Review: Texas Chainsaw 3D (18)

In 1974, director Tobe Hooper gave birth to a memorable big screen bogeyman – Leatherface – with the release of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
By Damon Smith
Published 11th Jan 2013, 09:37 BST

The film fell foul of British censors and was banned for more than 20 years, supposedly as a result of the sustained terror inflicted on the pretty heroine.

Given the picture’s notoriety, a cult following was guaranteed. Sequels, prequels and remakes have followed but the original film remains a classic of the horror canon.

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Director John Luessenhop attempts to reinvigorate the franchise with this lacklustre and gory instalment that begins directly after the events of the original.

Texas Chainsaw 3D is a pointless addendum to the Leatherface mythology, essentially regurgitating the original film while simultaneously sowing the seeds of further sequels.

Some of the performances are embarrassingly wooden – while death sequences are predictable.

The script doesn’t develop supporting characters before they are scythed in half.