'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)' is a Brutal Summertime Horror Film
General Reviews
In regard to horror remakes from any decade, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) is at the very top as far as most horror fans are concerned. The 2000s horror remake boom owes so much to this film. It has shades of the original and adds its own brutality to the mix to create a remake that feels more bloody than it is. And not only that, but the film is drenched in sweatiness and is set during August. Therefore, making it a summer horror film that'll transport you into summertime madness.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre follows a group who experiences real horrors when they come across Leatherface (Andrew Bryniarski) and his deranged cannibalistic family. And from there they're forced to try to survive against a chainsaw wielding maniac. It has a similar plot beat to the ‘74 original, but it makes things even more gross with its visuals. Not to mention, the sweat that’s practically oozing from all the characters adds to the ambiance.
When I was quite young and movie rental spots were still prominent, I remember running to the horror section and looking at all the films I couldn't wait to be terrified by one day. One cover that stuck out to me and scared me was The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003). Eventually I watched it and since that time, I've had a love for this remake and how it captures a grueling summer. You can practically feel the heat through the screen and smell the food that's definitely rotting at the gas station.
After the initial creepiness of the narrator's voice in the beginning of the film and the old footage that plays, we're greeted with a bunch of young adults enjoying themselves. They're merely on a road trip to a concert they're very excited for. We know what horrors await them as soon as they meet the hitchhiker, but they don't. Therefore, them having fun in the water and then laughing in the car as they listen to “Sweet Home Alabama” is unnerving because of what's to come.
Their fun moments add a level of contrast that nearly anyone's summer can have. Tragedy isn't restricted to one season (typically wintertime is associated with angst and or melancholy) and that's part of what makes summer horror so intriguing. Horrors and bloodshed aren't just for nighttime, they can also be for the day. And a killer like Leatherface isn't going to skip out on killing people simply because it's summer.
Between the Texas heat and the dirtiness of some of the characters as well as Leatherface's home, it's hard not to feel transported into the atmosphere. Summertime is typically seen as a time of escape, fun, and potentially relaxation. Meanwhile, in a horror film like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, the only type of escape is purely for survival purposes. Chainsaws and running through the woods become associated with summer.
As the film goes on, the time of day gradually shifts from when the hitchhiker takes her own life in their vehicle (the practical effects involving her wound are eerily real) and to the madness that occurs when they unknowingly go to Leatherface's home. Once we finally meet Leatherface, who is terrifyingly huge, that's when the characters are in serious trouble. There's no help coming for them, and they are left to scramble and be confused as to who this family even is.
Just like in most slashers, the characters suffer greatly and meet grisly ends that they could have never imagined for themselves. One character in particular is strung up like meat at a slaughterhouse and is prepped as such. The hook scene also happens in the original, but it's not nearly as graphic as the one in the 2003 remake. And it'll make you more than grimace if you watch this for the first time.
The film has got quite a number of chases scenes, hiding scenes, moments of violence and gruesome deaths, fantastic practical effects, a haunting score, as well as good performances. There's more than a few reasons to love this remake, but those are the big ones. More than a few horror fans cite this as one of their favorite horror remakes. It's absolutely one of mine, and I watch it at any point throughout the year. But it's absolutely going to be one of the summer rewatches.
On top of being a relentless remake, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre has a capable final girl in Erin (Jessica Biel) and she doesn't get enough credit for her endurance in this film. While Sally (Marilyn Burns) is one of the original final girls, her survival is much different in comparison to Erin's. Her idyllic summertime trip to a Lynyrd Skynyrd concert, after a brief stop in Mexico, turns into the summer from hell. Erin loses her boyfriend, several of her friends (one of whom she has to kill to put them out of their misery), and has to fight for her life.
It's safe to say that Erin sets the bar quite high for final girls in upcoming horror remakes. In fact, she's one of the best final girls of 2000s horror. She doesn't hold back as far as what she's willing to do to survive. And it's made clear she's tough earlier on the film, but either way surviving Leatherface and his family is quite the feat. Plus saving a baby that she doesn't know whatsoever is also incredibly heroic.
The original film is absolutely worth watching if you never have because it's a classic slasher. The pure madness in the back half of the film is something you have to see for yourself. But you also should check out this remake afterwards. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is certainly not for people who can't handle violence, the idea of people being used as meat, or a chainsaw being the primary weapon of choice. But if you're a seasoned horror fan or a budding one who can, then this remake might be the one for you.
In terms of summer horror and kicking off your summer horror binge watching, you're bound to enjoy The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) and be terrified of going on a road trip. Just don't stop for hitchhikers and keep it moving if you're headed to a concert somewhere. And try not to believe the “inspired by true events” warning because the inspiration had nothing to do with chainsaw based murders.
You can find out where to stream this remake gem by visiting Just Watch.
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