The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1995)
Last Watch Date - October 21, 2025
Total Times Watched - 3 or 4
Comments
If TCM2 was a sort of "let's take the piss out of this series" and TCM3 was a "return to grittiness", TCM4 (this movie, which you may also know as "The Next Generation") is a ... reimagining of the first in a way. It's technically a sequel, but it doesn't play like one at all. It has a lot of elements from the first, but it's not similar enough to call a reboot or remake. I read that they wanted to go for a more exaggerated or cartoonish version of the original to satirize the "modern American teenager." I don't even know what that's supposed to mean, but this movie IS cartoonish.
Matthew McConaughey is so over-the-top in his role that I can't imagine he received any different direction. Did he take it this way on his own? I can't imagine he did. He has this weird mechanical robot leg brace that uses a remote to move around. Why? I have no idea. Renee Zellwegger is the most grounded actor in this movie and reminds me of why I had such a massive crush on her in the 90s. Leatherface is somewhere between TCM 1 and 2 in terms of his character, but nothing like 3. The insurance agent Darla (Tonie Perensky) is one of my favorites in this movie because she's a semi-normal character trapped in this alternate universe.
One of the oddest realisms in this movie is the way Zellwegger runs. She's fast and runs like she's done it before. You ever watch a movie where people don't know how to do something basic like hit a nail with a hammer? You watch them as they struggle to hit it over and over, slapping the hammer all over the wall, but they're supposed to be good at it. Well, Zellwegger actually IS good at running and I found it impressive. I bet she'd kill me in a race.
On the other side of that coin, you have a remote control battle with McConaughey and Zellwegger that is so weird that I can't believe it made it into the movie. Oh uh, Zellwegger also gets beaten with a cattle prod. Not only zapped, but caned. There's a drive-thru pizza place that for some reason cops are buying coffee at.. and that pizza place turns the pizzas sideways to put them through the window. And gives you drinks in a bag. WHAT IS THIS PLACE?
There are plenty of other odd things happening but I don't want to spoil anything else.
Recommended?
Let me ask you one question: are you having fun yet? YES. It's so weird. It is an objectively bad movie and I will never argue against someone who doesn't like it, but I find it entertaining. I hope McConaughey looks back fondly on it.
