Director: Jonathan Liebesman
Starring: Jordana Brewster, Matt Bomer, Diora Baird
My Rating: Liked it
The story hasn't changed and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning doesn't shed any new light on Leatherface or his family, but I think this is the best TCM since 1 and 2. It definitely helps The Beginning's case that TCM3, The Next Generation, and 2004's remake range from bad to horrendously awful.
The Beginning is easily the most brutal in the franchise. I would argue that sometimes it's too graphic, even. This is also the only movie in the franchise in which there isn't a survivor at the end. It's been a staple of the series to have a survivor girl, and I'm glad that The Beginning changes this because it makes more sense, quite frankly. If people kept on escaping, this family would undoubtedly be in jail.
The main character of The Beginning is Uncle Hewitt/"Sheriff" and I think R. Lee Ermey (who also plays this character in 2003's TCM) plays this character extremely well. I could do without the birthing intro and the excessive amounts of blood, but I really like the quality of this movie because it's more reminiscent of the original than any of the other sequels. It's beautifully minimalist and in your face the whole time, just like Tobe Hooper's direction.
If you can handle the blood, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning, while snubbed by critics, is a surprisingly competent slasher flick and a very solid entry for Leatherface.