Horror Movie Review: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986)

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 is a 1986 sequel to the ground-breaking 1974 classic, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. However, it chooses to take the story in a surprisingly different direction dropping the darker tone of the original for a more comedic edge.

Once again directed by Tobe Hooper, it stars Dennis Hopper, Caroline Williams, Bill Johnson & Bill Moseley.

Set 13 years after the events of the first film, the Sawyer family escaped their crimes and have continued to kill across the state of Texas. No really believes the cannibalistic family exists except for Lieutenant Boude “Lefty” Enright (Dennis Hopper). A former Texas Ranger, and uncle of Sally and her paraplegic brother Franklin. Both were victims of Leatherface in the original movie.

Lefty has been searching for the family for years but gets a lucky break when a radio DJ called Vanita “Stretch” Brock (Caroline Williams) records one of the families’ attacks on a pair of college students.

Lefty meets with Stretch & convinces her to play the tape nightly on her show in the hope of drawing out the killers. His plan is successful as Stretch is attacked by Leatherface (Bill Johnson) & Chop Top (Bill Moseley). She eventually ends up at the family’s current home inside an abandoned carnival with Lefty in hot pursuit. He’s planning his own brand of justice, one that the family will find very familiar.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 is far more fun than it should have been. It’s silly, its tongue is planted firmly in its cheek, it’s gory & uber violent. Everything that the original wasn’t which many might see as a problem.

For all the gritty tenseness of the original, this sequel is way more entertaining. It’s bright, colourful & often very cheesy. The cast are excellent, Hopper is a joy to watch, Williams plays her role perfectly, Johnson is great as Leatherface while Moseley is clearly having a blast! They all make for addictive watching & put in performances that lift some of the less interesting moments.

What most are likely to remember regarding this sequel though is the huge increase in gore. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 flings blood & guts around like it is going out of business. The effects are fantastic, extremely visceral but hard to take too seriously.

Which basically sums up this sequel perfectly. It’s brilliant, it’s so much fun & not a movie anyone should take seriously.

If you’re expecting a movie anything like the original then you’re in for a surprise…a real treat though.

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