Review of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006) by Kyle D — 30 Nov 2010

The problem that faces all prequels is that invariably we already know what's going to happen at the end. This means that the rest of the film needs to be excellent in order for it to hold our attention. This prequel to 2003's remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre gives it a good go and is an entertaining film but ultimately comes up a little short due to the obvious fate of the characters.

The storyline is very simple, four teenagers are traveling across America before two of them head off to the Vietnam War but they end up in a car crash. Along comes a crazy man masquerading as a sheriff who takes our teenagers to his house to allow his deformed adopted son, who his wife found abandoned in a rubbish bin as a baby, to cut them up and serve to his family as food. Can our protagonists escape from Leatherface and his crazy family? Well as it's a prequel I think you already know the answer to that question!

As well as the fact that we know all the characters are going to die which makes the film devoid of tension and suspense, there are a number of other problems with this prequel. First of all it's supposed to tell us how Leatherface became the crazy killer of the original film but instead we are treated to a couple of meager scenes at the beginning which tell us precisely nothing. Secondly Leatherface is very much a secondary character here behind R. Lee Emery's crazy father and has very little screen time. Don't get me wrong, Emery is terrific and extremely menacing as the cannibalistic dad but Leatherface is the star of the series and most people will watch this film hoping to see his origin story and him chopping up a load of teenagers. He eventually does do this but it's at the very end of the film with him hardly making an appearance during the previous 80 minutes. Despite problems there is much to be admired here; the gore is full on which makes for an incredibly violent and intense film. There is no CGI to be found here and the practical effects all look great. It's well directed and acted, especially by Emery who really steals the show. There is a great pace to the film with plenty of action and violence that will no doubt make many people squirm and this all adds up to entertaining film. Sadly the lack of Leatherface means that this doesn't feel like a Texas Chainsaw film until the final 15 minutes.

Plenty of problems riddle this prequel and a lack of Leatherface is a seriously bad decision by the writers but R. Lee Emery almost single handedly saves the film by putting in a truly menacing performance. Plenty of action and violence and a good pace make for a decent film but it could and should have been much better. We still have no idea how this cannibalistic family came to be.