The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Limited Edition 4K UHD/Blu-ray 2NDBR4180 18 Region Free 4K UHD/ Region B Blu-ray -Release Date: 10 April 2023 Running Time: 83 mins presentation gets the job done -- and of course, there are those who might actually prefer a more grimy appearance. But the level of Tobe Hooper went on to make the well received TV adaptation of Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot (1979) and had terrific success with the Spielberg-produced Poltergeist, however, much of his other outcome could be called interesting at best. His own sequel to Chainsaw released in 1986 was a badly executed mess and the likes of vampires from space movie Lifeforce was laughable at best. However of late Hooper has enjoyed a slight return to form with his 2003 take on the Toolbox Murders proving a guilty pleasure. A movie that redefined horror, tells the story of a group of five friends who take a road trip and find themselves at the mercy of a depraved Texan clan, among them one of the all-time horror icons, the chainsaw-wielding Leatherface –played by the inimitableGunnar Hansen.It’s not long before their idyllic drive becomes a macabre nightmare…

For a synopsis of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, please read Martin Liebman's review of MPI's 2008 Ultimate Edition Blu-ray. This is a clear genreNote: this reviewer has only the US Dark Skies 2008 blu-ray to help in comparisons, with no other home video versions seen to compare this new 4K image against. Wixson, producer Fede Alvarez, filmmaker Jamie Blanks, History of Horror producer Ben Raphael Sher, producer Jed Shepherd, Fangoria written/directed by Phillip Escott, this full-length documentary -- which yes, is just about as long as the film itself -- offers a broad retrospective of Hooper apparently thought that if he kept the amount of blood shown down in his movie, called initially Leatherface, he would get away with a PG certificate and therefore get a larger audience and more money. Whether he was joking when he imparted this little fact, I am unsure. What I am sure about is that his plan didn’t work. In fact the reaction went the other way. In Britain it was banned outright in 1975 until 1999 when the censors changed their policy and passed the movie uncut. It did make the video shelves at the start of the video entertainment revolution in an ‘uncensored’ cut, however, like most movies that had a title like this baby; it was subsequently accused of being a video nasty. Loosely inspired by serial killer Ed Gein, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is one of the most effective horror films of all time. More than merely scary or macabre, it’s truly unnerving. Deceptively short at only 83 minutes, it’s something of an endurance test. The performances are manic across the board, likely exacerbated by the arduous shooting conditions, and Robert A. Burns‘ ( Re-Animator, The Hills Have Eyes) art direction is equally unhinged.

Much of the screen time, in fact, is spent with Sally, Franklin and their friends, as they travel and encounter mounting craziness. The characters are, to be honest, mostly lightly sketched. Franklin might be the most developed, and Paul Partain’s performance is definitely divisive. The wheelchair bound Franklin whines his way through much of the film, and he can get grating, but having him there does create an undertone to the whole film, because we can see the rough ground beneath the character’s feet, and know that it’s not going to be particularly easy for him to navigate. As soon as we know the kids are in danger, we’re primed to be terrified for Franklin. Of course, I say all this with the knowledge that The Texas Chain Saw Massacre's built-in grindhouse aesthetic means that even a "bad" Hooper and cinematographer Daniel Pearl (who also shot the Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake) balance the deluge of raw, grisly imagery — including people hanging from meat hooks and furniture fashioned from body parts — with nimble craftsmanship. Iconic shots — such as Leatherface’s stark reveal, the low angle dolly following Pam to the house, extreme close ups on Sally’s eye, and Leatherface’s deranged chainsaw dance bathed in orange sunlight — are breathtaking in 4K. Another highlight is a 45-min conversation between Hooper and fellow master of horror William Friedkin that preceded a 40th anniversary screening presented by Cinefamily in Los Angeles. Hooper is reserved compared to the gregarious Exorcist director, but it’s a treat to hear the two old friends candidly chat about the movie that, as Friedkin puts it, “transcends the genre.” gets the commentaries and a few odds and ends, and everything else is on Disc 2. These extras largely mirror those found on MPI's recent 4K and earlier Blu-ray editions, with a fewStill front-heavy and faithful to the source, random noises are heard echoing throughout the Sawyer house, adding to the creepiness and making for a satisfying hemispheric soundfield. The real highlight is hearing footsteps on the second floor of the abandoned Hardesty homestead while Franklin whines, and later, when Sally runs frantically around the Sawyer house, we hear the brothers yelling in hysterics and chasing after her in the distance. Granted, a few Foley effects still feel a bit fake, most notably at the beginning with vehicles speeding down the highway, but thankfully, these moments are far and few in between without distracting too much from the film's overall enjoyment. Flesh Wounds: Seven Stories of the Saw runs 71 minutes and is essentially another collection of interviews. It’s a real mishmash, and I get the sense it’s compiled from unrelated pieces that were found from different sources, but it’s a fun set of vignettes that touch on a lot of different aspects around the film from interviews with hitchhiker actor Ed Neal (weird and very funny) and DP Daniel Pearl (serious, but entertaining on how he ended up shooting the 2003 remake), to pieces on the plastic surgeon who did Grandpa’s make up and the convention circuit. More effective than a weird In Memoriam piece in the middle is an interview with the late Gunnar Hansen, who comes across as warm and funny, if not particularly impressed with the film business, while discussing his life after the film. I wonder if these might have been more effective as separate pieces, but they’re all interesting in their own right. Audio commentary with Cinematographer Daniel Pearl, Editor J. Larry Carroll, Sound Recordist Ted Nicolaou and others. It's an entertaining piece, though given the wealth of extras already on this release and earlier discs, some of the stories won't exactly

NOTE: This review's screenshots are sourced from Second Sight's included remastered Blu-ray edition. The on-disc extras are identical on both formats; they're squeezed onto the 4K disc along with the movie, and spread out on both Blu-rays -- Disc 1 it likely uses the same master as MPI's recent 4K edition as its solid base. But it's abundantly clear that said "additional work" yields fairly substantial results in MPI included) might have rendered the grain as more of a chunky, noisy mess. It also looks as if some of the more flagrant damage has been The Legacy of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (new) – feature length appreciation of by film makers and writers/academics (82 mins)

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Review

Other special features include: 25 minutes of deleted scenes and outtakes, which are fascinating to see even without audio; interviews with Grandpa actor John Dugan, McMinn, Carroll, and production manager Ron Bozman; a tour of the Chain Saw house with Hansen from 2006; Horror’s Hallowed Grounds’ filming location tour; “Making Grandpa,” a slideshow of stills from makeup artist W.E. Barnes turning Dugan into the character; three trailers; three TV spots; two radio spots, and a still gallery. Audio commentary with Actors Marilyn Burns, Allen Danziger and Paul A. Partain, and Art Director Robert A. Burns