Incredibly Stupid

Rating: Null/10 (18 September 2004)

I'm not a very big fan of the horror genre in general. There are a few movies that I think are successful. Ironically, I think the Scream movies, which pay homage to this film, are far superior. I'm sure my credibility is gone now, but they at least accomplish their goals, which is more than I can say for this film.
Stupidity of the kind these characters exhibit is not found anywhere other than horror movies and short buses.
So many of the supposedly scary scenes could have been easily avoided by anyone with the brain power of your average squirrel. This made it difficult for me to feel anything other than frustrated. It's impossible to experience any fear when you're constantly shaking your head in disgust.
*Spoiler* For instance, when Jamie Lee stabs the killer and leaves him for dead, why the hell does she drop the knife right next to him. He's pulled this act before, just five minutes earlier, and she knows it. And why does she turn her back on him, nobody would do that. A normal person would take the knife and slit the guy's throat. This is supposed to be the movie's big moment and it's ruined by the ineptitude of a director who knows nothing about suspense.
Watching Psycho and ripping of Hitchcock does not make you a good director. I also love the way the doctor justifies not notifying the town's people that there is a psychotic killer on the loose. Sure, that would happen.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre is the best horror film of that era, no question.