Movie Review: Texas Chainsaw (2013)

 

Texas Chainsaw (2013)

A Movie Review by Dave Randal

Genre: Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Cast: Alexandra Daddario, Dan Yeager, Trey Songz, Scott Eastwood

Director: John Luessenhop

Writers: Adam Marcus, Debra Sullivan, Kristen Elms, Stephen Susco, Tobe Hooper(characters), Kim Henkel(characters)

Studios: Twisted Pictures, Nu Image, Millennium Films, Mainline Pictures

Distributed by: Lionsgate

Release Date: January 4, 2013

Plot: A young woman travels to Texas to collect an inheritance; little does she know that an encounter with a chainsaw-wielding killer is part of the reward. 

In horror franchises there usually isn't a whole lot of continuity.   This is because a lot of horror franchises usually change directors and writers a lot.  The studios want to make more money off these cash cow franchises so usually what they do is hire other writers and directors to suck on the utters for a while.  Texas Chainsaw is one of those movies.

Mini Movie Review: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006)

 

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006)

A Mini Movie Review by Dave Randal

Plot: On one last road trip before they're sent to serve in Vietnam, two brothers and their girlfriends get into an accident that calls the local sheriff to the scene. Thus begins a terrifying experience where the teens are taken to a secluded house of horrors, where a young, would-be killer is being nurtured.

I'll go ahead and say it right off the bat.  I'm not a huge fan of prequels.  I don't like seeing the events of something when I already know what they are going to lead to.  Sure there are exceptions.  Some prequels don't even have the same characters, but our based in the same universe.  I'm actually alright with those.  When it comes to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning, it isn't like that at all.  It has a lot of the same characters and shows a lot of stuff that leads to future events.  Saying that though I honestly didn't mind it too much in this movie.

Mini Movie Review: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)

 

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)

A Mini Movie Review by Dave Randal

Plot: A group of friends in Texas are stalked and hunted down by a deformed killer with a chainsaw.

When this movie was announced I'm sure fans of the original were just waiting to tear it apart.  I'm sure they felt how dare they remake such a classic and influential horror movie.  The backlash came from both fans and film critics in a fierce way.  All in all though I find my self defending this movie.

Mini Movie Review: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

 

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

A Mini Movie Review by Dave Randal

Plot: Five friends visiting their grandpa's old house are hunted down and terrorized by a chainsaw wielding killer and his family of grave-robbing cannibals. 

I first watched this movie a couple of years ago and I remember being a bit disappointed by it.   The movie had such a reputation for being violent that I think I just expected a lot more from it in that regard.  I'm not sure what it is, but if I had to guess I would say I have seen too many torture porn movies like Saw and I believe movies like that have kind of desensitized me to older violent horror movies.

Mini Movie Review: A Christmas Story (1983)

 

A Christmas Story (1983)

A Mini Movie Review by Dave Randal

Plot: Ralphie has to convince his parents, teacher, and Santa that a Red Ryder B.B. gun really is the perfect gift for Christmas in the 1940s. 

When I think about what my favorite Christmas movie is there really is only one movie I keep coming back to.  That's A Christmas Story.  It's amazing to see how the popularity of this movie has grown over the years.  It was a sleeper hit back in 1983 in the box office and it took about fifteen years to obtain the reputation that it has now by playing over and over on TV during the holidays.

Mini Movie Review: Elf (2003)

 

Elf (2003)

A Mini Movie Review by Dave Randal

Plot: After inadvertently wreaking havoc on the elf community due to his ungainly size, a man raised as an elf at the North Pole is sent to the U.S. in search of his true identity. 

I don't think that it is a secret that a lot of people just can't stand Will Farrell and his comedy.  I think I fall on the side of people who do enjoy his comedy although I also understand why people just can't laugh at his stuff.  Elf is a pretty funny movie, but I wouldn't say that it is Will Farrell's best work.

Mini Movie Review: Bad Santa (2003)

Bad Santa (2003)

A Mini Movie Review by Dave Randal

Plot: A miserable conman and his partner pose as Santa and his Little Helper to rob department stores on Christmas Eve. But they run into problems when the conman befriends a troubled kid, and the security boss discovers the plot.

If you are tired of the ultra-happy Christmas movie and want something a little darker then Bad Santa is the movie for you.  Billy Bob Thornton does what he does best by playing a middle aged alcoholic loser who just doesn't care.  His character is a thief who accidentally befriends a troubled little boy who is played awesomely by child actor Brett Kelly. 

Mini Movie Review: The Ref (1994)

 

The Ref (1994)

A Mini Movie Review by Dave Randal

Plot: A burglar is forced to take a bickering and dysfunctional family hostage on Christmas Eve. 

Denis Leary stars in this dark comedy as a burglar who holds a dysfunctional family hostage after a robbery goes bad.  I wouldn't exactly call Denis Leary a great actor, but he is a really funny stand up comic and can rant better than just about anybody.  As an actor he doesn't have a ton of range although I don't think it really matters especially when he plays pissed off ranting assholes like he does here.

Mini Movie Review: Eight Crazy Nights (2002)

 

Eight Crazy Nights (2002)

A Mini Movie Review by Dave Randal

Plot:  Davey Stone, an alcoholic with a criminal record, is sentenced to community service under the supervision of an elderly referee. Davey is then faced with trying to reform and abandon his bad habits.

I have kind of a love-hate relationship with Adam Sandler.  Seeing how bad his movies have gotten I think it would be alright to say that I think most people have developed a love-hate relationship with him and his movies.  I'm not quite sure why, but I had never seen Eight Crazy Nights up until last week. I was only fourteen years old so I'm sure I would have enjoyed it, but I never really felt compelled to get up and go rent it.  Maybe I had some weird self-conscience premonition of the really horrible movies that were to come from Adam Sandler in the future.  Looking back now I think this movie was a bad sign of things to come.

Mini Movie Review: Home Alone (1990)

 

Home Alone (1990) 

A Mini Movie Review by Dave Randal

Plot:  An 8-year-old boy, who is accidentally left behind while his family flies to France for Christmas, has to defend his home against idiotic burglars.

Throughout the '90s there was always one Christmas movie that I went crazy for.  That movie is Home Alone.  I just watched it again for the first time in years and although it is pretty goofy I still really like it.  The movie was written by John Hughes and starred Macauly Culkin as lovable smart ass eight year old Kevin McCallister. 

Movie Trailer: Stand Up Guys (2013)

 

Christopher Walken and Al Pacino star in this dramatic buddy gangster movie coming out this January.  It looks like it could be okay although watching the trailer it makes me think they should have called it Grumpy Old Gangsters.  I really like both actors so lets hope they brought their A-game to this one.

Watch the trailer below.