When any popular and beloved horror movie franchise gets a makeover, continuance, or reboot, the internet goes to war. Nothing has changed in that respect for the newest installment of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Fans of the TCM brand of slasher film renowned for hosting a monstrous killer who brandishes a chainsaw were a mixture of anticipation and apprehension. With such successful origin films by the late Tobe Hooper, the fact this Netflix-released sequel promised to continue this concept directly from the 1974 Texas Chainsaw movie, even the most hesitant viewers would surely take a peek. So now more than 50 years later, Leatherface is back. How does the newest film fare?
People Don’t Watch Slasher Movies For the Story
The catchcry that slasher movie fans don’t watch this type of film for the story, is not an accurate statement. I certainly enjoy a mindless gorefest every once in a while. But even some of the more bland splatterfest movies end up as cult hits because writers still know how to provision a good story. Halloween 2018 is a great example of utilizing the ethics of the original films. The iconic Michael Myers film created the ultimate showdown between Laurie Strode and a murderer who has hunted her since he first saw her. It’s a revenge story you can be invested in.
Instantly, what is missing from Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2022 is that hook. Initially engaging, the film makes a good effort in a plausible scenario to awaken Leatherface.
The TCM movie 2022 is set in present times. A small group of good-looking young people is keen to reenvision the town where Leatherface did the most damage. They bring a bus full of influences to drive the clash of eras home. Texas Chainsaw Massacre does begin with good intentions. I liked the idea of Dante leading the way to buy up the town filled with dire consequences. There was a hint of clarity when small-town cops switch hats to become the town’s ambulance and frantically take Mrs. Mc to the nearest hospital. Set against a field of dead sunflowers, it’s here that there was some movie magic.
What Would Michael Myers Do?
Leatherface as a character is someone who doesn’t intrinsically go looking for trouble. Instead of sticking to the true TCM model, the film tries to imitate a “what would Michale Myers do?” type situation. A resident hears that Leatherface is on the loose and calls in Sally Hardesty. Sally was the sole survivor of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre 1974 film. Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2022 didn’t need Sally. It needed a new hero. A new survivor. And it almost succeeded in most of what it was trying to do. Instead of concentrating on the things that did work, this new TCM sequel threw too many balls in the air.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre is built around the Sawyer family. Without the meat of the craziness Leatherface’s family brings, the monster loses his power. The Leatherface I know thrived on the familiarity of his surroundings. He also had backup. It’s what made the previous films tense. You never knew who was going to pop up and finish off a survivor.
In previous films, the setting provided the traps and the excitement of what being captured by the Sawyer Family meant. While I enjoyed a few of the kill scenes in Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2022, it was only Melody’s survival I was rooting for. A lot of the characters seemed to ignore the meat mask and hulking foreboding nature of the man behind the chainsaw. I did get a kick out of Leatherface coming face to face with a bus full of mobile-phone-holding influencers though.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre Movie
And while most of this Texas Chainsaw Massacre review is heavily influenced by what went wrong, I still enjoyed this movie. While the best slashers are those with insight and acute clever writing, the movie was still enjoyable.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2022 is rated
3.5 missing Sawyer’s out of 5
Where to Watch Texas Chainsaw Massacre
You can watch the Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2022 movie on Netflix from 18th February.
Directed by David Blue Garcia
Writers:
- Chris Thomas Devlin (screenplay by)
- Fede Alvarez (story by)
- Rodo Sayagues (story by)
