Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3

Now we have arrived at the 1990 underrated installment in the franchise, “Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3.” Felix Vasquez started his review out by saying, “I’ve always had this idea that the sequels to Tobe Hooper’s “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” were just glorified remakes of the first film. While it’s true they’re all very similar, filmmakers didn’t start to remake Hooper’s horror film until “The Next Generation.”” The sequel where Hooper returned as director and “Leatherface” are different when compared to the first film with the last act being almost similar to the finale of the first film. You could guess that the writers didn’t know which direction to go in after coming up with the scariest finale and just repeat the dinner scenario that shows the protagonist screaming the Sawyers are murderers for a half-hour. Even though the second film had a weak story, “Leatherface” doesn’t have much story.

For those of you who have seen this movie can sum up the plot very concisely. There’s nothing wrong with this entry, except for a lot of blood and cruelty. I agree with Vasquez when he said, “And yet, when I was finished with “Leatherface” I much preferred it over the second film. Mainly because, while it does have the nineties tameness to it, it’s brutal and tense.” Especially with the casting of the great Ken Foree as the one who is brave enough to go up against the Sawyers. As Benny, Ken Foree is who makes you watch the entire movie since he is the one the Sawyers fear since the late Dennis Hooper and the chainsaws he had around his belt, shoulders, and the one he held in his hand. There’s something about this story with boyfriend and girlfriend Michelle (Kate Hodge) and Ryan (William Butler) are told to deliver a custom car to the other side of the country. Instead of booking a flight at the airport, they think that driving will be better. On this road trip, they stop at a gas station where they meet the owner Alfredo (Tom Everett) and his cowboy brother Tex (Viggo Mortensen). 

Tex claims he is a hitchhiker who asks the couple for a ride, and starts to flirt with Michelle while Ryan says they should just leave and not give him a lift. As we all know, hitchhikers are innocuous when you go to Texas. After they are attacked by Alfredo, Michelle and Ryan are kidnapped by the Sawyers and figure out they are the next targets to be murdered. Thankfully when they get kidnapped, luck is on their side when Benny, an ex-war veteran, agrees to help them out, but they are soon stuck in an all-out war against the Sawyers. Foree is someone you “do not” want to mess with and comes back after being attacked, and has the guts to kill the Sawyer cannibals when they capture the couple. Vasquez is right when he says, “Beyond all obstacles–and inherent logic, Benny becomes a survivalist who manages to spell doom for the Sawyers, and Leatherface meets his match.”

Viggo Mortensen playing the cowboy Tex is a nice predecessor to Matthew McConaughey in his worst role ever. He may look tough, but inside he’s just a Sawyer mama’s boy. R.A. Mihailoff plays Leatherface as a scary guy once again, waving his signature Chainsaw that has “The Saw is Family” written on it, for a good reason. I know that this part is silly, but you have “got” to love the chainsaw. Leatherface gives some great murder victims in this sequel, making him the star of the show, which is about time. Vasquez said, “Sure, “Leatherface” may once again mock the original film by treating this premise as somewhat campy schlock, as well as lacking a cogent story to lure audiences in.” However, the third movie in this franchise is an improvement from the second movie, and “way” superior to the next installment.

If you want to know what I mean, you have to wait until tomorrow. Look, I’m not looking forward to looking at that piece of cinematic trash, but since I’m reviewing this series at the start of “Halloween Month,” I have no choice. Just grab those vomit bags again because tomorrow we will be looking at the absolute worst entry in the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre Marathon.”