Matt Greene 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.

E. Lx (butterman_1999) **** 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.

timmyross As I reviewed before, the original "Texas Chain Saw Massacre" is one of my favorite horror films of ALL TIME. It was gritty, raw, and realistic, and as I explained on that review, it seemed like it could have REALLY HAPPENED as many of the promotion of the film had marketed it as being a true story. Everything about the first TCM I love and there will NEVER be any complaints from me about anything in that film.I had not seen the first sequel, Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2, until I was about 18. The film was BANNED where I live and was not released until around 2006. Finally, I got to sit down and watch it when it played on late-night TV. Overall........I enjoyed it.The film takes place about a decade after the original. Lieutenant Enright (portrayed by the great Dennis Hopper) is a relative of Sally and Franklin Hardesty from the original film who has made it his life mission to find the killers and bring them to justice for murdering the invalid Franklin. After two young college kids are killed by Leatherface (this time played by Bill Johnson), Enright becomes convinced that they were murdered by the same killers, as the local radio DJ, Stretch (Caroline Williams) recorded their death cries, along with the sound of a roaring chainsaw, on her radio program. "Lefty", as Enright is nicknamed, then goes and arms himself up with numerous chainsaws in his quest to hunt the serial killers down in a bloody battle of revenge! Now, I can understand why many fans of the original did not take too kindly to TCM2. It completely diverts itself heavily away from the original film. The realistic documentary-like feel is lost, and instead, Tobe Hooper treats us to a black comedy of gory mayhem. When I first saw this movie, I must admit, I thought it was quite dumb. The terror and suspense that kept my interest piqued in the original was all but lost. However, it was then when I slowly began to realize......it was MEANT to be dumb. Tobe Hooper knew that he could never outdo the original TCM, so he tried something a little different this time around. The entire cast is new, except for the late Jim Siedow who reprises his role as Drayton/The Cook, who is the older brother of Leatherface and the gang. We also get to meet a new member of the serial killer clan in this film, Chop Top (Bill Moseley), who we discover was away fighting in Vietnam during the events of the previous film. The hitchhiker also has an appearance in this sequel, as a now decaying corpse his twisted twin brother carries around.At the end of the day, I still enjoy this film. Sure, it doesn't even come near the greatness of the original, but it is great in its own unique way. Thus, this would be the reason why it too has gathered its own cult following in recent years.

adiga555 The first "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" movie was excellent, so we started watching this one expecting something great! the movie was awful. i didn't understand if it was supposed to be funny or scary, either way it did a bad job at both. it looked like a 10 dollar budget scary movie that was unsuccessful, i think it was meant to look like that, don't really get why. i recommend watching it so you appreciate all other movies much more. *SPOILERS**SPOILERS* let me give you some examples of how much the movie sucks: 1. there's a scene where leather-face tries to murder a woman and then ends up falling in love with her when she says are you good. 2. the place where the cannibal family keep all the meat is a never ending dungeon that is as big as a country. 3. someones face gets hit for a few minutes with a hammer and he manages to survive from that, gets his face removed and don't look like he experiences any kind of pain until he suddenly drops and dies. *SPOILERS**SPOILERS*