The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		1.5
Video		0.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		2.0

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman August 23, 2025

When the 2003 reboot of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre took in box office receipt in excess of $100 million (on a less than $10 million budget), the writing (or perhaps blood splatter) was probably inevitably on the wall for a sequel, which in this particular case turned out to be a prequel. Arrow is releasing both the 2003 and 2006 films in new 4K UHD editions (the 2003 film has already been reviewed), and fans of the film (yes, there are fans of the film) should be pleased to see Arrow has included both cuts (emphasis on cut) of the film, along with their typically generous supply of bonus content. Unlike the 2003 film's 4K UHD release, the Deleted and Extended Scenes here are offered in 1080 and SDR.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning had a 1080 release by home studio Warner Brothers way back in 2013, and Brian Orndorf's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning Blu-ray review of that release provides a plot summary, a list of supplements and Brian's assessment of the technical presentation.

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

Note: This release does not include a 1080 Blu-ray, so these screenshots are taken directly from the 4K UHD disc and downscaled to 1080 and SDR. Color space in particular is therefore not accurate, and I recommend those interested to look at some of the screenshots in Brian's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning Blu-ray review (as old as it is) for a probably better representation of the palette. Since this release does not include a 1080 disc, the 2K video score above has been intentionally left blank.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of Arrow Video with an HEVC / H.265 encoded 2160p transfer in 1.85:1. Arrow's insert booklet contains the following information on the presentation(s):

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning has been restored by Arrow Films and is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1 with DTS 2.0 and 5.1 audio on the Theatrical Version and DTS-HD MA 2.0, 5.1 and 7.1 audio on the Uncut Version.

Both the Theatrical and the Uncut versions of the film are presented in 4K resolution in HDR10 and Dolby Vision.

The original 35mm camera negative was scanned in 4K / 16 bit resolution at Warner Bros. / Motion Picture Imaging. Additional materials were source for the content unique to the Uncut version.

The film was restored in 4K resolution and color graded at Duplitech.

All materials source for this new master were made available by Warner Bros.

The new restored master was reviewed and approved by Director Jonathan Liebesman.

QC review was completed by Pixelogic.

Brian seemed to be a bit less pleased with the look of this film's 1080 presentation than Martin Liebman was with the 1080 presentation of the 2003 film, but one way or the other, this new 4K UHD presentation offers a noticeable upgrade including the slight correction to the actual original aspect ratio. Probably less subliminal than that minor (if important) adjustment are both the improvement in fine detail, at least when lighting conditions allow, and especially the new energy of the palette, which, as Brian mentions in his review of the 1080 disc, is intentionally "sickly" looking, with an emphasis on jaundiced yellow tones in particular that have some interesting and moody new highlights courtesy of the HDR / Dolby Vision grades. The HDR grades probably help at least marginally in offering more shadow detail, but there are still moments where the majority of the frame can be swallowed in darkness. In that regard, Brian wasn't especially impressed by the 1080 presentation's blacks and contrast, and I'd argue that both of those are noticeably improved in this version. Longtime readers of my review know I'm not always a fan of how grain looks in 4K, but I found the grain field here to be rather nicely tightly resolved almost all of the time, despite sometimes radical changes in lighting values.

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

Rather interestingly, and I think for maybe the first time in my long history of reviewing Arrow titles, the Uncut Version offers DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1, 5.1 and 2.0 options, while the Theatrical Version offers only "standard" DTS 5.1 and 2.0 options. The surround tracks on the Uncut Version, notably the 7.1 option, really significantly open up the proceedings, including everything from the glut of ambient environmental sounds to some of the terrifying panning effects when the chainsaw starts getting wielded to and fro. While it's actually impossible to do a "side by side" comparison of the DTS-HD Master Audio and DTS tracks, in slowly but surely toggling back and forth between the two cuts of the film, the lossless tracks struck me as having noticeably more energetic midranges and low ends. Dialogue (such as it is) is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.

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

New supplements are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• Uncut Version (1:36:10) and Theatrical Version (1:30:57) are accessible under the Play Menu.


• Commentaries

Audio Commentary on the Uncut Version with Dread Central co-founder Steve "Uncle Creepy" Barton and ch-host of The Spooky Picutre Show podcast Chris MacGibbon*




Audio Commentary on the Uncut Version with director Jonathan Liebesman and producers Andrew Form and Brad Fuller

• Hoyt, Actually* (HD; 10:48) is a new interview with actor Lew Temple.


• Original Skins: KNB FX* (HD; 15:15) is a new interview with special effects makeup arts Jack Garber and special effects makeup technical Kevin Wasner.


• Light and Sawdust* (HD; 15:18) is a new interview with director of photography Lukas Ettlin.


• Down to the Bone: Anatomy of a Prequel (HD; 45:04) is an archival making of documentary.


• Deleted and Extended Scenes (HD; 13:12) offer optional commentary from director Jonathan Liebesman and producers Andrew Form and Brad Fuller.


• Theatrical Trailer (HD; 2:29)

This Limited Edition also features a reversible sleeve and a double sided foldout poster offering the same two art choices as the sleever. And illustrated collector's booklet features an interesting essay by Michael Gingold. Packaging features a slipcover.

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

Arrow continues to provide cult items to a (sorry, incoming pun) slice of the disc buying demographic, and this new 4K UHD version of a probably less than celebrated entry in this particular franchise offers solid technical merits and appealing supplements, for those considering making a purchase.