The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986) – Film Review

Director: Tobe Hooper
Cast: Dennis Hopper, Caroline Williams, Bill Johnson
Certificate: 18

By Sarah Morgan

Head back to the bloodthirsty heart of the Lone Star state for the second film in the gruesome franchise.

It turns out that the authorities never found the cannibalistic clan who’d been killing folk, eating their flesh and using their skin and bones to make unique items of home decor, so they’ve simply carried on. They’ve even set up a successful catering business, winning prizes for their produce without ever revealing the source of its special flavour.

However, they may have bitten off more than they can chew when they cross paths with ambitious local radio host Stretch and Lieutenant Boude ‘Lefty’ Enright, a former Texas Ranger and uncle of two of the first film’s victims, who join forces to hunt the family down.

“A heavy dose of satire”

Twelve years on from the release of the original movie, its director, Tobe Hooper, returned for this sequel, which clearly had a much bigger budget. And rather than going for all-out scares, this time there’s a heavy dose of satire included in LM Kit Carson’s screenplay.

Some horror purists may not like that, but it works rather well. The high production values and cinematography are, however, somewhat jarring after the DIY-feel of the original; it’s also very much a 1980s movie – everything is very slick and clean-looking.

As for the cast, Dennis Hopper is outstanding as Lefty, playing everything dead straight while his castmates chew the scenery (rather than flesh) throughout. There’s also a rather nice story from Caroline Williams, who plays Stretch, among the special features. She reveals how Hopper helped to kick-start her career when she arrived in LA after making the film, by introducing her to his agent.

There are several faces familiar from the first film present too, although this time around, Gunnar Hansen doesn’t play Leatherface; that honour goes to a mix of Bill Johnson, Bob Elmore and Tom Morgan.

“An entirely different beast”

If you’re expecting something akin to the first film, you’re not going to get it. Instead, it’s better to treat the sequel as an entirely different beast, one that continues the story of the dysfunctional Sawyer family in an altogether unexpected fashion. Watch out for the final scene too, which pays homage to its equivalent in the original.

The two-disc set includes an audio commentary from director Hooper, interviews with the cast and crew and some deleted scenes.

Sarah Morgan

Sarah Morgan studied film journalism at post-graduate level with the BFI and has been writing about TV and film for PA Media’s newspaper, magazine and new media customers since 1996. She’s also written for a wide range of other publications, both online and in print, including the book Offbeat and Intermission magazine, and is a regular contributor to the Talking Pictures TV podcast. When she isn’t watching movies, she’s collecting and reading vintage crime and horror paperback books or, for her sins, watching her beloved Sheffield Wednesday.

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