Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1994)

Esteemed Gutmunchers founder and CEO John Shatzer said it best. This film is an unmitigated disaster. It fails on every level other than being a bizarre curiosity and that minor, backhanded compliment barely constitutes a reason for viewing it. Other than a group of dim witted kids trapped and tormented by a homicidal family with a cross dressing, chainsaw wielding behemoth among their numbers, this has no connection to previous Chainsaw films.

 

A group of teens who seemingly have never met each other inexplicably find themselves in one of their cars hurtling into the Texan backwoods, apparently located 5 miles outside of town. They wreck their car, split up for help, become ensnared by the malevolent family and so on and so on. This time tested formula is so poorly executed it’s akin to watching someone prepare a pizza by pouring ketchup on cardboard, forgetting the cheese, topping it with lutefisk and dumping it in a hobo fire barrel to cook. It manages to even fail on the elementary level of putting together images in a manner where you can distinguish spatial relationships between characters and their surroundings.

 

The actors clearly have been given no direction. The kids save for Zellweger react to the obvious mortal danger they’re in as if being sent to detention. The line readings are flat and seem to be taken from disparate, unrelated conversations. The only talent on display is from Zellweger and McConnaughey, whose eventual rise to prominence might well be the only reason this train wreck ever saw the light of day. Matthew “mad dog” McConnaughey is so deliriously over the top you can’t help but admire his performance. His remote control hydraulic leg is the films highlight and a source of endless mirth.

 

Of all the shortcomings, the most painful to endure is the grating, wretched Leatherface portrayal by Robert Jacks. He isn’t frightening in the least. His incessant screeching will give you a dull headache after 5 minutes and by the end of the film it develops into a full blown migraine. There isn’t any gore to speak of either, just a lot of yelling, slapping and protracted belittlement. The half-hearted attempt to explain the family’s antics with a convoluted Illuminati subplot, while at least amusing, doesn’t really go anywhere or amount to anything. It’s just another dead end in a film already overstuffed with flawed, failed ideas.

 

It’s a terrible film to be sure, but it’s a terrible Texas Chainsaw Massacre film. It exists within the same universe of the first 2 films in terms of how mad and macabre it is if not how well made and expertly realized. I’ve yet to find fainter praise with which to damn a film and can only recommend watching it if you’re looking to be floored by how shoddily put together and head scratching the results of this Kim Henkel abomination are.

 

1 out of 4 stars

reviewed by Matt Risnes

© Copyright 2009 John Shatzer