Texas Chainsaw 3D

Released: 4th January 2013

Directed By: John Luessenhop

Starring: Alexandra Daddario, Tania Raymonde and Trey Songz

Certificate: 18

Reviewed By: Ben Harris

Leatherface, one of horror’s most renowned characters, was last seen on our screens in 2006’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning – an origin movie, which took place four years before the 2003 remake of the 1974 classic. However, having received a battering from critics and failing to set the box office alight, the franchise was dead in the ground. But once Lions Gate brought the rights to the franchise it was inevitable the chainsaw loving manic would return.

Intended to be a sequel to the 1974 original, Texas Chainsaw 3D centres on Heather (Alexandra Daddario), a young girl who inherits a house from her grandmother she never knew existed. She takes a road trip with her boyfriend Ryan (Trey Songz) and friends Nikki (Tania Raymonde) and Kenny (Keram Malicki-Sanchez) to receive the house, unaware that her cousin, Leatherface, is lurking in the basement.

Director John Luessenhop, who is supposedly “a huge fan of the original” and was “inspired” by Tobe Hooper’s work, continues the downward spiral of this relentless franchise. Shunning suspense, Luessenhop takes pride in glorified violence and sexual exploits – big-breasted girls and buffed up guys are hacked to pieces by the notorious killer – and the scripts clichéd nature is fundamentally the films worst culprit.

Not only is the dialogue laughably bad but also each supporting character is written with intentional dislike. The scripts biggest bewilderment is a ridiculous attempt to sympathise with Leatherface. Texas Chainsaw 3D is yet another modern slasher which aims to humanise their villain.

It comes as no surprise the 3D gimmick was attached to the project from the very start. The pointless and moneymaking ploy is far from frightening and one that should be dropped if this franchise wants to be taken seriously.

Is there one redeeming feature? No. Texas Chainsaw 3D is simply terrible. It’s time to put the chainsaw to rest once and for all.