The Texas Chain Saw Massacre: Ultimate Edition (US)

Introduction

In 1973, Tobe Hooper, straight out of film school and with only `Eggshells`, a relatively unheard of film in his resume, headed deep into Texas with a group of inexperienced actors and filmmakers to shoot a film that Hooper had penned with his friend Kim Henkel. Hooper had grown up in Texas and had been terrified by older relatives from Wisconsin, who regaled him with stories about the notorious serial killer Ed Gein who had committed his crimes in that state. Gein has had a remarkable impact on horror films, arguably the inspiration for Norman Bates in `Psycho`, Buffalo Bill in `The Silence of the Lambs` and the family of cannibals in `The Texas Chain Saw Massacre`.

Sally Hardesty (Marilyn Burns), her brother Franklin (Paul Partain) and their friends Pam, Jerry and Kirk travel to Texas where there are reports of grave-robbing, to check on their grandfather`s grave. On the way they meet a hitchhiker (Edwin Neal), who disturbs and unsettles them, before the real nightmare begins.

Video

One of the strengths of `The Texas Chain Saw Massacre` is the vérité look of the film, which is due in no small part to the visual style. Although this version has been remastered from the original film stock and presented in high-definition, there has been no attempt to `polish` the film and it maintains the documentary appearance from the theatrical release and all previous DVD releases. It`s no understatement to say that the film has never looked better.

Audio

You have a choice of the digitally remastered original mono soundtrack, stereo surround and even a DD 5.1 mix. The mono and stereo surround tracks are fine and are a marked improvement over previous offerings, but the 5.1 balances the sound beautifully, filtering it so that there is no distortion and cranking up the terror to a new level.

Features

On the first disc there are two audio commentaries, the first featuring actors Marilyn Burns, Paul A. Partain, Allen Danziger and art director Robert A. Burns, and the second with Tobe Hooper, DoP Daniel Pearl and Gunnar (`Leatherface`) Hansen. The latter of these was available on the other two releases but complements the interesting and revealing `actors` commentary` very well.

There are three TV Spots, two Radio Spots and two trailers for the film. Also on disc one are trailers for `Eaten Alive`, `The Manson Family`, `Henry: Portrait Of A Serial Killer`, and `Henry: Portrait Of A Serial Killer, Part 2`.

The second disc contains the bulk of the special features, the best of which are the two feature-length documentaries: Michael Feisher`s `Flesh Wounds` and `Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Shocking Truth` by David Gregory.

The 2002 documentary `Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Shocking Truth` is 73 minutes of interviews with cast and crew, including Allen Danziger, Paul Partain, Marylin Burns, Tobe Hooper and Robert Burns. The interviews form a `making of` pastiche together with such things as the inspirations for the film, the state of the horror genre at the time, the unexpected commercial success, the response of censors and the sequels.

The 74 minute `Flesh Wounds: Seven Stories of the Saw` is, as the title suggests, a seven-part documentary with sections on cinematographer Daniel Pearl (Chainsaw Cameraman), the TCSM house (This Old House), the `hitchhiker`, Ed O`Neil (The Famous Mr. Ed), those who have recently passed away (In Memoriam), the man responsible for creating `Grandpa`, Dr. W.E. Barnes (The Good Doctor), fan conventions (Frightmares & Wastelands) and Gunnar Hansen (Life After Leatherface). This 2006 documentary is bang up to date and sets out to, and succeeds in, telling the stories that have been omitted from previous supplementary material.

There are also outtakes from `The Shocking Truth`, a blooper reel, deleted scenes, outtakes and two stills galleries: one with photos from the set and promotional material and the other showing how `Grandpa` was created.

There is a brief tour of the TCSM house, which is now a restaurant, with Gunnar Hansen. The tour is preceded by footage from 1993 and then Hansen, who visits it for the first time since filming, takes you round the building and points out where certain scenes were filmed. Much of this has already been seen in `The Shocking Truth` and the `This Old House` section of the `Flesh Wounds` documentary.

The whole package comes in a metal `Limited Collector`s Tin` which adds to the `Ultimate Edition` claim on the cover.

Conclusion

Released in 1974 to a completely unprepared ratings board, Hooper asked for `The Texas Chain Saw Massacre` to be classified as `PG` given that there was little on-screen violence, no sex/nudity or obscene language but the MPAA was having none of it and gave the film an `R` certificate. Other ratings boards weren`t so lenient - the BBFC banned the film outright as there was nothing that could be cut which would reduce the overwhelming sense of menace and intensity.

Brutal, intense, shocking and downright scary, `The Texas Chain Saw Massacre` is a rare example of a film that has barely aged in over thirty years and has maintained its power like few other films.

This package is the finest version available of the film, with the definitive transfer, fantastic audio tracks and a wealth of extras, making it an essential DVD for any horror fan who doesn`t yet own a copy and worth serious consideration for any DVD collector.