October Horror Movie Challenge - Texas Chainsaw 3D (2013)

I've owned a digital copy of this one since it's home release, but had never watched it until earlier this week.

The film opens up immediately following the events of the original film. A group of townsfolk slaughter the Sawyer clan (who were about to comply with police). A baby survives and is taken by one of the vigilantes and his wife. Decades later the baby is a twenty something and inherits here lost grandmother's estate and learns more about the town and her family's dark history.

This film is interesting because it basically did what Halloween 2018 did, but failed at it. It ignored all of the sequels and tried to do a direct sequel to the original. 

The main issue I have with the film is that it tries to paint the Sawyers in a slightly more positive light and make Leatherface an antihero of sorts. I'm okay with the town being full of scumbags, but don't make the Sawyers look positive. Honestly the movie could have done some really interesting things by making both sides awful. I have more than a few complaints/issues other that that. I'm also not a big fan of Drayton being Leatherface's father. Also, unlike most versions, Leatherface isn't scarred in this one. He just sews the masks to his face because he's messed up and has the mind of a child.

I also want to point out one scene that really bugged me. The film was shot for 3D and there's a scene that the mayor asks a cop to get a visual for him using his phone (basically by FaceTiming). This doesn't fit with the timeline. The film takes place a few decades after the original.... putting it in the very early 2000's at the latest. Every day cell phones did not have that capability then. I know this seems like something minor, but it really bothered me.

All of that aside, there are a few interesting things and highlights to thefilm. First Gunner Hansen, Bill Mosley, John Dugan, and Marilyn Burns make returns. Also, Thom Barry does an excellent job as Sheriff Hooper (named for the original film's director). I'm also a fan of Richard Riehle and he does a good job as the Sawyer family lawyer, Farnsworth.

Unless you're just a Texas Chainsaw competitionist, skip this one. 

In Your Game - 

Leatherface (elder version)

Armor Class: 13

Hit Dice: 5
Move: 12
Actions: 2
Attack: Chainsaw (2d6+3)
Special: +5 to Toughness
Bonuses: +6 to Melee attacks, +4 to Damage
Terror: 10
Morale: 8
HDE: 6

New To Me Movies Watched: 19

Total Movies Watched: 31