hooper’s original Texas Chainsaw Massacre was that it looked real, and not the fiscal equivalent of a Miami apartment block – The Beginning is the prequel all unfussy 15-year-olds have been hankering for since Jessica Biel got her shirt soaked from outrunning fleshy-face. 

Now, finally, life’s lingering question will be answered: ‘How did Freak Face get so saw happy?’

Set in the '60s, sometime before the events of the first film, The Beginning fixes on the origins of ‘Tommy’, a mutated child we’d later learn to know as ‘Leatherface’. Thanks to four teenagers who unintentionally stumble upon Tommy and company (which includes a frenzied uncle, played by R.Lee Ermey, who's pretending to be a sheriff), Tommy discovers his love of Silverstar 52cc petrol chainsaws, and how easily skin can be applied over one's repugnant mug, and how fun it is to chop up teenagers.

Mostly, it’s a case of the ‘same old, same old’ – kids try to outrun and outsmart Leatherface, but don’t succeed. Lots of blood, lots of gore, lots of screaming, lots of badly-lit chase scenes in the boondocks.

Granted, the film’s screenplay isn’t too bad for what it is – there’s some interesting background into how Leatherface came to be, for instance – and the young cast are all attractive-enough and likeable enough to root for. But for the same amount of money you’ll hand over watching this thing you can buy a couple of camcorder tapes, a plastic go-lo saw, and a mask from the kid’s department of K-Mart and make it yourself. 

It's sure to be just as effective.

2.5 out of 5

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre : The Beginning
Australian release: 16th November, 2006
Cast: Jordana Brewster, Taylor Handley, Diora Baird, Matthew Bomer, R.Lee Ermey, Andrew Bryniarski
Director: Jonathan Liebesman
Website: Click here.