The 9 Deuce Horror Group sat down and answered some questions surrounding the original and remake of one of the most iconic horror franchises in history, Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I am here with Kristi, Dom, and Cece, so I want to thank them.
- When you saw the 1974 version for the first time, and watched the opening about how this was real, did you wonder if it really did happen, or did you just assume that it was just another horror flick?
Kristi: I am more apt to believe it’s based off of true events when it says that. So I believed it.
Dom: No, I believe that it took some true life event for it’s inspiration
Cece: The actual legitimate story probably didn’t take place, however, it was said to have been influenced by Ed Gein.
Kent: Yeah, I bought into it at first.
- I don’t think that we had seen much, if anything quite as extreme as this in mainstream cinema in America at the time. This set the bar for awhile. Chronologically, what was the next film that you feel upped the extreme factor beyond this particular film? There are no wrong answers, but I may poke fun a bit because I’m a jerk.
Kristi: If I’m being honest here, I really haven’t seen many films from the 70s, so I will go with my favorite, Mr. Michael Myers in Halloween.
Dom: Friday the 13th. I hear that many moviegoers were not ready for the “extreme” violence of the original TCM
Cece: Honestly, I am not sure. I think a lot of people really clung to Blair Witch when it came out.
Kent: Salo is the answer. There are no other answers. It is Salo. Of you haven’t seen Salo, don’t, but know that is the answer.
- Which character got the worst death in the original film? What about in the remake?
Kristi: Original- the first girl that got killed. Hanging on that hook is way worse than getting clobbered in the head.
Remake- Kemper, Again with the damn hook!
Dom: Original: The dude in the wheelchair. Just couldn’t get away.
Remake: Morgan
Cece: Hook girl is pretty solid for the original. For the remake, I’d say Andy or Morgan.
Kent: Franklyn and Andy
- The original had one of the better endings, especially for it’s time. Aside from Psycho, can you think of other films prior to the 80’s that had such a unique ending? If so, what film(s)?
Dom:planet of the apes
Cece: Honestly, I am clueless on this matter.
Kent: Salo, Jaws was interesting, The Hills Have Eyes, The Nudist Colony of the Dead, I Drink Your Blood, Suspiria, a lot of them is in the conversation.
- Tobe Hooper had a good career as a film director, he also did Salem’s Lot, Poltergeist, Billy Idol’s music video for “Dancing With Myself”, an episode of Tales From The Crypt with Whoopie Goldberg, The Funhouse, Lifeforce, The Funhouse, along with a few other things. Would you consider this his best work or do you prefer something else that he did?
Dom: This will be his masterpiece.
Kristi: I actually prefer Poltergeist. The girl screaming for 20 minutes in TCM was annoying as hell. Shut the hell up, calm down, and figure out a plan! Don’t get me wrong, I love this movie, but seriously, did she need to sit there and scream uncontrollably at the table?
Cece: This will always be his best work.
Kent: Poltergeist was a better done film, but this is my preference. Not my best answer, I admit.
- Let’s talk about the hitchhiker scene in the beginning of both films. The original had a male while the remake had a female. Which one set the tone better for the rest of the film in your opinion?
Kristi: I have to go with the remake. It gave me an idea of where the film was going. I enjoyed the original as well but it didn’t really give me any direction as to where the film was headed.
Dom: Both. Each had a different reason for being there in the beginning as a set up for later.
Cece: I think the remake was a better feel honestly.
Kent: I think remake, but both served their purpose, but that fucking exit would in the remake.
- The remake starred both Jessica Biel and R Lee Ermey of Full Metal Jacket fame. Did this help the remake by adding well known people, or did it detract a bit from the experience?
Kristi: I like her. I was not distracted at all by them being in it. For me, it added to my enjoyment of the film.
Dom: It’s the content of the film as well as the story for the most part, though bad acting can totally destroy a film too
Cece: Usually when using big names, I do get distracted. However, this didn’t bother me for this film.
Kent: This one worked because Jessica Biel has had a meaningless career career, so it came down to R Lee and he killed it in this one and the prequel. I liked it.
- Who was your favorite character in either film?
Kristi: Original- The Hitchhiker. He was batshit crazy. I like that.
Remake- I enjoyed Jessica Biel’s charactor. She irritated me a little bit in the beginning but I think she did a pretty damn good job overall.
Dom: LeatherFace for both
Cece: I love the crazy family members of Leatherface.
Kent: Original is the Hitchhiker, remake is Sheriff Hoyt
- When you simply consider the look of how both movies were filmed, obviously the remake had a significantly more polished feel to it, which style do you prefer? The low budget feel of the original or the polished Hollywood style of the remake?
Kristi: I usually like the more Hollywood style but for this film, I liked the low budget feel. I think it adds to the film.
Dom: The original having that low budget feel made it feel like a documentary , but a good documentary. The polished feel was expected of today’s audiences. But i felt both styles were done good.
Cece: The low budget feel in the original takes the cake. This is one of the main reasons this movie scares the shit out of me.
Kent: I gotta go with original, but it is very close. I love 70’s gritty look.
Bonus Deuce
- It’s okay to admit that this was a well done remake. Not all remakes are inherently evil or unwanted. When done right, they can be a positive experience. Name a few remakes that you really enjoyed. The obvious example is The Thing in the 80’s, and that will be my answer, but there are quite a few others.
Kristi: Rob Zombie’s Halloween is the first to come to mind. I think It was done very well also! I didn’t hate Carrie either. It could just be because I like the girl, but I thought it was ok.
Dom: R Zombie’s Halloween. Black Christmas
Cece: Zombie’s Halloween for sure (but only the first one) also IT (2017)
Kent: The Thing, Halloween, The Crazies, Friday the 13th, Night of the Living Dead with Tony Todd, IT
- Have you seen any of the sequels, and if so, did you like any of them?
Kristi: I have not seen them.
Dom: i have but i only remember bits and pieces. So I’m guessing no.
Cece: I have seen bits and pieces of the 2nd one with the chili cook off and it’s so bizarre. My mom thinks it’s hilarious.
Kent: I have unfortunately. Part 3 was the best of the original 3 sequels, and the prequel to the remake was fine as was the 3D film for what it was.
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All the pictures used in this blog are for review purposes. They are the property of:
- Vortex (as a vortex/henkel/hooper production)
- New Line Cinema
- Focus Features
- Radar Pictures (in association with)
- Platinum Dunes
- Next Entertainment
- Chainsaw Productions LLC
- Wonder Works Studios Entertainment Group (uncredited)
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