The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, which is based on a true story, did well at the box office for one reason; exceptional marketing. The commercial was a better movie than the movie. I was excited to see the film (I love horror movies) but I would have to agree with tarantinofan; it is just full of cheap thrills and bad cinematic devices. Leatherface may make you jump a time or two, and the gore will gross you out, but overall, you leave the theater unfulfilled. In fact, the only question that lingered in my mind about the movie was how true it was. But the question hasn’t bothered me THAT much; seeing as I haven’t taken the 15 minutes to look up the murders.
For those wondering about the plot, it doesn’t get much simpler. Some teenagers pick up a hitchhiker, the hitchhiker blows her brains out, the teenagers try to find help, but all they find is a town full of whackos that kill them one by one. The movie has a little more plot than the original, but for the most part, it is just Jessica Biel running around screaming. Her acting isn’t so bad, and it may have been the only reason that the movie gave off an eerie presence. The other actors, however, were mediocre, and their roles were extremely limited.
The biggest knock on this movie would have to be the fact that it doesn’t stay with you. Yes, I know, the envelope has been pushed on scary movies lately (i.e. The Ring, Cabin Fever, 28 Days Later), but all great or even good horror movies stick with you for a couple of nights after you leave the theater, this one didn’t do it at all. The only thing I felt when I left the theater was jipped that I stood in line on opening night for it.