The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
2006 · Directed by Jonathan Liebesman
Original language: English
- horror
- thriller
The story
Chrissie and her friends set out on a road trip for a final fling before one is shipped off to Vietnam. Along the way, bikers harass the foursome and cause an accident that throws Chrissie from the vehicle. The lawman who arrives on the scene kills one of the bikers and brings Chrissie's friends to the Hewitt homestead, where young Leatherface is learning the tools of terror.
What it’s like
Sun-bleached dust, rusted metal and grimy, overexposed Texas daylight give this prequel a sweaty, washed-out look, with handheld camera work that stays close to the characters as the heat and panic build. Nights are lit by lanterns and headlights against black fields, and the sound is dominated by engines, gusting wind and the roar of machinery, with little music to soften it. Its vibe is brutal, claustrophobic dread: a road-trip unease that turns into a long descent into a house of sadistic horror. The violence is frequent, graphic and disturbing, with gore, torture, knife and chainsaw attacks, and cruelty that lingers, so it is far from gentle and offers no real relief. The pace is relentless once the group reaches the homestead, and the emotional register is bleak and nihilistic. It suits viewers who want hard-edged, visceral horror and can handle sustained brutality, not those seeking a light late-night watch.
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