What can you say about a nearly perfect horror film that has not already been said? Upon it’s release, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre forever changed horror. Barriers about what could be shown on screen felt like they were falling every ten minutes. Yet at the same time, it’s a bloodless film. Texas Chainsaw remains one of the most visceral experiences you ever will watch. Now, Dark Skies Films has released a new 4K restoration with boatloads of bonus features. This is a must-own for any collector of horror films.
Release Breakdown
Disc 1
- The 4K UHD feature film
- Four commentary tracks:
- Writer-producer-director Tobe Hooper, actor Gunnar Hansen, and cinematographer Daniel Pearl
- Actors Marilyn Burns, Allen Danziger, and Paul A. Partain, with production designer Robert Burns
- Tobe Hooper solo
- Daniel Pearl, editor J. Larry Carroll, and sound recordist Ted Nicolaou
Disc 2
Special Features
- A new feature-length documentary The Legacy of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
- Additional Featurettes
- “The Cinefamily Presents FRIEDKIN/HOOPER,” a conversation about the film between Tobe Hooper and The Exorcist director William Friedkin
- “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Shocking Truth”
- “Flesh Wounds: Seven Stories of the Saw”
- A tour of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre house with Gunnar Hansen
- “Off the Hook with Teri McMinn”
- “The Business of Chain Saw: An Interview with Production Manager Ron Bozman.”
- Horrors Hallowed Grounds: Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
- Dr. W.E. Barnes Presents “Making Grandpa.”
- “Grandpa’s Tales:” An Interview with Actor John Dugan
- “Cutting Chain Saw:” An Interview with Editor J. Larry Carroll.
- Deleted scenes
- Outtakes
- A blooper reel
- Trailers
- Vintage TV
- Radio spots
Release Review
Long ago, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre earned its distinction as one of the great horror films. In its new edition, it only further grips onto that claim. The Dark Skys Film edition comes absolutely loaded with bonus features, and that makes this a must-own for any horror fan. If one wanted to recreate attending Spooky Empire in Orlando or Fantastic Fest in Austin, look no further than this edition. Getting interviews with fringe characters, from the actors portraying them, is like finding heaven for a horror fan.
This particular film should never look clean. Even so, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 4K release is cleaned up in the right ways. We still get the amateur, grindhouse feel that made the original releases so viscerally upsetting. If anything, the film grain looks the best its ever look on a Texas Chainsaw Massacre release. Short of seeing the film on a 35 mm print, it’s hard to imagine how much better the visuals could become.
However, the real winning formula comes from the sound work on this release. There are three regular tracks for viewers to enjoy. The 7.1 DTS option will rock your chest cavity when Leatherface fires up the saw. However, if authenticity is what you’re looking for, the 2.0 and 1.0 audio tracks are essential. The audio for this film has been messy on previous editions. No one will make that claim this time around.
To add to the embarrassment of riches, there are four full commentaries. Even more unique is how they’re set up. We clearly want one with some of the stars and Tobe Hooper. Yet having others fully committed actors and another with craftsmen only further showcases why this release is for the die-hards. The documentary attached will only further scratch that itch.
