Product: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (Original Uncut) [Region 2] (1974)
Rating: 5.0
Magnificently Macabre
Once upon a time in the genre of horror, the audience actually rooted for the victims and wished a most unsavory death on the villians. Nowadays the reverse seems to be the trend making horror more of a graphic gross out fest rather than an honest attempt to strike the fear into bowels of the audience. This movie is definitely aimed at doing the latter. What the movie lacks in hacked off limbs, exploding eyeballs, and blood soaked entrails, it more than makes up with crazy demented villains, grotesque scenery, and eerie overall feel of the cinematography. By paying more attention to the characters than to the special effects, the makers of this film successfully force the audience to fear for the victims' lives and to hate the murderers. That being said, it is difficult to down a steak dinner after watching the film and if you don't have a dark sense of humor, you won't appreciate some of the sick attempts at making a funny.The extras on the DVD are good. The actor who played Leatherface, the Director, and Cinematographer offer commentary over the film. The commentary was interesting at times but often annoying. The Leatherface actor makes some ugly remarks about one of his co-stars and admits to intentionally cutting an actress during the filming of the movie. He seems quite cavalier about the incident and makes you wonder about his sanity. Other extras include some...bloopers and deleted scenes. I've seen better transfers from Film to DVD but this transfer is decent all things considered.