The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006) User Reviews

Wow

[mbworm · 7/10 · 14 October 2006]

Impresively taking "Texas Chainsaw" back to its roots, horror fans and cinema-goers alike should definitely give this prequel to the daring 2003 remake a chance. Although the remake in 2003 was excellent and had a tighter, more involving plot than this film, it breaks a barrier because rather than directly approaching the style of the remake and trying to live up to its success, this equally grisly thriller ignores all of the gloss, cinematography, pacing and story that it was inspired from. Instead, it goes back to the film style which made the nightmare in 1974, a more direct homage to the in your face horror that started it all.

This story is in 1963, right before the events of the 2003 film which took place in the early seventies. Jordana Brewster plays Chrissie, who is on a fun road-trip across Texas with her friends, Eric, Dean, and Bailey, played well off of each other by Matthew Bomer, Taylor Handley and Diora Baird.

Shortly after the terrifying, recognizable psycho Leatherface commits his first murders, a cross story involving an encounter with some nasty bikers throws the doomed teenagers flipping across the road in a surprisingly brutal accident.

After Sheriff Hoyt arrives (R. Lee Ermy in another chilling performance), to take control of the scene, the nightmare begins for Chrissie's friends as she watches them get taken away in his police car, unknowingly headed for the house which would become a place of torment and nightmares for years to ensue.

Appropriately gory and no-holds barred, Jonathan Liebesman creates a tight, slick and sadistic thriller in the eyes of Chrissie as she endlessly attempts to rescue her friends from a demented madman's clutches. This is a highly worthy and satisfying entry in the horror series that will make an indelible mark on your imagination, if not already done by the seemingly endless spew of remakes and graphic horror films.

Don't expect anything new

[zahana · 7/10 · 7 October 2006]

Please don't get me wrong, this is a good horror film. To those looking for gore, it is there any there is plenty of blood shed. I would speculate several scenes have been cut to appease the mpaa. Had this film been release before Hostel, The Hills Have Eyes, or the Saw Franchise, more of the film would have ended up on the cutting room floor. The film is being advertised as it will show up how Tommy Hewitt became Leatherface. Anyone looking for any real discovery to this information will have to look somewhere else. Truthfully the only real incite into the Hewitt family origin is how a homicidal sexual deviant was able to become a Sheriff. Being a prequel, the lack of background information is, to say the least, disappointing.

I don't want to get into specifics, but there are several parts where the film feels as though it being recycled. Some scenes feel as if they were rehashed from other Chainsaw films, needless to say they did not live up. Add to this the typical slasher clichés (don't go upstairs/down to the basement, etc) and it only adds to the predictability.

the 2nd best chainsaw film?

[sifort2012 · 7/10 · 12 October 2006]

I've been a Texas chainsaw fanatic since i saw the original (when i was about 8) and all the sequels obviously tried hard (except the one with Bridget Jones in which was an utter waste of time) but ultimately failed to be worthy of following up such a classic. the remake was OK, it looked great and had some quality violence but didn't really hit the spot.

but when i had finished watching this one (a prequel to a remake?) I've got to say i was very impressed, of course it had problems. the odd character didn't seem to have much of a purpose other than to die horribly and scared teenage girls still have that tendency to walk towards the screams of pain rather than leg it, but the grimness and violence of it all was pretty much relentless. there was no crap attempts at humour (other than the 'sherrif' but thats laughing at how out of order he is) and once it gets going it doesn't stop until the abrupt ending.

it looks great, the violence is above and beyond what you expect to see at a cinema (i don't know all the cuts made to the us version but the UK version seems to be about 8mins longer) and it felt like i was watching something that deserved to have 'texas chainsaw massacre' in the title.

if you like horror and gore films you should have a great time, go see.

Good prequel to the 2003 movie

[reddiemurf81 · 6/10 · 11 May 2020]

How did the characters become who they became? This movie shows us how the Hewitt family began their reign of terror. The question I keep asking is this,,, who's the bigger 'main' monster? Is it Leatherface,, or the psychotic sheriff?!? While LF is definitely a monster,,, I'd say the Sheriff is the mastermind,,, The 'kids' who find themselves in this living nightmare were cast perfectly,,,

Once again,,, if you are squeamish and can't differentiate the movie from reality,,, then this is not for you,,,

Bravo

[saiyaman102000 · 7/10 · 6 October 2006]

Rather than focus on what this film is not I will focus on what it is. From what some people will say TCM the beginning, (as the TCM Predecessor has been accused of)are, too predictable, not enough plot.....etc etc etc, all comments from individuals who obviously are watching the wrong watered down horror movies for the wrong reasons. If you want to watch a good old fashion blood and guts horror movie that delivers on the darkness, the atmosphere, the killing, all that makes a horror movie good (and not bad as is lost on most movie reviewers) then see TCM the beginning. It is a throw-back, just as the remake was to a time when the horror movie market was not dominated with slews of PG-13 watered down,"psychological horror" ripped off from real Japanese horror movies and only made worse by US film makers. I for one am glad that movies like TCM the beginning come out now and again to the same Criticisms that should be praised rather than scored, but then again i am of a generation that applauds the blood, and Gratuitous violence and dreary depression or horror, instead of going eeewww thats gross! It beats the heck out of the Japanese rip off PG-13 flicks and it definitely beats most of the 90s horror departure from the excellent horror of the 80s film makers who weren't scared to show blood, guts, nudity etc. That is just my general overview if you are the type of person who wishes to see a huge hulking serial killer demolish people, rather than some little bug eyed kid, or old man with a fisherman's hook then by all means see TCM the beginning, otherwise stay home and complain about the lack of all elements that have ruined most horror films over the past decade.

Pointless and Insulting

[errolforprez · 1/10 · 16 October 2006]

This movie was gore merely for the sake of gore. There was zero suspense knowing that all of the characters would die. The problem I've always had with the Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies is this idea that the state police never seem to come knocking after these gruesome deaths occur and the victims go missing. It's a kind of oh well we'll just overlook that one glaring plot hole, but unfortunately it's a big one and just too big to ignore. This Chainsaw film just seemed utterly pointless based on that fact and completely insulting to average intelligence. At least in the 2003 film, the main character, Jessica Biel, manages to escape. Every single character is so one dimensional and disposable that I didn't feel anything for the characters. What I did feel was sympathy for the actors playing these meaningless parts. I just sat there waiting for the next one to die and other than being mildly curious about what kind of morbid way they would be offed, I was far from being on the edge of my seat. The first act of the film is by far made the least amount of sense and just seemed like filler to get to the gory stuff and chainsaw scenes. The subplot with the bikers made zero sense. There is absolutely no explanation why the biker chick just suddenly starts pursuing the jeep out of nowhere to rob it. Uh where was her boyfriend and what was he doing? At least in the 2003 film, there were a lot better struggles and chase sequences and at least the setup made more sense. This film's ending was by far the biggest slap in the face of the horror genre. After sitting through 91 minutes of grotesque, sadistic torture the one single remaining character is killed in the most clichéd ways imaginable. This movie deserves to be banned - banned for being stupid beyond belief.

More Of The Same

[ElijahCSkuggs · 6/10 · 6 October 2006]

Story is about how the family became notorious for what they do best. That's killing young hippies, bikers and pretty much anyone else that crosses paths with them. And why? "We'll never go hungry again." Good enough reason for me! I, like many of you, are going to see this to see Leatherface and family, kill. To see gore, blood, maybe get a few scares, watch Leatherface do something really badass. Yeah! But is that all we're supposed to expect? Can't we hope for maybe something else thrown in? Maybe a real in-depth look into Leatherface aka Tommy. Nope, we get what I just said. The same old routine. We've seen it before. And it's been done better. Not with better special effects or cinematography. But acting, writing, and suspense. Not once was I scared, felt any type of suspense....anything. (I hope you did) I pretty much just sat there waiting for something "cool" to happen.

The movie was pretty hardcore though. Extreme fans of horror, people who have seen Untold Story and stuff like that, will have no problem with this. But the average viewer should have a sweet time with this. You'll be sucked into it. The tone of the movie works very well. It's a hardcore movie that sticks to it's guns.

I am just getting a little tired of the same formula. I was hoping for something different. Didn't get it. The movie is hardcore, bloody and has Leatherface. Not too bad.

Welcome to Texas!

[Esken · 23 November 2006]

I saw this when i was in L.A. screening my own horror short October 2006. It was at the Chinese theater, and i was so delighted that i'm still talking about it. I love the original and the remake, and i feel the same way with this one. It shows how f****d up things can get when you accidentally end up in places you shouldn't be. Ermey is a true horror star, and really shows of here. This is a very gory film, and those of you who can't watch much blood, stay away:) For those of you who can, come on in!!! :) When i watched it i almost felt that it might turn me off of making horror films, but the feeling of course came right back:) Leatherface shows no mercy! Just as us horror freaks like it. The thing that shocked me was that i heard that they cut 17 scenes to get it an R-rating? Then i'm thinking, i can't wait to see what they cut. Hopefully the DVD will show us the goods. This might sound dumb coming from a horror fan of a long time, but i hope they make another one:)

The Beginning? Are you kidding?

[andell · 1/10 · 8 October 2006]

There are a lot of things that astonish and disappoint me in this world...but this ridiculous piece of garbage film getting a 5.9 rating on the back of a LOT of perfect ratings is one of the most disappointing and disturbing of all. In fact, I dare say when I was leaving the theater, the only crime I felt had taken place was fraud! The cast is essentially the same...two girls (one brunette and one blonde) and two boys (one brunette and one blonde) are substituted for the "original" two girls and two boys with the same hair color and the same general appearance. Insert a couple of bikers, some inane "facts" about how "Hoyt" became sheriff, "Leatherface" was born and raised, and so on...and what you have is the original remake remade with a B class feel.

The contradictions in this are appalling. For instance, Leatherface is one bad mutha...he's huge, he's powerful (lifts one guy up off the ground, impaled on a chainsaw), and he causes the ground to shake when he walks. Yet he hides in a car, he can't be seen by a passing vehicle, and his stealth like nature allows for a very stupid and very gory finale that perhaps gives this wretched fraud the only genuine feeling of originality it deserves. Its original in this...but its also very, VERY stupid! This movie is throughly pointless. Hoyt wasn't the actual sheriff...well there's a shocker. Gee, could a man in a dead town be pretending to be a sheriff? Or that Leatherface had birth defects? Or that his mother gave birth to him on the floor of the slaughterhouse as she was dying (yeah, this was one grotesque scene...I can't even imagine someone being proud of producing that scene...let alone choosing to keep it in the movie), and he found a home away from home in the confines of the slaughter house? I'm of course off on a tangent here...but literally there is NOTHING in this movie...nothing at all. Simply put, this is a rehashing of the remade TCM, repackaged as a beginning chapter that simply was not needed. If you want to see Leatherface, do yourself a favor and watch the DVD of the remake- it makes more sense than paying money to go to the theater and watch the same movie for an inflated price!

Enjoyable slasher flick...

[paul_haakonsen · 6/10 · 18 February 2022]

"The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning" is actually a rather enjoyable addition to this particular slasher franchise. Especially when taking into consideration the abysmal "Leatherface" movie that came afterwards.

The storyline in "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning" is actually interesting and proved to be so from the very beginning and up to the end. So writers Sheldon Turner and David J. Schow did manage to churn out a wholesome script and storyline here for this 2006 slasher. And today in 2022 was actually my second time to sit down and watch this particular movie in the ""The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" franchise.

Something that you might could have asked for here, was a more deviation from the usual routine that the franchise tends to apply for every single movie. But hey, there is something to be said for familiarity, eh?

They had a good cast ensemble put together for the movie. And while I am mostly unfamiliar with the majority of the cast ensemble for the movie, I will say that they put on good performances and carried the movie quite well. It was especially nice to see the likes of R. Lee Ermey in a movie such as this, and he was actually doing a spectacular job in bringing the Uncle Charlie Hewitt character to life.

For a seasoned horror fan and gorehound as myself then "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning" actually did prove enjoyable, as there was enough gore and mayhem to satisfy my craving for the macabre. So that was a thumbs up for the movie.

Visually then "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning" is good. There are lots of nice effects, which come of as being realistic and somewhat bloody and gory. Again, something that counted well in favor of the movie.

My rating of "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning" lands on a six out of ten stars.

Life is too short to wallow in this 'Bay' of blood...

[Jonny_Numb · 1/10 · 11 October 2006]

There is an idiom about the way a human being feels pain—when a surge comes, it makes a brief period of time, sometimes only a matter of seconds, feel like an unbearable eternity. Sometimes situations like a pulled muscle or a banged kneecap are hard to endure without just a minor yelp of protest.

The same idiom can be applied to "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning," a film that runs 84 minutes, but is packed with so much gratuitous meat, gore, slime, urine, drool, grime, screaming, agony, sadism, misogyny, and outright misanthropy that it feels like 10 hours…10 long, extremely unpleasant hours (and that's putting it generously). This is the most uncomfortable 10 hours (I mean 84 minutes, sure...) I've ever spent in a darkened theater. "The Beginning" is not only a repulsive film within the horror genre (which has been on a rapid downhill slide some are calling a "renaissance")—it could very well be the worst film I've ever had to misfortune to waste my cash on. Period. By the time the credits roll, you'll officially know how Marsellus Wallace felt in the basement of that pawn shop.

I have seen many horror films in my quarter-century on this earth, from early black-and-white classics, '60s kitsch, gritty '70s realism (including Tobe Hooper's original "Chainsaw"), '80s slashers, '90s badness, and a healthy dose of uber-gory European selections from the likes of Fulci, Argento, Pasolini, Deodato, Buttgereit, etc. I'm far from a prude when it comes to cinematic violence, and it takes a lot to offend my otherwise salivating horror sensibility… But "The Beginning" is absolutely wretched—a rock-bottom low in horror…and film in general. If ever there was a case where I would put my stamp of approval on the protest, censorship, banning, or outright incineration of a film into the stratosphere so that it may never be viewed by human eyes–and I am usually against such things–this would be it.

This is a film that produces zero scares, but an overflow of disgusting, artless imagery wrongly assumed to BE scary. Its villains are grotesque, unfunny inbred sickos, and its 'heroes' (including 2 guys who resemble Christopher Atkins and Robby Benson, and their girlfriends, with less definition than their Gap-model looks) exist only to have all manner of beating, torture, and mutilation inflicted upon them. Chainsaws and other sharp implements are plunged into flesh in gory close-up. The Vietnam War is cynically exploited to analogize two characters "coming of age" and "becoming men" while suffering the torments of the savage Hewitt clan (also given an un-ironic layer in R. Lee Ermey's war veteranship). In a slasher film where the overriding intentions appeal only to the basest, most reprehensible urges in man, trying to infuse "commentary" into the proceedings comes off as profoundly as a monkey reaching for guano.

Like so many low-budget horrors of the 1950s-'70s, the title of "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" was a misnomer. The film featured a handful of deaths, only one of which was committed with the titular weapon (and, even then, only shown a few drops of blood); the movie was an absurd comedy of sorts, shrouded in a gritty, documentary-style realism that fueled the terror brewing beneath. There's a good word: "terror." Hooper's 1974 original is, as others before me have said, brilliant for what it doesn't show; it created a terrifying atmosphere and utilized locations and techniques that made the events seem very real. By comparison, the 2003 remake was slick, overproduced, and took the carnage of the title quite literally, offering little more than a plot less torture show, and "Beginning" takes that nihilism to a whole new level.

This time around, it's the subtitle that's misleading, as any insight into Leatherface (oh, excuse me–"Thomas Hewitt")'s madness is limited to a gratuitous shock-prologue and vague flash-cuts over the opening credits. "The Beginning" then dives into a story we've all seen too many times before. To those who have seen the 2003 version: it's the same thing. And to those who haven't, it can be summed up as simply as: 2 young couples relentlessly tortured for 84 minutes by a family of cackling psychopaths.

Seriously, that's all there is. It's a nihilistic, grueling, and utterly unredeemable excuse for inflicting pain under the banner of "horror," when it is really anything but. (If Michael Bay's Platinum Dunes company has proved anything to the world, it's that he hasn't the foggiest idea how to scare people.) Horror's recent shift toward hard-R films where dismemberment and gore are the order of the day ("The Devil's Rejects," "Hostel," etc.) has been a thorn in my side as of late–not that I have any problem with these elements of horror, but that few filmmakers know how to back up their excesses with a good, scary story. The underrated "Wolf Creek" is as grim–if not more–than "TCM: The Beginning," but at least gives us a trio of realistic, likable characters whose side we are squarely on, counterbalancing the actions of the psycho terrorizing them; evil is not vanquished, but, at the end, there is a faint sense of hope regardless. "The Beginning," in all its proudly repulsive glory, gives us villains who aren't served a lick of justice, and heroes who, by the insulting, sick-joke climax, have all met with the service end of Tommy Hewitt's 'saw.

It's not an ironic sort of injustice––it's merely depressing and infuriating. 'Irony,' in this case, would be knowing that "High Tension" was threatened with an NC-17 while this geek show passed through the ever-astute MPAA with an easy R. "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning" shook my soul with rage–a truly vile, worthless bit of cinema with no redeeming qualities. If ever there's been a reason to abort a worn-out franchise, this is definitely it.

Unpleasant and disturbing...as it should be

[preppy-3 · 8/10 · 6 October 2006]

Prequel to the 2003 "Texas Chainsaw..." giving us the origin of Leatherface and his twisted family. That's all done within the first 20 minutes...then it's just a virtual redo on the original with four likable 20-somethings being captured and tortured by Leatherface and his family. Considering it's basically a remake of the 2003 film, it works remarkably well.

It takes place in 1969 and has two brothers (Taylor Handley and Matthew Bomer) going to enlist (after being drafted). Along are their two girlfriends (Jordana Brewster and Diora Baird). But they're stopped by crazy Sheriff Hoyt (R. Lee Ermey) who is Leatherface's uncle...and the "fun" begins.

Very grim and graphic with no humor and shot in muted color...just as the 2003 one. The gore is strong and disgusting (this got trimmed to get an R rating) and I can't say I liked it...but it did it's job. It scared me. I was cringing in my seat a few times and jumped more than once.

Another plus is ALL the acting is good. Brewster, Handley, Baird and Bomer are all good-looking and likable--when the violence starts you really are horrified at seeing such great characters being tortured. Ermey is on hand giving another terrifying performance as Hoyt. His character is so twisted, violent and sick that when he got a taste of his own medicine my quiet audience broke out in applause. Also there's good old Leatherface and his chainsaw chasing everybody.

In some ways I applaud a grim, graphic R rated horror film that pulls no punches--I HATE the watered down PG-13 crap we usually get. But unlike some (like "Scream") this is pretty unrelenting and wears you down. But it scared me and that's exactly what it's supposed to do. An 8.

One of the Best and Most Disturbing in the Franchise

[panagiotis1993 · 7/10 · 9 May 2023]

Live Reaction / Review for The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006): The previous movie was very decent, I hope this one is too. Damn they put the baby in the trash? That's brutal. The way he murdered that guy in the slaughterhouse was insane. Wow, so that's the story on how this man became the sheriff. Why tell the sheriff that you're gonna kill him? You cant even move your body but you got threats? Makes no sense. The push ups scene is insane cant believe he did it. The biker got involved, that could be interesting.

Leatherface got her while she was driving, he is fast. He says to her to bring help, yeah that's not happening, they are in the middle of nowhere. Oh boy Leatherface absolutely destroying the biker. The actor who plays the sheriff gives an amazing performance. I thought Eric would survive, I was wrong. The way Leatherface took Eric's face is really disturbing. I really enjoy Leatherface's screen time in this. Why did he cut off the old dude's both legs though? Only one had an injury I think. Great use of music to build tension. He got Dean too? Damn.

The movie has it all, tension, thrills, good kills, suspense, awesome performances, action and sick brutality. Definitely one of the best and most disturbing in the franchise, underrated in my opinion. My rating is 7.5/10.

Diabolical

[johnlloyd001 · 1/10 · 23 October 2006]

What a waste of 2 hours of my life. This is a film for dunces and those out of touch of rational thinking. It could have been such a great movie but couldn't rise above the inadequecies of most yankie slashers. It would have got a couple more points if it just removed the incessant and intolerable background music. Couple that with the typical, kill him when you get the frickin chance you moron moments, and why no one ever has lights on, and the rest of the oh so cliché supposed to scare you moments that really don't cos you know they're frickin coming. The gore is good, but if you want a good n proper gore fest - go rent wolf creek. Thats how it should be frickin done. Jeez i'm wound up!!!!!!!

Texas Chainsaw Massacre "The Beginning"

[Twnpksgirl · 15 October 2006]

I had gotten a break from the usual drama of my daily life, and decided to go see the Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (TCM). Being a lover of TCM I was rich with enthusiasm when I heard that another chapter, "the beginning" of the Hewitt family saga was about to unfold. When I came out of the movie theater I was very disappointed.

I almost fell asleep twice during the movie. It had all the makings of a great horror film, but it lacked the kick in the ass that it needed, it was full of blood and guts lots of chainsaw action but the story line was weak at best.

Toby Hooper the original creator of TCM Co-Produced "the beginning" and there were a few scenes from the original TCM movie which were poorly regurgitated in "the beginning".

When I heard the phrase "the beginning" connected to another sequel of the TCM, I got goose bumps at the prospect of a peak inside the mind of a truly deranged and abused serial killer, and from the past portrayal of "Tommy" aka Leather face, as America's favorite chainsaw slinging serial killer, I thought this was going to be an intricate and very detailed account of what really made him the stellar man he was now, not so much. The movie grazes the surface of what I hoped "Tommy's" beginning would have been.

TCM "The Beginning" lacked the macabre scenes of the original which made the TCM so horrifying, in the original film the house was a collection of filth, human remains, piles of bones, chairs refurbished with human arms, upholstered chairs with human skin, etc. There was so much decorative and gory paraphernalia created by human remains in the first movie that just silent shots of this disarray made the audience truly terrified, and it made movie goers really stop and think about Leather face's psychosis.

Now you may be able to argue, well it's the beginning, but in the movie "Tommy" Leather face, was already filleting skin (origin not known) and covering his own disfigured face, to create a sense of normalcy within himself.

The rational behind the cannibalism in the movie stems from the "dying town" only kept alive by the slaughter house that was condemned and shut down, so instead of relocating their dysfunctional family they begin hunting down humans, torturing them, ultimately killing them and surviving on their remains.

The film was lack luster at best.

Intensely Violent, Gruesomely Gory, and about 4 Good Jump Scares.

[Maddio_2011 · 7/10 · 10 October 2006]

In this Prequel to the 2003 Remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, we learn the brief roots of how Thomas Hewitt became the chainsaw maniac that we have come to love. We learn how Sheriff Hoyt became a Sheriff and lost his teeth, how Monty looses his legs, and more importantly how Thomas gains his obsession for his chainsaw. Make no mistake, this film is as brutal and violent as they get and it shows gore and carnage that is up there with some of the hardest movies to watch because of this content. This is not a date movie or something you go and watch with family members unless they are into it as well. I went to watch this film by myself because everyone was too scared to see it. I am a long time horror fan and have seen them all. And even I was quite shocked at how this film got passed the ratings system. But it did indeed. Two men in the theater were abruptly sick and had to exit. I laughed my head off. This film is about origin and torturous, sadistic methods that Leatherface and his family inflict on a group of people. My only real complaint is that there were not enough scares or intense what-is-around-the-corner parts like the remake in 2003. But if you are a fan of Leatherface and the series like I am then I totally recommend you see this for the simple fact of the story you always wondered about.

This is my first review and I tried to give you all a gist without ruining anything. Sorry if I did because I do not believe in spoiling films. Enjoy this movie for the chainsaw kills.

p.s. I loved Sheriff Hoyt. Watch out for him.

Pretty sick... Definitely NOT for the squeamish!

[simbabe16 · 7/10 · 7 October 2006]

This movie, being my first R-Rated movie I have been able to see by myself, was a bad choice. I'm usually not one for getting sick by gore, but this movie was extremely gory. I think almost scene had blood in it, whether on the walls, the floor, on people, in the car... you get the idea. The cannibalism made the story line OK but showing them eat people and being OK with it was disturbing. Not only is there so much blood, but I do believe there was some sexual assault as well (I was turned away from some of the film). This movie is the first to leave me nauseated after leaving the theater. If you are able to really handle this amount of gore, I would recommend seeing it. It's not that bad of a move, with the story line, and I actually think it could stand on its own if it wasn't just a prequel. Do not, I repeat, do not see this movie if you are even barely squeamish! You will regret it!

Could have and should have been better

[pickferd · 1/10 · 7 October 2006]

I was hesitant to see this movie, but after I saw the remake of the first one, I decided to give this movie a chance. I was hoping for a somewhat scary movie with a mediocre plot, so expectations were not high. Using these two criteria, this movie was terrible. Instead of being scary, Texas Chainsaw was just disturbing; the amount of blood and beatings that were actually shown was quite gross, and this seemed like an ill-attempt to cover the fact that there was no real plot and crappy dialog.Granted, I didn't expect an elaborate plot development, but the movie should have been less predictable and use fewer cliché scary techniques (like looking through a window and the bad person suddenly showing up). Texas Chainsaaw could have been done properly to really scare the audience, instead it was gory, predictable, and boring. Save your money and time and go see something else.

Sickest Movie Ever

[WordUpJack · 7/10 · 6 October 2006]

Personally, I can't stand horror films sometimes, but I love to watch them at the same time. I know that's ironic, but a good scare is in need once in awhile.

Now if you like gore, suspense, and intensity then this is the movie for you! The acting was great and I loved finally seeing how the family came about with their sickness for killing people.

The gore is so bad that a few girls at different times ran out of the theater about to throw up, but that's how you know that is a good movie. So I would definitely say go see Texas Chainsaw, but BE PREPARED for what you are going in for once you sit down in that dark theater!!!

Same Old Same Old

[slayer_4 · 1/10 · 7 October 2006]

Has a true horror fans, i thought this movie sucked. It's technically the same movie has the remake except they put a quick explanation on how Leatherface was born and transform himself into this killer. But i also thought that even if the story is the exact same thing has the remake, they actually did something right this time by adding a lot more gore in this one. I also could cared about these guys and i could wait to see them die because they deserve to die.In the end, this is the perfect example on what a by the book horror movie is suppose to look like and am tired of seeing theses by the book horror movie that always used the same old formula.

Good gore, but still no beginning

[Hmrsmpsn · 7/10 · 6 October 2006]

First and foremost, if you enjoy movies for the sake of gore, blood, and no "take-away" shots, then this movie is for you. When anyone does anything, you see it actually happen right there. It's awesome.

As the name would suggest, this movie was supposed to be about the beginning and how he came to be "Leatherface". However, we only see a montage in the introduction of images fading to black that are supposed to resemble the torture that brought him to go on a killing spree. I won't say what they show but if you pay attention you might be able to put some backstory behind his killings. Unfortunately, that did not suffice for me. I know you are probably thinking that it would be boring talk and irrelevant banter about him being mistreated and abused, but it would have been nice to see what was the breaking point that made him turn into this raving lunatic killer.

In essence, the movie is really like all the other Texas Chainsaw movies, so if you are a fan of the series or just enjoy actually seeing the damage being done, this movie will definitely please you.

If You've Seen the Rest...

[fbobb · 3/10 · 19 October 2006]

I was really looking forward to seeing this one...and then I saw it.

What potential they had with this story! Oh, the things they could have done with it! Instead? It was filled with shortcuts and summaries. I was cheated! I didn't get to see how a family evolved (or de-evolved) into cannibals...I saw how one day they just decided, hey! Let's all be cannibals, how about it? I didn't get to see how Leatherface built his disturbing behavior...I saw a ridiculous rip-off of a thousand other movies with imitation headlines passing over the screen. Disappointing shortcuts, rehashing scenes we've all seen before: The dinner table, the torture room, removing faces and wearing them. The chainsaw chases. If you've seen the original Tobe Hooper masterpiece, you've seen this one.

I would have liked to have seen a young Leatherface born into an inbred backwoods family. Struggling to try to maintain some degree of humanity, and yet thrilled at the crimes committed by his loved ones. How would he have been punished by his grandmother? Did he have any friends? When did he first begin killing? How painful was his guilt after his first kill? I was let down, as was--pretty much--the entire theaterful of people. This one is a carbon-copy of the remake of Tobe Hooper's original. Wait for DVD...you'll thank me.

Criminally underrated

[johnjanis · 8/10 · 31 May 2022]

As good of a horror as any others I've seen in the last 20 years or so m but rarely talked about. Why? The previous Texas Chainsaw movie released a few years earlier is equally as great. Arguably the best two TCM movies in the entire franchise.

nice gore fest

[wrlang · 7/10 · 19 January 2007]

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning is the first installment of the grim deeds of the Hewitt family as they start their rampage of serial killings. The family was made into a bunch of demons by poor economic times, a monster child that is scorned by society, and a lack of common sense. After getting to know the beginning the cutting start and is very bloody. Not for the faint of heart or the young, this is a film about sick people. As horror films go, there is a good amount of realistic effects. The acting is good as well as the directing. This film holds true to the theme of its predecessors and is a class A gore fest. Don't watch this while eating dinner.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre: the beginning ( 2006 )

[Angel-X · 1/10 · 3 November 2006]

I enjoy a good horror movie myself, but these on going Texas Chainsaw movies are really loosing their shock ability! Sorry, but this last one released was the very worse I have ever witnessed. I had hoped for a fun, scary horror flick just in time for Halloween. Was I so very disappointed with this one! I kept looking at my watch, no really! I can't say there was any shock-fear in this one. The makeup was all right on our big star here again this time around, but oh please the acting was so bad. So far I have to say, the very first one was indeed the best of these. Can't we start having some fun to watch real scary horror movies again? Where are all these writers with those frightening imaginations and creative minds anyway.

~Angel-X~