Texas Chainsaw 3D is the seventh film in the cult horror Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise, the first 3D cinema release in the 39-year history of these ever-varying slasher movies. The series of films has survived a re-boot, a prequel and much negative attention, yet the original still remains a staple of the 1970s slasher genre. Director John Luessenhop decides to dig Leatherface up once again and faces a tough challenge in captivating newcomers and old fans alike. Ultimately, it does not pay off for him.
The story picks up from where the 1974 film left off, with the cannibalistic Sawyer family’s house being burnt to the ground. An infant survivor, Heather Miller (Alexandra Daddario), is found and adopted by locals and, twenty years later, is granted a mansion in the will of her late grandmother. The cringe-inducingly stereotypical plot really begins here, as the protagonist brings her friends with her (in a van seemingly so uncomfortably warm very few clothes needed to be worn) to see this property. On the way, they also pick up a hitchhiker, which seems a logical thing to do in this circumstance.
After forty-five minutes of cat and mouse capers with the ever familiar Leatherface (Dan Yeager), we experience a slight twist in the otherwise boringly cliche plot: Leatherface becomes somewhat of an anti-hero. Once realising Heather and he are of the same kin, they join forces against the corrupt, bumbling police force (who accidentally kill one of Heather’s friends), as you logically would with a chainsaw-wielding psychopath. But hey, he’s family.
The only performance of note is the menacing Dan Yeager as Leatherface, yet his expressionless grunts will not win him thespian praise outside of this very particular genre. One day we may see an entry into this series that does not stick firmly to the gore-porn over coherent narrative style filmmaking which defines the franchise, but Luessenhop does not deliver. Throughout the film, Luessenhop takes advantage of the 3D technology in the only way that could be expected, with the fear of being ‘chainsawed’ and blood splattering on your glasses. This film will entertain newcomers who long to see brutal Saw-like deaths of ironically one dimensional characters, but probably will disappoint those who enjoyed the subtleties and moral implications of the original.