It sucked.

I was thinking about seeing this in theatres, but everything I'm hearing so far just tells me to wait for REDBOX. Not that I always listen to other peoples opinions, but I really don't want to risk wasting $10 bucks.

Agreed. For me it would be $17.50 to see in 3D and it really doesn't sound worth it.

Envisioned as a new, revisionist direct sequel to the Southern-fried '70s horror cult favorite, Texas Chainsaw (the seventh film in the saga) strongly recalls Rob Zombie's misguided dud Halloween II: it is an admirable, but largely failed and often hilarious bid to refresh and redefine an aging slasher property. The first hour is diverting, if standard-issue grind-house pulp with the gargantuan, chainsaw wielding, flesh wearing maniac Leatherface laying brutal waste (in rather amusing 3-D) to a mediocre cast of hard-bodied beauties no doubt on the eve of auditioning for an upcoming CW pilot, but the third act descends into bewildering and frustrating fantasy and incoherence as the film bends and strains to cast the murderous Sawyer clan as tragic. The disposable new heroine's final moral decisions must be experienced to be believed. The ending would be more convincing if she grew wings and flew to Fiji with the ghost of Jim Morrison. To be honest, I would much prefer a simpler, more unpretentious variation on the formula, but with a renewed dedication to sustained suspense, to this nonsense.

C-

I'm surprised you saw this, David. Good man.

Ooh, I wanna see a Martial Arts film where a woman must turn into a angel in order to scale Mt. Fuji and face off with Jim Morrison.

"DO YOUR THING, CUZ!"

I cannot get over the absurdity of the final scenes: the heroine completely forgets Leatherface murdered her friends and lover a few hours ago and instantly becomes protective of this lumbering monster because she discovers he is her cousin. I know they are trying to be cynical and novel, but it is just unfathomable. The ending could have been cool if she, after utilizing Leatherface to save herself from the also vicious townspeople, led him down to the basement, closed and secured his door, and either left or set the house on fire. They still could have shown him escaping in the inevitable sequel (or just ignored it altogether in a reboot).

They wanted to take the series in a different direction. They made this with other sequels in mind. And a continuation might actually happen since apparently Millenium Films owns the rights (at least that's what I heard, not sure how accurate that is - though I know they were involved in the release of this one). I'm sure they'll be more than happy with the Box Office to do another. Daddario is contracted for another film. Doesn't mean it will happen, but I could see it happening if the rights do sit with Millenium. I hear they don't plan on shooting the next in 3D in order to save money, which would definitely be a good plan. I don't think anyone cares about it being in 3D. One thing they could have going for it is if Daddario were to score the coveted "Fifty Shades" role. Her name is one of them being thrown around for it. Would certainly boost her profile.

Oh, if anyone cares, there is a scene after the end credits.

That's really a spoken line of dialogue to Leatherface? Oh no.

You're damn right it is.

Evil Mayor (who murdered Leatherface's family) is kicking the shit out of Leatherface. He wraps a chain around 'ol Jeb's neck and prepares to hang him. Heather shows up. Stand-off ensues. Mayor goes after Heather but she tosses Leatherface his chainsaw. As Mayor lunges after Heather, WHHHHHRRRRRR!! Leatherface, standing, weapon in hand.

"DO YOUR THING, 'CUZ!"

The general idea -- making someone so cruel that you side with Leatherface -- is something I think is rather novel. But Heather's immediate acceptance of him is so profoundly silly...

...as is the timeline. Can somebody explain how a baby born in 1973 is somehow early-to-mid-20s in 2012?

Botox.

So I just got through watching it and yeah it's pretty bad, but not the worst TCM movie in the series. That honor still comfortably belongs to Next Generations. Anyways, like most have already said there is so much shit in this movie that just doesn't make much sense. From the fucked up timeline and making Leatherface a pussified, misunderstood psychopath ?

Yeah I don't want to get into it anymore, but honestly after watching this I now have so much more respect and appreciation for the 2003 remake and the 2006 prequel. Both are vastly superior to this shit.

Leatherface is quite the pussy in the '74 film.

It's true this is a very flawed movie. The timeline plot hole really annoyed me. It would have been so easy for them to set this in the 90's. There was no need for it to be set in the present. The first part of the movie is fairly generic but I quite enjoyed the finale. I liked that they tried a different approach to things and I personally didn't find it as unbelievable as some. I got the main character being sympathetic to Leatherface and I liked that they kind of teamed up. Even "going bad" the main character was still more likeable than the whore best friend and cheating boyfriend. This could be why she wasn't that upset about them being killed. I don't think I would have been.

Anyway, it's not perfect, and the 2003 remake and the prequel do seem like masterpieces in comparison, but it was still fairly enjoyable. I'd be ok with a direct sequel that had Alexandra Daddario's character return. I would prefer a new screenwriter and director though.

On a side note, the scene after the end credits was pretty cool.

6/10 (B-)