Here's an article as of March 25th '07: It debunks the Elm Street/FVJ-2 rumors; however, it mentions the Friday the 13th project has not been dismissed.

http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/8485

I re-watched this for the first time last night since I saw it way back when it hit DVD. I'd bought it but had never given it a second viewing. While it is almost a re-tread of the 2003 remake, I still stand by my original opinion. It's not as great as the '03 version, but it's still great. It's well-shot, very brutal, and has characters you really care about. Oddly enough I probably cared the least about our heroine (played by Jordana Brewster), but she's not given all that much to do. A nice (well, that may not be the right word) grindhouse style slasher. Definitely underrated.

BTW, I didn't know Matt Bomer (Magic Mike, White Collar) was one of the leads in this. I didn't know who he was back when I saw it. I only remembered it starring Jordana Brewster, Taylor Handley, and of course R. Lee Ermey.

F

I remember actually paying $$ to see this in the theater opening day. In a word, it's atrocious. The only semblance it has to the TCM brand is Leatherface.

The acting is as bad as the story itself. Characters are shallow and fodder to be killed off. Also, it felt as if the production crew wanted to be more brutal with each death scene. Like trying to 1-up the '03 remake.

Didn't care for the cliches either, very forgettable movie.

I think I actually preferred this to the '03 remake. It was no where near as sick and twisted as the '74 original. The Hollywood sheen that's been put on these more recent TCM movies is a welcome addition. Still an utter pointless piece of shit, but not one that repulses me, more just one that I can ignore and forget.

D-

Uhh... I originally gave this a D+ so how come it says I voted an A for it?

This is one of the most gruesome horror movies I've seen coming from Hollywood. Its gross and chill level is comparable to those grisly Hong Kong crime movies in early 90's.

Despite the title, the movie decides to keep Leatherface as a mysterious character. And there is some interesting and disturbing dynamic displayed by his adoptive family. One could see an idea of a prequel to this prequel being flourished.

Grade: B/ B- (for not making it convincing the story is set in late 60's)

Hm. I found it fairly uninteresting and ugly and an enormous step down in style and tension from the "first" film.

I saw the original a long time ago so I don't remember much from it. My general impression is it had a "raw" feel and some scenes caught me off guard. Though this prequel did not add anything to the series, it was a hardcore slasher film as a standalone.