Watch Texas Chainsaw Massacre

"Texas Chainsaw Massacre," released in 2022, is a horror thriller that acts as a direct sequel to Tobe Hooper’s 1974 seminal slasher film, "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre". Directed by David Blue Garcia and with a screenplay by Chris Thomas Devlin, the movie attempts to harness the raw terror of the original while introducing a fresh set of characters to face the legendary horror icon known as Leatherface.

The narrative follows a group of ambitious young friends who travel to the remote town of Harlow, Texas, with the vision of starting a new business venture. Among these individuals are Melody (played by Sarah Yarkin), her teenage sister Lila (played by Elsie Fisher), and their friends who hope to rejuvenate the town and bring it into the modern age with their entrepreneurial endeavor. However, the town of Harlow is haunted by its dark past, one that refuses to stay dead and buried.

Their visions of progress and a brighter future collide violently with the grim legacy left behind by the Sawyer family. The youths stumble upon the upsetting history of the town when they inadvertently disrupt the home of the notorious killer Leatherface, who is portrayed this time by actor Mark Burnham. With his terrifying mask made of human skin and wielding a chainsaw, Leatherface symbolizes the visceral terror that the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise has become known for.

Attempting to start anew, Melody and Lila have moved beyond the typical life they once knew into a landscape painted with the dreams of millennials looking to make their mark on the world through new business opportunities and social media influence. Their youthful optimism is sharply juxtaposed with the bleak and ruthless nature of the ghost-town-like Harlow. The film acts as a cynical commentary on gentrification and the friction between the old and the new, as well as the naive arrogance that can sometimes accompany modern endeavors into forsaken places with dark histories.

Elsie Fisher's character Lila carries within her the trauma of a high school shooting, adding a layer of complexion and vulnerability to her relationship with the potential carnage that awaits the group. This element of her past reflects the broader cultural fears of violence and its inescapable nature, even when looking to create a utopia. Her sister, Melody, serves as her protector and counterpart, pushing the story forward with her determination to succeed in their new home, even in the face of mounting dread.

The local Texan backdrop plays an intrinsic role, acting almost as a character itself with wide-open spaces that seem welcoming under the bright sun but turn into claustrophobic deathtraps under the veil of darkness. The dusty roads, derelict buildings, and untamed wilderness all lend themselves to the film's thick atmosphere of impending doom.

As the story progresses, the initial excitement surrounding the potential business opportunities fades quickly as the group encounters various townspeople, some of whom warn them of the dangers that lurk within the seemingly peaceful ghost town. It’s not long before they are forced to confront the horrifying reality that the past isn't just a collection of stories and that some legends have bloodied roots.

The film escalates as the resurgent killer reignites his murderous rampage, slicing through the fabric of the friends' reality with every rotation of his chainsaw's unforgiving blade. Each swing, slice, and chase is designed to keep audiences on the edge of their seats, with stylized violence that pays homage to the series' roots while also trying to carve out its own place in modern horror cinema.

"Texas Chainsaw Massacre" weaves its narrative with a mix of modern social commentary and classic horror tropes. With Garcia's direction and the performances of the young cast, the movie attempts to bridge the generational gap between fans of the original series and new viewers who may be experiencing the nightmare of Leatherface for the first time.

The film becomes a dance of death, where survival is uncertain, and the past refuses to die. As the protagonists face the relentless terror of Leatherface, they must also confront their personal demons and the possibility that some places - like the desolate town of Harlow - might be beyond saving.

"Texas Chainsaw Massacre" from 2022 indulges in the legacy of its title, striving to satiate the appetites of horror fans old and new with its gruesome thrills and blood-stained nostalgia. The movie ultimately asks the question whether it's possible to escape the scars of history or if they're doomed to repeat themselves, slicing through time with the roar of a chainsaw.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a 2022 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 21 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.7 and a MetaScore of 34.