In the age of worn out sequels, requels, and total remakes, it would seem that Hollywood is proud of the absolute disgusting bile that they ruin our favorite franchises with. A new spin, as we’ve seen with the latest Scream installment, is being self aware that they are making trash films. Sure, some of them are fun just to see certain slashers back on the big screen, however these half assed sequels tend to just obliterate the franchise and give off the vibe that Hollywood is trying to milk dead relics for as much money that they can.
Today’s article isn’t about bitching about horrible requels or the state of Hollywood today, oh no. Today Mutilated Mohawk Media is taking a deep dive into a film sequel that actually worked. Today we are looking at a genuinely good sequel, and taking what notes we can from this film. Today we are looking at the 1986 Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, a stunning sequel that is loved all over by horror fans. Texas Chainsaw is a franchise that has definitely had horrible sequels. I mean just recently the 2022 Netflix adaptation was a horrendous shit stain on the franchise, and while some of the kills in that film were pretty gruesome, the whole story absolutely sucked. This is why TCM 2 is the perfect film to look at when seeing what a sequel should be.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 was an amazing sequel for a few reasons. The first crucial reason is simply that the film doesn’t try to do what happened in the first over again. The original Texas Chainsaw Massacre was an absolute gem in horror cinema. They couldn’t recreate the beauty and horror of it if they tried. So, instead, Tobe Hooper decided to make something new. Something original, while still keeping the same gore and extremism that the first film held.
In this installment we also get the infamous Chop Top, who is pretty much the definition of a successful post original character installment. Chop Top is Nubbins Sawyer’s (the hitchhiker) twin brother. While we could write a whole article on the absolute genius of Chop Top Sawyer, and why he is so terrifying, we will save that for another article. However, his presence in this film makes the whole thing terrifying in a new way.
The way the movie is shot also is just perfect. We have our first encounter with the Sawyer’s when we see them kill some college kids. Then finding out the Sawyer’s left South Texas and Drayton Sawyer has been cooking up some of his classic chili. In fact, he’s even won two awards in chili cook offs for this absolutely delicious delicacy. Although, you guessed it, it’s made with people and he is serving it to judges and whoever else wants some of his delicious chili.
Another thing that makes this movie so great is because although the setting and tone are different, the gore and extremism is still there. I mean with Tom Savini on special effects you know that you are strapped in for some high quality gore. This is mixed in with a seemingly more depraved and deranged Sawyer clan, which makes for a more insane film. In fact, just on par with the first film the second installment of the series also was banned in some countries.
Another thing that makes this film stunning is its setting. Unlike the desolate abandoned farmhouse and countryside that the first film takes place in, the second film takes place around Dallas. There is a radio station and the new Sawyer hideout, an abandoned theme park. This kooky carnival craziness just adds to the mayhem of the film. Scenes of Leatherface chasing Stretch down a hall lit with carnival lights, strange amusement props, and statues of giant hands just make this film into the lovable fever dream that it is.
Sure, the film wasn’t at all perfect. A lot of times Stretch’s actions feel so dumbed down. There is one scene where she just sits and screams. Other than the finale scene where she’s getting sliced by Chop Top and trying to start the chainsaw, she is a pretty weak character. Her screams and actions are facepalm worthy at times. The character ‘Lefty’ also doesn’t make a lot of sense at times. He buys chainsaws to hunt the Sawyer’s instead of actual firepower, he then proceeds to start carving the cave supports up, and he uses Stretch as bait to lead him to the Sawyers. His actions just seem very scripted and almost meta at times. Why wouldn’t a retired Texas Ranger want to come in there with all the firepower and explosives he could carry? Sure, the chainsaw fight at the end is a beautifully crafted fight scene that is shot like a lightsaber duel from Star Wars and is incredibly badass. However, it still feels like it’s heavily scripted and forced.
Another critique is of course Gunnar Hansen not being Leatherface, and the reason is even worse. They couldn’t figure out the contract. Bill Johnson’s rendition of the cannibal slasher just doesn’t feel the same as our classic Gunnar Hansen. I feel that this movie could have done insanely better if they had the absolutely manic display of Chop Top compared with the monstrous Gunnar Hansen.
That being said, this film is almost a perfect descriptor of what a horror sequel could be. It’s fun, new, and engaging while still building off of the hard rules set out in the first movie. The Sawyer’s are still a wild cannibalistic murderous bunch of Texans. Leatherface is still more sympathetic than the rest of his family, and he is used as the muscle of them all. The Sawyer’s still eat people and are as psychotic as ever. We have all these same elements, however it’s still new content. The setting has changed, the people are aged and different, and the Sawyer’s are up to new things. There aren’t any story conflicts with the first, the story doesn’t feel mucked up with politics or subliminal messages, the movie feels like a wild carnival ride, and it’s a perfect sequel for the franchise.
So what could Hollywood learn from this sequel? When looking at a movie, take the parts that people remembered the most, and turn them up. For the Texas Chainsaw that was the depravity of the Sawyer’s. Also, stay true to the original characters. Nothing pisses fans off more than when a half assed requel leaves more plot holes and conflicts with the original. It messes the narrative up. Instead carefully analyze the original. Another thing to keep in mind is to not try and do the same thing over again. Sure the general slasher theme is going to have bad guys slicing up people, but give the franchise new life with an interesting new setting or engaging new characters.
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