Disc Reviews

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre: 40th Anniversary Restoration – Blu-Ray Review

20th Nov 2014

Apologies if the beginning of this review reads more like some maniacal history blog, than a review; however, as is often the case with this type of Blu-Ray restoration; one feels some historical context is essential. Attempts will be made to keep this as concise as possible of course, but here we go.

Back when this author was a young kid growing up in the 1970s, and in fact well beyond that, through the whole Mary Whitehouse, video nasty idiocy of the early 1980s, and then well into the 90s; Tobe Hooper’s 1974 shock horror classic The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (TTCSM for short) was banned, seemingly indefinitely in the UK. I recall more recently some film commentator or other saying that the BBFC’s James Ferman explained his continuing inability to pass the movie under his tenure, as having to do with the film’s relentlessly unsettling tone, high intensity, and disturbing nature, rather than any specific gory frames that could be easily excised to bring about a certification. In fact, the movie is now famous all over again for the surprisingly gloop-free approach it took, even by the standards of the day. Regardless, It was banned. This meant that if you wanted to see it; you had to know man who knew a man, and get a dodgy VHS copy in a brown paper bag. Of course, the moment Ferman stepped down; a whole bunch of relaxations in both explicit sex and violence/gore occurred within 18 certificated home video. Many movies on the ban list began to finally receive official UK releases; most just in time to take advantage of the advent of DVD. TTCSM was of course one of them, and since then; there have been quite a few releases, re-releases, remasters, ultimate editions etc and even one or two in the Hi-Def realm too.

So now to the latest, and from Second Sight, we have a newly restored 4k (overseen by Hooper personally we are told), bonus feature festooned, two disc Blu-Ray edition, available in both standard and Steelbook packaging. We will list the copious (and they are copious), bonus features shortly, but first the movie.

Super low budget horror movies released in 1974 are not likely to win any awards for best Hi-Def picture quality, and thus the quality and clarity in evidence here ultimately holds to this truism. This is to sell it short though. As the borrower of more than a few of those aforementioned dodgy VHS tape copies back in the day, as well as at least one previous DVD release of the film; we cannot deal in absolutes. What we have here is a very clean, crisp and vibrant picture presentation, coupled with a remarkable new 7.1 HD audio master mix (as well as existing 5.1, PCM Stereo 2.0, and PCM Mono 1.0 channels).

More than a few times while watching the film; the detail and clarity on display was so surprisingly good, that a certain pleasant kind of ‘pulling you out’ of the movie would occur. This is the result of an interesting combination of ’old films’ coming together with ‘high definition’, and a decent restoration budget. We mention Jaws all the time here at Filmwerk, and it’s for good reason I bring it up again here. Part of the wonder of watching Jaws on Blu-Ray is just sitting and marvelling at the sheer quality of the image restoration, and then remembering that all this detail you’re seeing was originally shot in the mid 70s…It’s a mind blowing experience!

Well, TTCSM is of course not quite in the same league as the shark (and to be fair, almost nothing else around matches it either), but that same power to make you go “Well look at that, I can see the individual weaves in those corduroy hot pants!” is most certainly present, and in full effect. We find this sort of thing extremely cool, and it all adds to a really good Blu-Ray experience when they get it right.

The film is as effective and nerve shredding as it ever was, and although a modern horror audience raised on ‘post Saw’ torture porn sensibilities might struggle to understand what all the fuss was about; Hooper’s movie stands tall as a master class in horror cinema.

Bonus Features

So, there have been some well stocked DVD releases before, particularly the first big uncut version of the film that heralded the film’s 30th Anniversary ten years ago. Happily, in addition to the aforementioned all new 4k restoration of the film itself; this Blu-Ray set packs what looks like all of those older bonus features, and then adds a whole bunch of new ones.

Here’s the list:

New Features:

All new audio commentary with Director Tobe Hooper.
All new audio commentary with Cinematographer Daniel Pearl, Sound Recordist Ted Nicolaou, and Editor J. Larry Carroll.
‘Cutting Chain Saw’ with Editor J. Larry Carroll.
‘Grandpa’s Tales’ with actor John Duggan.
Horror’s Hallowed Grounds.
New Deleted scenes/Outtakes.

Carried over Features:

Audio commentary with Director Tobe Hooper, actor Gunnar Hansen, and cinematographer Daniel Pearl.
Audio commentary with actors Marilyn Burns, Allen Danziger, Paul Partain, and production designer Robert Burns.
‘The Shocking Truth’ – Documentary, plus outtakes.
‘Flesh Wounds’ – Seven stories of the saw.
‘Off The Hook’ – with Teri McMinn.
‘The Business of Chain Saw’ – with production manager Ron Bozman.
A Tour of the TCSM House with Gunnar Hansen.
Tobe Hooper Interview.
Kim Henkel Interview.
Deleted scenes and Outtakes, Trailers, TV and Radio spots.

Conclusion:

So, we have mentioned that this ain’t the first time The Texas Chain Saw Massacre has been released, and that previous versions (particularly the 30th Anniversary DVD edition), were nicely fat on bonus features. It has also had a UK Blu-Ray release a few years back (2009 I think), which if you already own; you might be disinclined to want to shell out again for this new version.

It is the opinion of this court that to cling to any of the previous releases would on balance, be a mistake.

We are constantly bemoaning various releases that come through Filmwerk’s sweaty palms for their lack of commitment on the supplementary material front. Well, the 40th Anniversary edition of TTCSM is the polar opposite, and with even a very solid and determined approach; even we didn’t manage to get through it all. I mean there are now 4 entire audio commentaries now for goodness sake people.

So, If you can spare the extra cash; plump for the Steelbook, It’s well worth it.

Whatever packaging option you go for though, be in no mistake; this release represents fabulous value for money, and the film has never looked or sounded better.