Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf November 5, 2022

In the 1980s, Director Tobe Hooper signed a three-picture deal with Cannon Films, who gave him money to make “Lifeforce,” time to craft “Invaders from Mars,” and a demand that he return to the source of his greatest creative success, delivering a sequel to his iconic 1973 shocker, “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.” It’s not easy to make a follow-up to a movie known for its distinct take on berserk horror, but Hooper and screenwriter L.M. Kit Carson try to make deafening magic happen again with “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2,” which returns to the wilds of Texas to explore more hellraising with Leatherface and his demented, cannibalistic family. Hooper and Carson aren’t completely committed to replicating the previous feature, delivering a wild first half that that successfully reintroduces a terrible threat with a different approach, turning the whole thing into a John Waters production, only with more extreme violence (sold with triumphantly macabre artistry by Tom Savini and his team). “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2” is bonkers, with Hooper trying to combat repetition by going deeper into lunacy, attempting to blend black comedy with grisly encounters, and it works for little while, providing a freewheeling exaggeration of genre extremity, nicely performed by an impressively committed cast.

For additional information and analysis, please read:

Casey Broadwater’s 2012 Blu-ray review.

Svet Atanasov’s 2013 Blu-ray review .

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Screencaps are taken from the Blu-ray.

"The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2" was previously released several times on Blu-ray, but Vinegar Syndrome hopes to take it to the next level with a UHD release of the movie, which is sourced from its 35mm original camera negative. The boost in resolution is quite helpful for this feature, which is filled with grisly visuals, and detail is quite impressive throughout the viewing experience. Textures are plentiful with gore zone visits and set tours, opening decorative additions for close inspection. Skin particulars are also defined, including dead flesh masks, and costuming is fibrous, retaining its deeply soiled appearance. Make-up effects are clear. Colors are inviting, with big washes of deep reds and blues for mood lighting, and exteriors retain crisp greenery. Primaries are solid with clothing choices, and skin tones are mostly natural, with a few hotter moments. Highlights offer a tasteful sense of ornate lighting and warm sun. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is heavier and film-like. Source is in excellent condition.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA track is listed as the "original theatrical stereo mix," which offers a clear understanding of performance choices, working through some accents and extreme character work with ideal intelligibility. Scoring provides a full sense of synth support, securing different dramatic and suspenseful moods. Soundtrack cuts also register with confidence. Sound effects are direct, obviously favoring the pronounced presence of roaring chainsaws. Atmospherics are appreciable.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Disc 1

• Commentary #1 features film critic Patrick Bromley.

• Commentary #2 features director Tobe Hooper.

• Commentary #3 features special make-up effects creator Tom Savini and actors Bill Moseley and Caroline Williams.

• Commentary #4 features cinematographer Richard Kooris, production designer Cary White, script supervisor Laura Kooris, and property master Michael Sullivan.

• "Stretch Lives" (31:20, HD) is an interview with actress Caroline Williams. Getting her start in the business in 1983, Williams made the leap to lead work in a hurry, making her way to Austin, Texas to impress director Tobe Hooper for "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2." The production team is assessed, with the shoot moving quickly. Co-stars are remembered, along with the extreme physical demands of the performance. Cult appreciation is highlighted, with Williams examining her rocky career after working on the controversial film, finding help from Dennis Hopper.

• "Serving Tom"(19:30, HD) is an interview with special makeup effects artist Gabe Bartalos, who tracks his early interest in the business, eventually claiming work on "The Lamp," and offered a job on "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2." Working mostly without a script, Bartalos recalls his amazement with the sets and speed of thought from director Tobe Hooper, and he shares a deep respect for Tom Savini. Technical challenges and deleted scenes are recalled. An assessment of the cast is shared, along with the feature's influence on genre entertainment in the 1980s.

• "The Saw and the Savini" (20:23, HD) is an interview with special makeup effects creator Tom Savini, who identifies some of his team on "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2," and his experience in Austin, Texas. Casting is celebrated, with make-up effects helping to shape characterization. Director Tobe Hooper is fondly remembered, and the interview examines some of the technical challenges found during the shoot. Oddly, some elements of music and all film footage audio is missing, creating some awkward silences.

• "Leatherface Revisited" (36:38, HD) is an interview with actor Bill Johnson, who was an Austin, Texas actor looking for work, responding to a casting call for a "Baby Huey" type for "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2." Johnson offers his memories of director Tobe Hooper, and his take on Leatherface, trying to make the character his own. Co-stars are remembered, including fun times with Dennis Hopper. The interviewee also details his experiences with sets, and his brush with death, becoming very ill during the shoot, forced to miss a week of work.

• "Beneath the Battle Land: Remembering 'The Lair'" (11:37, HD) highlights the highly detailed work that went into set construction, with actors Caroline Williams, Barry Kinyon, Bill Johnson, and Kirk Sisco sharing their memories of the shoot.

• "Die Yuppie Scum" (13:06, HD) is an interview with actor Barry Kinyon, who skipped an education to become a male model, ultimately urged into auditioning for "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2" despite having no acting experience. Co-stars are recalled, with Kinyon too intimidated to approach Dennis Hopper, and director Tobe Hooper's authority is remembered. The interviewee supplies an overview of the bridge attack sequence (which was shot twice), and the family feel of the shoot.

• "Texas Blood Bath" (18:16, HD) is an interview with special makeup effects artist Bart Mixon, who was already in the industry in 1986, still trying to make his mark, taking a chance to head to Austin, Texas to work on "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2." Mixon recalls the oppressive heat of the shoot and difficulties maintaining make-up effects. The interviewee remembers the production team and his time with the actors, also sharing his initial disappointment in the picture.

• "Remember the Alamo" (13:56, HD) is an interview with actor Kirk Sisco, who shares his casting story and attempt to keep up with the strange tone of "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2." Memories of co-star Dennis Hopper are provided, meeting a very professional star interested in the work, and Sisco also recalls director Tobe Hooper's hatred of his shoes, forcing him to wear ill-fitting footwear. The interviewee offers his thoughts on set design and revisits his first impression of the picture, watching it at a celebrity-packed screening. Sisco also delivers his memories of fellow actor Lou Perryman, who was murdered in 2009.

Disc 2

• "It Runs in the Family" (81:41, HD) is an extended making-of for "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2," created in 2006. Interviewees include screenwriter L.M. Kit Carson, cinematographer Richard Kooris, production designer Cary White, property master Michael Sullivan, special make-up effects artist Tom Savini, and actors Bill Johnson, Caroline Williams, Bill Moseley, and Lou Perryman.

• Behind-the-Scenes Footage (43:30, SD) presents videotape coverage of "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2" shoot, highlighting the production effort as shots are put together. Cast and crew camaraderie is also showcased.

• "Yuppie Meat" (18:46, HD) is an interview with actors Barry Kinyon and Chris Douridas.

• "'Electric Boogaloo" Interviews" (40:03, HD) provide longer conversations with director Tobe Hooper and producer Cynthia Hargrave, taken from the 2014 documentary on Cannon Films.

• "Behind the Mask" (13:44, HD) is an interview with stuntman Bob Elmore.

• "Horror's Hallowed Grounds" (24:54, HD) is hosted by Sean Clark, who takes viewers to Austin, Texas to find the shooting locations for "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2." Actress Caroline Williams appears briefly via a smartphone.

• Outtakes (29:37, SD) offer extended interviews with screenwriter L.M. Kit Carson and actor Lou Perryman, collected in 2006.

• "Cutting Moments" (17:16, HD) is an interview with editor Alain Jakubowicz.

• "House of Pain" (42:32, HD) is a celebration of the special make-up effects work in "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2," featuring interviews with John Vulich, Bart Mixon, Gabe Bartalos, and Gino Grognale. Stick around for some post-credit funny business.

• "Still Feeling the Buzz" (28:29, HD) is an interview with film historian Stephen Thrower.

• Alternate Opening Titles (2:02, SD) are offered.

• Deleted Scenes (10:48, SD) are included.

• Still Gallery (3:06) collects film stills, publicity shots, and BTS snaps.

• T.V. Spots (4:21, SD) deliver seven commercials for "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2."

• An American Teaser Trailer (1:04, SD) and a Japanese Teaser Trailer (:57, SD) are included.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2" was slammed through production, going from principal photography to theatrical release in just three months. Such haste is evident in the film, which could use a much tighter edit, losing 20 minutes of meandering character business and argumentative behavior, which becomes tiring to watch. Hooper and Carson also lose their nerve in the second half of the feature, which suddenly becomes a rehash of the 1973 picture, trying to give fans what they want instead of developing a much more enticing take on gonzo revenge plans. Technical achievements are excellent for a low-budget production, providing a highly detailed house of horrors for the players to pursue one another around, and Carson has a vivid imagination when it comes to the diseased minds of the antagonists. "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2" runs out of gas long before it concludes, but there are some surprises here, including Hooper's initial interest in doing something different with the brand name, turning the suffocating atmosphere of the original endeavor into a mosh pit of mental illness, with all the blood and guts a horror hound could ask for.