
So the girlie and I pulled TCM II up on instant Netflix a night or two ago. I had the intention of seeing this during Xmas time, but to no avail but anyway, I digress. Texan DJ Vanita "Stretch" Block accidentally records two college dudes getting chopped off buy our favorite mongoloid Leatherface assisted by the rest of the cannibalistic Sawyer family. She then comes into contact with Texas Ranger "Lefty" played by legendary madman Dennis "fuck that shit, Pabst Blue Ribbon" Hopper the uncle of the surviving Heroine of the first TCM. Stretch is attacked by Leatherface's family. She and Lefty meet up and are lured into the Sawyer families kickass subterranean hideout.
For die hard TCM purists, do yourself a favor and be warned THIS IS NOT AT ALL LIKE THE FIRST ONE. this film is admittedly a completely different turn from the unflinchingly grim vision that you know and love. Texas Chainsaw Massacre II is more of a loose and humorous expansion of the TCM mythos. its different. keep this in mind.
The production itself is pretty remarkable, the Sawyer's subterranean hideout is something of beauty. It's barely held up with a collection of Christmas lights, antiques, a spiral slide stolen from a playground and walls constructed out of human bones. the effects done by legend Tom Savini are also totally excellent, the top of one college students' head is chainsawed off, the top slides off gently and is followed by with jets of blood.
Although, the plot itself is pretty lackluster, for 140 minutes, the story is only broken into two-three parts tops, the college kids murdered and subsequent investigation, the Sawyer boys invade the radio station and then the Sawyer's hideout.Thats basically it. If anything this movie could have benefited with some expansion of the plot, but then again what do I know?
As a whole, It's a flawed movie that could have been considerably better. I did expect better, but where else are you going to see Dennis Hopper chainsaw dueling with Leatherface?!