Disc Reviews
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 4K Review
Arrow Video has got hold of the many pieces that make up this insane follow-up to Tobe Hooper’s original – and Hooper himself has directed it. But he has not continued on the same path he started on with this series. His tongue is squarely in his cheek, the humor is ramped right up to the heavens and the limbs and blood flies in all directions.
The family of nutcases, the Sawyers, have altered slightly. The barely alive granddad is still as comatose as ever. The father, Drayton Sawer, is out winning chili cookoffs (no surprise what his secret ingredient is!) and Leatherface is still a child in a barbarian’s body, but we have a stand-out addition in this film in the form of Chop Top (a truly wonderfully vamped up Bill Moseley. The man has played many a nutter, but this is the one where he got his start).
Caroline William’s is wonderful as the put-upon local radio DJ the family takes an interest in hunting down, and only local sheriff with a vengeance (Dennis Hopper) can come to the rescue.
The film is simply bonkers and it seems like the cast and crew had a blast making it. The original film may have its place in cinematic history, but this second helping has its fair share of stand-out moments to make it worthy of the expanding franchise.
A lot of love has gone into the extras package. The first disc houses the nicely cleaned 4K presentation. For a film that bestows so much more colour than the original, it’s nice to see those colours really go to work on the screen. Sure a lot of the sets look, er, a bit “sety”, but they also have that retro charm that the 80s design does well.
There are three commentary tracks on the disc. The director on one, some of the cast (along with FX guy Tom Savini) on the second, and then the crew on the third.
The second disc houses all of the other bonus material and there is everything from new visual essays to existing interviews with cast and crew. This disc was not available for review, but judging by the length of items below on the second disc, we’re fairly assured that you are getting decent quantity and probable quality as well.
Steven Hurst
2-DISC LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS
• Limited edition packaging featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Ilan Sheady and Dare Creative
• Booklet featuring new writing by Johnny Mains, Anna Bogutskaya, Guy Adams and Neil Mitchell
• Double-sided fold-out poster
• Texas Battle Land theme park postcard
• Chili cook-off recipe card
• Three double-sided collector’s postcards
DISC 1 (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY™) – THE FILM
• 4K restoration from the original negative
• 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-rayTM presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Original lossless stereo 2.0 audio
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Commentary with director Tobe Hooper
• Commentary with stars Bill Moseley, Caroline Williams and special effects legend Tom Savini
• Commentary with cinematographer Richard Kooris, production designer Cary White, script supervisor Laura Kooris and property master Michael Sullivan
DISC 2 (BLU-RAY™) – BONUS FEATURES
• Are We Not Both the Living Dead?, new visual essay by Scout Tafoya
• You’ve Got Good Taste: Cannibal Camp and Perverse Parody, new visual essay by Miranda Corcoran
• Stretch Lives!, interview with Caroline Williams
• Serving Tom, interview with makeup effects artist Gabe Bartalos
• Texas Blood Bath, interview with makeup effects artist Barton Mixon
• Remember the Alamo, interview with actor Kirk Sisco
• Die Yuppie Scum, interview with actor Barry Kinyon
• Extended interviews with Tobe Hooper and co-producer Cynthia Hargrave, from Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films
• It Runs in the Family, (plus outtakes!) on the film’s genesis, making and enduring appeal
• House of Pain, interview with makeup effects artists Mixon, Bartalos, Gino Crognale and John Vulich
• Yuppie Meat, interview with actors Chris Douridas and Barry Kinyon
• Cutting Moments, interview with editor Alain Jakubowicz
• Behind the Mask and Cutting Moments with Bob Elmore, two interviews with Leatherface’s performer
• Horror’s Hallowed Grounds, featurette exploring the film’s locations
• Still Feelin’ the Buzz, interview with horror expert Stephen Thrower
• Behind-the-scenes
• Alternate opening credits
• Deleted scenes
• Trailers and TV spots
• Still gallery
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 4K is out on 17th February 2025