Review of Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990) by Bryan G — 19 Apr 2006

[font=Courier New]The amazing thing with [i]The Texas Chainsaw Massacre[/i] series is that it furthers the proof that all successful horror films from the 70?s and 80?s that garnered sequels never recaptured what we loved about the originals. I love the first one, mildly enjoyed the second (but only because of the great Dennis Hopper) and I kind of liked the third film. But not by much. I will say, before I get into my review for the third film, that I didn?t like [i]The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre[/i] but did enjoy the remake done by Marcus Nispel.

So this movie follows your standard horror movie setup. A couple is traveling cross country and ends up stranded in the worst part of Texas. Why is it so bad? Well, because a family of cannibals lurks this area and is planning on making them dinner. Leatherface returns, though played by R.A. Mihaniloff, and is the bad ass of the family once again. But the real leader of this family is a would be cowboy named Tex (Viggo Mortensen? I swear I?m not making that up).

The one thing that I liked the most about this movie was Ken Foree as Benny, the good-hearted man who takes the task of trying to rescue this couple. Horror fans will always remember Ken as Peter from the original [i]Dawn of the Dead[/i]. In a lot of ways, he is only in this film because of that fact. I think if anyone else were in this role, I personally probably wouldn?t have given anytime to watch it.

The movie is in need of a better damsel-in-distress. Kate Hodge never really gives off a believable moment of any real danger. And in some ways, I wished the family wouldn?t talk so much and just get around to killing her. But talking is what bad villains like to do. Maybe they subconsciously enjoy capturing someone just for them to break free.

The movie is entertaining. Which is all I am really asking for. It is bad, but tolerable. I wouldn?t recommend that you go out of your way to see it though. Unless you are a fan of the series, or if you don?t mind a plot-holed film this might be worth checking out. [/font].