The first look at the upcoming “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” sequel has arrived along with plot details for the sequel to the original 1974 classic…
The buzz is back … again.
The latest sequel to the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” will finally arrive on Netflix on February 18 and the first footage from the upcoming film has been released with a new teaser.
This movie serves as a direct sequel to the original 1974 classic titled “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” directed by Tobe Hooper about a twisted family filled with cannibals who feast on a group of unsuspecting teens who wander near their home. That was where the infamous killer known as Leatherface first appeared, as played by the late, great Gunnar Hansen.
Hooper didn’t follow that film up with sequel until 12 years later with “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2,” which was still very much a horror film but there was plenty of comedy injected into that movie with the debut of Bill Moseley as “Chop Top” Sawyer.
From there, the continuity for the series got quite confusing including “Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation,” which actually starred Matthew McConaughey and Renee Zellweger long before they were winning Academy Awards.
Then came the remake starring Jessica Biel in 2003 and that was followed by prequels and sequels and even more muddied storytelling revolving around the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” franchise. Rewind of the Living Dead did an entire series on the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ franchise including reviews for all of the films as well as a retrospective on the best and worst from the franchise, which you can listen to below.
Now according to producer and writer Fede Alvarez — who won over horror fans with his 2013 remake of “Evil Dead” — the newest “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” film is mostly tied to the original film from 1974 but he isn’t exactly forgetting that all those other sequels happened.
“When I say ‘direct sequel’ I wouldn’t say it skips everything,” Alvarez explained when speaking to EW. “When movies do that, sometimes it feels a bit disrespectful to all the other films. Some people love Texas Chainsaw 2. I love a lot of things about that movie — it’s so wacky and of its time. But the rest is such a mess canon-wise. I think it’s up to you to decide when and how the events of the other movies happen.”
As far as the plotline for this latest installment, the newest “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” will follow a recognizable formula while also teasing the return of Sally Hardesty — the final girl who survived the Sawyer family from the original film.
“Melody (Sarah Yarkin), her teenage sister Lila (Elsie Fisher), and their friends Dante (Jacob Latimore) and Ruth (Nell Hudson), head to the remote town of Harlow, Texas to start an idealistic new business venture. But their dream soon turns into a waking nightmare when they accidentally disrupt the home of Leatherface, the deranged serial killer whose blood-soaked legacy continues to haunt the area’s residents — including Sally Hardesty (Olwen Fouéré), the sole survivor of his infamous 1973 massacre who’s hell-bent on seeking revenge.”
When the teens encounter Leatherface, he’s a much older man but Alvarez teased that it’s only after they awaken the monster inside of him does the monster emerge again.
“It’s basically the same character, who is still alive,” Alvarez said.. “Our take on it was this guy probably disappeared after everything he’s done. You know, how do you catch a guy who has a mask? Once he removes the mask and runs away, it’s very easy for him to hide somewhere.
“This story will pick it up many, many years after the original story. He’s been in hiding for a long, long time, trying to be a good person. These people arriving in this town are going to awaken the giant.”
The new “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” sequel was actually filmed in Bulgaria, which should be an interesting stand in for rural Texas.
For now, take a look at the first teaser for “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and get ready for the new film on Feb. 18.
