I’m a huge, huge fan of the original TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE franchise. I was at the ideal age to remember what a big deal it was to see the much-butchered version of LEATHERFACE: THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE III in theaters and waited hours to get into that movie. I had an old VHS tape of Tobe Hooper’s official sequel THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE PART 2 and would have sleepover’s with my childhood buddy David (R.I.P.) and watch it on repeat until we passed out. Back when it was still unreleased, I picked up a VHS of TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 4 at a Fangoria Weekend Of Horrors convention. (Well, alright… that one totally sucks.) But it all goes back to the original, which is an absolute horror masterpiece!
I remember when Platinum Dunes first showed their teaser trailer for the 2003 remake at a Fangoria show in New York, every one in the audience booed!!! But when it came out, it actually turned out to be a fairly decent re-interpretation of those characters, although it was never actually the original family minus for “Leatherface”. In the remake they were referred to as the Hewitt’s. The original series they were the Sawyer’s. I think the “prequel” that Platinum Dunes put out proves that the first movie was a complete fluke and only accidentally turned out good as it’s the only one of their remakes that remains somewhat watchable. And now for years, the chainsaw remained silent… until now!
Lionsgate snatched up the rights from Platinum Dunes, only this time using the original Sawyer family and making an official sequel to the Tobe Hooper films titled TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D. As a great stroke of casting genius, Bill Moseley who originally played Chop Top, the crazy Hitchhiker’s brother in TCM2 is taking over the role of Drayton Sawyer from the late, great Jim Siedow. And while we’re not exactly sure what direction this new version will take, we now have a trailer. Check it out below!
So far, it looks pretty good. It’s got the glossy feel of the Platinum Dunes films, but I think any modern interpretation of CHAINSAW is going to look like that compared to the gritty vibe of the first 2 Hooper films. Regardless, it’s fun to see Leatherface back in action and know that it’s not Andrew Bryniarski playing him anymore.
If you want a closer look at the new Leatherface (played by Dan Yeager), our friends at Dread Central have some screengrabs HERE.
TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D opens nationwide January 4th, 2013!!
Synopsis: TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D‘s Leatherface is back and more terrifying than ever! You’ve seen his many evil faces and now you can see him with weapon in hand! With gruesome surprises in store for a whole new generation, TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D stars Alexandra Daddario (Heather Miller) and Dan Yeager (Leatherface), Introducing Tremaine ‘Trey Songz’ Neverson (Ryan), Scott Eastwood (Carl), Tania Raymonde (Nikki), Shaun Sipos (Darryl), Keram Malicki-Sanchez (Kenny), James MacDonald (Officer Marvin), Thom Barry (Sheriff Hooper), Paul Rae (Burt Hartman), Richard Riehle (Farnsworth) along with special appearances from four beloved cast members from previous installments of the franchise: Gunnar Hansen (the original Leatherface), Marilyn Burns, John Dugan and Bill Moseley.
Directed by John Luessenhop, from a screenplay by Adam Marcus & Debra Sullivan and Kirsten Elms, based on a story by Stephen Susco and Adam Marcus & Debra Sullivan and based on characters created by Kim Henkel and Tobe Hooper, and produced by Carl Mazzocone. Lionsgate presents a Millennium Films production and Main Line Pictures production.