Above my computer in my office here at home, I have this homage to the two greatest horror movies of all time (well, OK, at least two of the greatest!) in movie poster form. I love the movie Halloween. Great stuff. The music stills creeps me out. SO, on one side, I have the reprint of the actual movie poster for that movie...the pumpkin looking like something from a lame Scooby Doo cartoon with this detached hand holding a very sharp knife. A somewhat scary poster. Next to it, I have a poster that I had been scouring the earth for since high school. I found it in '03 at this poster shop on State Street in Madison. It is the reprint of the movie poster promoting one of the best movies to ever star a garden tool - The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
Now, this is not some ordinary poster mind you. In October of '03, I was looking around the internet, and noticed that the guy who played the original Leatherface in the 1974 movie, was going to be on tour, signing autographs, and one of the places he was coming to was Rockford, IL. I took my movie poster, and my DVD thinking he would sign both. I got there early, and it was this really huge party store...they sell all things party---cups, ribbon, paper, candles, etc. For Halloween though, they convert half the store into this massive horror shop...masks, costumes, and props...it's great. There was me and some other guy waiting, and when Gunnar Hansen showed up, I was like "that's the Face." I had him sign the poster, and I bought one of his movie 8X10's and had him sign that too. It was very cool to meet him, and tell him that this is my favorite horror movie ever.
OK, fast forward to yesterday. Yesterday was the opening day of "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning." This movie really sets up the whole story for the other movie that came out two years ago. See, they made a remake of the 1974 classic in 2004. It was sort of like the original, but different...they gave more backstory, and sort of twisted the story line adding more characters. It was a really well done remake. So, yesterday, this movie opened, and of course I went. I went to the first showing here in Janesville...the matinee at the Rock. It was me and like three other people. I love a near empty theater like that. Sat near the front...no one ahead of me. Watched the previews...they are coming out with a "Saw 3." Loved the first two. And then the movie started.
This is by far one of the best horror movies I have seen in a long time. This movie will scare the pants of you if you are a casual horror movie watcher. I loved it!!! Andrew Bryniarski, who plays "Leatherface/Thomas Hewitt" is incredibly intimidating. This guy in real life, is built. I mean his arms are huge. It's obvious he takes good care of his body, and lifts immense amounts of weights. R. Lee Ermey who was in the first movie, and now is the second, playing the role of Sheriff Hoyt, continues to be creepy. He is a great actor. But, in these TCM movies, he is really creepy. You see how "the family" with him being the head of it, is pulled into his way of understanding the world and how it needs to be punished. That punishment comes out brutally. There is another bunch of young actors playing the consistent roles of "a group of teenagers crossing Texas to go somewhere" who fall victim to the Hewitt home. Each actor was really good. Definitely more action and dialogue with this movie than in '04 for this group. The most creepy thing with this movie is the house. The family house is this dark monolith of unspeakable fear and death. The filmmakers take the house, and really make it the star in this version...you see more of it, and more action revolves around who's going where and why are they going there. Leatherface's basement is not seen so much in detail as it was with the last movie, but it is still there and quickly becomes this place of hell. I found funny though, that the basement is actually livable...it's somewhat clean. But, once the bodies are chopped, it becomes what we see in the '04 movie; fingers in jars, assorted noses, the lone eyeball sitting on the workbench...you get the idea.
I will not spoil this movie for you though, if you decide to see it. I dare not tell you the ending. I loved the ending. Definitely a classic way to end a great movie. This movie totally lived up to my expectations, and it was well worth my $5.50! I am already looking forward to the DVD release of this. Once again, it shows that Tobe Hooper continues to evolve with this story in conceiving it, and even directing it. He is definitely a great visionary with this story. So, go out and see this movie. Take your friends, sit back and relax. I guarantee that you will not be able to hear another chainsaw again and NOT think of this movie. GO NOW, or you'll be next! (Cheesy I know, but it was what Gunnar Hansen said to me on his pic to me, and now I pass on his advice to you for free). More later...
Now, this is not some ordinary poster mind you. In October of '03, I was looking around the internet, and noticed that the guy who played the original Leatherface in the 1974 movie, was going to be on tour, signing autographs, and one of the places he was coming to was Rockford, IL. I took my movie poster, and my DVD thinking he would sign both. I got there early, and it was this really huge party store...they sell all things party---cups, ribbon, paper, candles, etc. For Halloween though, they convert half the store into this massive horror shop...masks, costumes, and props...it's great. There was me and some other guy waiting, and when Gunnar Hansen showed up, I was like "that's the Face." I had him sign the poster, and I bought one of his movie 8X10's and had him sign that too. It was very cool to meet him, and tell him that this is my favorite horror movie ever.
OK, fast forward to yesterday. Yesterday was the opening day of "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning." This movie really sets up the whole story for the other movie that came out two years ago. See, they made a remake of the 1974 classic in 2004. It was sort of like the original, but different...they gave more backstory, and sort of twisted the story line adding more characters. It was a really well done remake. So, yesterday, this movie opened, and of course I went. I went to the first showing here in Janesville...the matinee at the Rock. It was me and like three other people. I love a near empty theater like that. Sat near the front...no one ahead of me. Watched the previews...they are coming out with a "Saw 3." Loved the first two. And then the movie started.
This is by far one of the best horror movies I have seen in a long time. This movie will scare the pants of you if you are a casual horror movie watcher. I loved it!!! Andrew Bryniarski, who plays "Leatherface/Thomas Hewitt" is incredibly intimidating. This guy in real life, is built. I mean his arms are huge. It's obvious he takes good care of his body, and lifts immense amounts of weights. R. Lee Ermey who was in the first movie, and now is the second, playing the role of Sheriff Hoyt, continues to be creepy. He is a great actor. But, in these TCM movies, he is really creepy. You see how "the family" with him being the head of it, is pulled into his way of understanding the world and how it needs to be punished. That punishment comes out brutally. There is another bunch of young actors playing the consistent roles of "a group of teenagers crossing Texas to go somewhere" who fall victim to the Hewitt home. Each actor was really good. Definitely more action and dialogue with this movie than in '04 for this group. The most creepy thing with this movie is the house. The family house is this dark monolith of unspeakable fear and death. The filmmakers take the house, and really make it the star in this version...you see more of it, and more action revolves around who's going where and why are they going there. Leatherface's basement is not seen so much in detail as it was with the last movie, but it is still there and quickly becomes this place of hell. I found funny though, that the basement is actually livable...it's somewhat clean. But, once the bodies are chopped, it becomes what we see in the '04 movie; fingers in jars, assorted noses, the lone eyeball sitting on the workbench...you get the idea.
I will not spoil this movie for you though, if you decide to see it. I dare not tell you the ending. I loved the ending. Definitely a classic way to end a great movie. This movie totally lived up to my expectations, and it was well worth my $5.50! I am already looking forward to the DVD release of this. Once again, it shows that Tobe Hooper continues to evolve with this story in conceiving it, and even directing it. He is definitely a great visionary with this story. So, go out and see this movie. Take your friends, sit back and relax. I guarantee that you will not be able to hear another chainsaw again and NOT think of this movie. GO NOW, or you'll be next! (Cheesy I know, but it was what Gunnar Hansen said to me on his pic to me, and now I pass on his advice to you for free). More later...
2 comments:
Okay, you are WAY more twisted than I thought you were......
(but we still love you)
mmm.. sounds like I have a date movie with the hubby.... we have saved all the scarey movies to rent for this month....and it seems like there are a lot of them out there.....
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