Wow! Such a good movie.

Simply A Masterpiece

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

I really wanted to get into this. I love crazy, I love the original, I love funny horror, I love Dennis Hopper…yet, I just couldn't find my way into this. I guess it's supposed to be a comedy, but I mostly just found it obnoxious. I like some of the disgusting visuals, and there were certainly some funny lines. However, in the end, it is just too much of the bright chaos of Canon Productions, and not enough of the dark insanity of the original.

**** WARNING: MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS **** I apologize in advance if I am unable to offer any details concerning the nature of the VHS tape I am about to review, since I am writing this while at work..That being said, "TCM 2" as widely seen in its truncated format is a true testament to everything which was wrong about 80s gore horror, and censorship through the MPAA (Motion Picture Aputators of America). I recall how my brother had read up on this film in horror magazines, and our subsequent disappointment when having finally rented the highly edited censored VHS release, about a year after it's theatrical run. For the longest time, I knew the film itself had been butchered into it's widespread version and that so much was left out, much to the chagrin of gore hounds and those who expected at least a semblance of a follow-up to the 70s original classic.For all most people know (based on what version they have been exposed to), this is quite simply bad movie, heavily edited by studios and distributors.Years after I had long forgotten about how horrid a censored film this was had passed, an ex-friend of mine managed to pick up for me at a yard sale a widescreen version of the film on VHS tape. This was not the same widely seen version of the VHS tape we had seen collecting dust in good old video rental stores (anyone remember those?) and so at first I thought it was a well executed bootleg of sorts. After a long pause I decided to watch it since, at the very least, I had never seen it in widescreen format.To my surprise (especially since this was in no way advertised in any form) it turns out that the version of "TCM 2" on this tape was what most people would have referred to as the "workprint" version. Running at just about 2 hours, it featured most of the usuable uncensored footage never seen before, finally making the film "make sense" (if that is at all possible with such a film!). Add to this, again un-advertised, that after the feature, a series of additional deleted footage is present, included that of the infamous Leatherface goes after an entire team of college football players. However, as opposed to the included re-inserted footage in the film, these bonus scenes are of an atrocious quality, looking as though they were filmed on portable video Equipment of the era.In conclusion, my opinion of the film itself was changed after that viewing, and finally I was able to appreciate the deviant, unhealthy, and downright visually and intellectually/morally disturbing vision of Tobe Hooper, since this version is probably closer to what he had originally intended rather than the butchered beyond comprehension version most of us have been exposed to.Afterthoughts: The early Y2K DVD re-release of the film is the edited version (as the widespread commercial VHS release), and apparently this "workprint" or "uncut" version on VHS remains unreleased. It's a shame because it elevates the film from a badly executed parody of the original to an actually semi-disturbing film with more gore to please that target audience.

I'm almost at a loss for words to describe what a steaming pile TCM2 is. Wow. Can a sequel be any farther in concept, intent and execution as this is from the original TCM (which I rated 9/10)? Others may disagree, but it's not wise to market something as a sequel (as in, a continuation of a story) and then change the game so immensely. Imagine if "Jaws2" was actually a musical, with Roy Scheider tap-dancing thru half the movie. That just doesn't work as a concept. And neither does TCM2 as comedy.Even worse, the comedy isn't funny. It's bad. I mean, terrible. Example: a character literally gets cuts with a chainsaw in his butt, and he says "well at least I don't have to go to the hospital to get my hemorrhoids checked out." Or how about Leatherface engaging in simulated sex with a woman and a chainsaw as his...uh...tool. Um, really? That's not funny, it's just weird and dumb. Incredibly dumb. Now imagine similar stupidity for nearly two hours. So painful to watch.Virtually everything about this is garbage. Plot. Acting. Music. Attempted comedy that is anything but funny. There is a difference between 'comedy' and 'silly.' This goes so far beyond silly it's practically indescribable. And I guess some people enjoy really silly, incredibly stupid films, and that's why they have rated this one a 10. Myself, I ask for a little more than that from a film.The special effects weren't too bad here, so I will recognize those by bumping the rating up from 1 to 2. But that's all it deserves. A wasted two hours I will never get back. 2/10.

Dear Rob Zombie, I bet you were inspired by the antics of the redneck characters in Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 when you wrote House of 1000 Corpses and The Devils Rejects. You made a truly great work of art with the Devil's Rejects. In its own way, Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 is also a great work of art. The nihilism of the psychopathic redneck family grates on your nerves after a while. Dennis Hopper appears and disappears. His alcoholic cop character deserved more space. Caroline Williams was easy on the eyes. It was too gross for a mainstream American film. I was not offended by the gluttony which the villains indulged in. But it did seem like the Tobe Hopper got carried away by the schlock. Not that it wasn't amusing. Bill Moseley was hilarious when he first confronts Caroline Williams. The two loud party goers were quite amusing and their make up was creative. The film's set design deserves special mention. Rob, you borrowed the worst attributes of this film and made a damn good movie with The Devil's Rejects.Best Regards, Pimpin.(7/10)