The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning

For those people who are fans of the horror film classic "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre," (of which I am - though not such a fan of the sequels - horrible) the thought of 'Leatherface' (who's real name come to find out is Tommy Hewitt) as a baby and kid seems surreal to say the least. I mean, he had to be. It's not like Martians deposited him in Texas as the monster killing machine he is, right? Maybe it's just a concept that none of us never really thought about. Well, ponder no more. We have the full story now thanks to director Jonathan Liebesman and writer Sheldon Turner: I bring you "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning." With the release of the film and subsequent DVD we get to see and experience Texas' best or worst kept family secret. I missed the flick in the theater run. Not that I didn't try to see it, I just never made it.

Fear not, the DVD release (I have the Unrated version - there is a rated also that appeared in theaters - I have no idea what the difference is) has something for all diehard fans, and more. The beginning of the film is the 'baby's' birth, which by all accounts is pretty grisly. And yes, he was born in the slaughterhouse. Home sweet home, isn't that what they say? Quite the momentous and gory opening right out of the gate. Of course, how could we expect anything else? Now, it's 'family' introduction time (the brood is not really his kin folk). R. Lee Ermey (Full Metal Jacket) returns as Tommy's 'Uncle.' (wink, wink) He cements himself in the role as the sick, demented, perverted, old Marine brat whom come to find out kick starts this whole 'cannibal' thing. The back story is basically this: The 'family' lives through the depression in a remote part of Texas. So remote a tumbleweed seems a welcome visitor. The town's slaughterhouse has shut down and closed. Folks are leaving. Tommy is a teenager working there. Kill number one for the boy and his first taste of blood, so to speak. Won't management ever learn? Along with this little ditty we're clued in on how Ermey becomes the sheriff. This guy is definitely wicked and evil to the core. But that's why he's fun to watch. Great acting job there sir.

Of course, you know there has to be a van full of unsuspecting teenagers traveling through Texas. Fast forward to 1969 and the Vietnam War. We've got the usual two hot girls and two brothers paired up (Jordana Brewster, Taylor Handley, Diora Baird, Matthew Bomer), the eldest brother, Eric, already back from the war but is returning to action with his brother who's been drafted. Got it so far? The plot thickens. Then there's the bad ass motorcycle gang who terrorizes the teens on the road, the sub sequential car wreck involving a female biker and a cow. I've never seen a cow explode before - it was awesome. You get the idea. Enter the big bad sheriff with the big bad guns and even bigger attitude problem. Road trip anyone?

There's the house. That big, menacing, scary house, where bad things happen. Not as messy as in later films, it's still early. Blood fest time. The gore and torture is none stop and some of the best I've ever seen. Kudos to the special effects department. Andrew Bryniarski (Leatherface / Tommy) does a bang up job as a skilled killer. Though he does perfect his craft in later films. After all, this was basically his 'first time.' His first time with the chainsaw, first time with a 'new face.' This film is not for the timid. There's a gaggle of blood everywhere you turn, and the butchery is shown on screen. So if entrails and such aren't your cup of tea, do yourself a favor and skip this one. But for those who like this kind of film, this is right up your alley. The DVD has some great features and documentaries in regards to the making of the film and its predecessor the remake version of the original from 2003, directed by Marcus Nispel and written by the original masters Kim Henkel and Tobe Hooper (the masterminds behind the 1974 original film). The docs do a great job tying things together between the two films. It fills some holes about the 'family' by showing clips from the 2003 version that you may miss or didn't recognize while all the screaming is going on.

All in all, "TCM: The Beginning," is really about the 'family,' and spitting out why things are and they are the way they are. The cast of the family remains the same as the actors in the 2003 version: R. Lee Ermey (Charlie Hewitt Jr. / Sheriff) Terrance Evans (Uncle Monty), Kathy Lamkin (Tea Lady), Marietta Marich (Luda Mae Hewitt) and of course Andrew Bryniarski (Thomas / Leatherface). All very creepy indeed. I do have one recommendation as a side note: if you're going to watch this film on a big screen T.V. with a surround sound system and the volume up to, oh, lets say 24 - make sure your dog (if you have one) isn't in the house. Fair warning, it's going to make him angry, very very angry. Trust me, I know.