MovieChat Forums > The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986) Discussion > Better in some ways than the original?

Better in some ways than the original?

posted 9 years ago by falls_barry
9 replies | jump to latest

When I was a kid and just beginning to explore the horror movie genre, I never watched "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2," because I could never summon the courage the finish the first one. After the opening scene when the protagonists pick up a hitchhiker from the slaughterhouse, I said "nope" and promptly turned off the movie. Despite never finishing it, "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" left my younger self scared of both road trips and Texas.

So going back and watching the first two "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" films was a cathartic experience. The first was just as unsettling as I remembered, but the sequel was a more complex movie experience. Director Tobe Hooper abandoned the grisly low budget exploitation style of the original for demented, over-the-top absurdity. Though not as effective on a visceral level, in some ways TCM2 is superior to the original:

http://myvinylmuse.com/horror-sequel-marathon-the-texas-chainsaw-massacre-2-1986/

[–] Corey1981 9 years ago

I first rented Chainsaw 2 in 1998. I had not seen the original, and had just begun getting into horror films. Chainsaw 2 scarred me for a long time. After finishing the radio station scene, I finished the movie in a daze, not sure what I was watching anymore. I swore I would never watch the movie again, mostly because of the hammer scene.

I lasted eight years, haha! I caught the movie on tv and was blown away at how good it actually is. I love Lou Perryman's character. Wish he was in it more. Nubbins being dragged around for the movie is wild. The return of Jim Siedow is another plus. Dennis Hopper is fun, but impressed me the least among the other characters. I was not impressed with the original for anything more than an exploitation film. I did not care about the characters.

[–] falls_barry 9 years ago

The scene when Chop-Top keep burning a wire hanger with a lighter and scratching his head with it made me gag. Such a disturbing fella.

[–] d_n_croft 9 years ago

I prefer the first but we can't forget the decade time gap and millions of dollars budget difference separating the two. The first is essentially an art project and the second is a committed movie.

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] RapeVanDamn 9 years ago

Part 2 is just too much fun. Never found the first scary or unsettling in the least.

[–] OceanPagan 9 years ago

"I've never been on on a RRRRRADIO station before!" It was a ROMP! One of my sons introduced us to it and the stuff that was said became instant family sayings, at least between Sean and me. He had a friend with a loud speaker on his truck who came to pick him up one night and they drove off as Sean said on the loud speaker "LLLLLick my plate, ya dog dick!" As you said, it's too much fun :P

Darlin', don't ever take a Southern woman for granted!

[–] Doom 9 years ago

To me, TCM is a creepy little film, whereas TCM2 is a roller coaster of absolute insanity.

I appreciate both, but prefer TCM2.

Dog will hunt.



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Wait a minute... who am I here?

[–] OceanPagan 9 years ago

IKR? LLLICK my PLATE ya dog DICK! I've never been inside a RRRADIO station before! Always always ALWAYS it's the small BUSINESS man that gets it in the ass! Total ROMP!

Darlin', don't ever take a Southern woman for granted!

[–] DoctorThirteen (15260) 5 months ago

Not in any universe.