Reported By: Mikaela Yanto 

Leatherface, one of the most famous on-screen killers in horror movies, is brought back to the movie scene in Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It was released on Netflix last February 18th, 2022.   

The iconic chainsaw-wielding killer has been going on rampages since 1974 around the same time that the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise started. Though there are around nine movies in this series, none of them are really dependent on each other. Viewers can watch the movies as standalones.  

As an avid watcher of horror films, I personally expected to see a well-structured plot to support the gore in the film. However, despite the good graphics of bloodshed, I felt that this film lacked excitement in terms of plot and character development.  

Texas Chainsaw Massacre begins with one of the main characters Lila watching a Leatherface documentary in the convenience store. This feels like a summary for the people who are not familiar with the series, thus disappointing me with poor plot structure.  

We are then given a surface level introduction to both main characters, sisters Melody and Lila. Melody is introduced as a snotty, rich Gen Z who purchased Harlow, Leatherface’s hometown, with dreams of making it some sort of “haven” for those who want country life. On the other hand, Lila is a girl with a traumatic past who is taken under Melody’s wing. 

Both characters have potential to be more than their superficial introductions. However, throughout this whole 83-minute film, I was disappointed that we are given nothing about their pasts and are left to sit on non-existent character development.  

Lila’s trauma regarding guns is only explained through split-second cut scene flashbacks, and Melody’s snotty rich persona only showed outward change after witnessing intense murders. 

What really makes this film a total bust for me was the massacre scene on the bus. As Leatherface walks in to murder all of them, the first thing the young adults do is pull out their phones to take videos and go live on the internet. It was such a typical Gen Z stereotype to document traumatizing situations instead of taking it seriously. 

Despite the awe-inducing visual effects in the kill scenes and graphic wounds, I think that the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise should have been left on its own instead of being butchered in this reboot.