Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2: Gruesome Edition [DVD] [1986] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre films are all very nasty films and in terms of violence this second installment is no different. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 is directed by Tobe Hooper who did the well known original. However Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 is I think the best of all of them and the most rewatchable as it has a very 80s feel and a sense of humour that reminds me of other horror favourites like Return of the Living Dead, Fright Night and Friday the 13th Part 6. The films soundtrack is very good, score music and songs. Dennis Hopper is the most famous actor in the film but all the cast is very good. This sequel is the only one out of the series that does directly link and follow on from the original film, rather than a reimagining or remake that the others seem to be. Be warned though it is bloody and grim in places.

Forget all of the negative review this movie has gotten over the years, Tobe Hooper's outlandish sequel to his landmark debut is a non-stop sick joke from the first frame to the last. When I first saw this movie way back in 1990, I wasn't prepared for what turned out to be the funniest and craziest movie I had seen in a long time. A sly political jab at 1980s consumerism gone mad in blood dipped sheep's clothing, Hooper's sequel is parts satirical comedy and parts over the top gore fest as the sawyer clan face Regan's america head on and Leatherface coming to terms with his own sexuality. Yes, its that kind of movie. Recently seeing it again, it still retains its comedic slant and horrific power and proves Hooper is a force to be reckoned with when he gets the right handle on the material.

The story is easy. Two annoying yuppies are butchered by the demented Leatherface on a deserted highway. Unknown to him, their murders are heard by a local radio station that the yuppies are calling at the time of the attacks. Now, the cannibal clan (led by the excellent and only returning TCM cast member Jim Siedow) have to stop the radio station getting this news out. But get the news out they do, and Dennis Hopper (in full-on loony mode following his knock out performance in David lynch's Blue Velvet) enters the picture as the uncle of one of the victims from the first picture. Teaming up with the Radio stations' DJ (played by the spunky and talented actress Caroline Williams), they both enter the clans lair for a blood drenched finale which features dueling chainsaw's that has to be seen to be believed! Hooper's direction is wild and kinetic, and one feels how studio execs must have felt when he presented them with his first cut. The cast are very good throughout, a minor quibble has Dennis Hoppers character almost disappear halfway through, only to re-emerge as the hero towards the insane finale. The screenplay by L.M. Kit Carson (didn't he write upmarket flicks like PARIS, TEXAS?) is crazy and manic in equal measure, and presents the audience with extreme characters from both sides of the human pysche and funny dialogue that fits right in with this insane world that director Tobe Hooper first created. His stylish colour scheme, expert direction and belief in the script which allows his cast to just go off the hook is a testament to his talent and creative abilities.

After a no frills vanilla release, MGM fix the initial mistake they made with the first TCM release. Now with added extras, the film seems to have been accepted for what it should have been: An honest sequel to a great original. Thankfully, the extra features are pretty good as the cast discuss their personal memories about making this bizarre movie. I would have appreciated a little more input from Tobe as he is MIA on most of the disc but to be honest, it's great to see this movie in the special edition format. Forget the 'Saw-lite' cover and the bad reviews, this TCM is the only sequel to own and shows the recent remakes how it should be done. Highly recommended.

Made with little more than a healthy pay check in mind, Tobe Hooper returns to the gruesome family of characters he co-created with writer Kim Henkel in 1973 with this inferior, but fun, sequel. Far glossier than the original 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' this second instalment is more reminiscent of other 80's horror sequels like The 'Friday the 13th' and 'Nightmare' franchises in that it promptly succumbs to the standard pattern of a rock and roll soundtrack, a plot that is as absent of any meat on it's bones as is one of leatherface's hapless victims, and a lack of any genuine shocks or scares (only one moment of face-swapping gore truly stands out here). Whatsmore, the sets are overblown and ridiculous (the family now appear to reside in some kind of underground labyrinth as opposed to the simple farmhouse of the original), character development is completely forgotten, and the ending is plain embarrassing. That said, TCM2 is not without some saving graces - Dennis Hooper is camply hilarous as Sheriff Lefty Enright (Uncle to one of the original movie's unlucky teens) and the family themselves (particularly the eldest brother) still have some amusing moments on screen. This episode is primarily played for laughs, however, and they are not nearly so subtle as those found in the first part. Hollywood effects replace the unrelenting terror of the (far less gory) original and the film suffers as a result. It should be noted also that this DVD contains no extras, but the picture and sound quality are clean and well presented. All told, a decent horror flick and a fun ride - but not a patch on it's classic predecessor.