The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Marcus Nispel

Writers (WGA):

Kim Henkel (1974 screenplay) and
Tobe Hooper (1974 screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

17 October 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Inspired by a True Story

Plot:

A group of friends passing through are stalked and hunted down by a deformed killer with a chainsaw in order to sustain his poor family who can only afford to eat what they kill.

Plot Keywords:

Blood & Gore | Hung By Hook | Lifting Person In Air | Sole Survivor | Territory Name In Title

Awards:

4 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Jessica Biel	...	Erin
Jonathan Tucker	...	Morgan
Erica Leerhsen	...	Pepper
Mike Vogel	...	Andy
Eric Balfour	...	Kemper
Andrew Bryniarski	...	Thomas Hewitt (Leatherface)
R. Lee Ermey	...	Sheriff Hoyt
David Dorfman	...	Jedidiah
Lauren German	...	Teenage Girl
Terrence Evans	...	Old Monty
Marietta Marich	...	Luda May
Heather Kafka	...	Henrietta
Kathy Lamkin	...	Tea Lady in Trailer
Brad Leland	...	Big Rig Bob
Mamie Meek	...	Clerk
John Larroquette	...	Narrator (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Scott Martin Gershin	...	Leatherface (voice) (uncredited)
Harry Jay Knowles	...	Victim On a Silver Platter (uncredited)

Directed by
Marcus Nispel

Writing credits (WGA)
Kim Henkel		(1974 screenplay) and
Tobe Hooper		(1974 screenplay)
Scott Kosar		(screenplay)

Produced by
Jeffrey Allard	....	executive producer
Michael Bay	....	producer
Matthew Cohan	....	associate producer
Joe Dishner	....	co-producer
Ted Field	....	executive producer
Mike Fleiss	....	producer
Andrew Form	....	executive producer
Bradley Fuller	....	executive producer (as Brad Fuller)
Kim Henkel	....	co-producer
Tobe Hooper	....	co-producer
Pat Sandston	....	associate producer
Guy Stodel	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Steve Jablonsky

Cinematography by
Daniel Pearl

Film Editing by
Glen Scantlebury

Casting by
Lisa Fields

Production Design by
Greg Blair

Art Direction by
Scott Gallagher

Set Decoration by
Randy Huke		(as Randy Smith Huke)

Costume Design by
Bobbie Mannix

Makeup Department
Troy Breeding	....	key makeup artist
Grady Holder	....	makeup artist: special effects body dismemberment
Kelly Nelson	....	key hair stylist
Carla Palmer	....	head makeup artist (as Carla E. Palmer)
Scott Stoddard	....	special makeup effects artist

Production Management
Joe Dishner	....	unit production manager
Tami Goldman	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Randy Fletcher	....	first assistant director
Phil Hardage	....	second assistant director (as Philip Hardage)
Katie Tull	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Steve Allen	....	carpenter
Amy Bell	....	assistant property master
Kevin Berve	....	prop fabricator
Debbie Cortez Haber	....	art department coordinator
Erick Garibay	....	assistant props
David Hack	....	set dresser
Heather Ingram	....	art department intern
Joe McCusker	....	construction coordinator
Mark Millicent	....	storyboard artist
Melissa Pagen	....	assistant: production designer
Darren Patnode	....	on-set dresser
Shane Patrick	....	leadman
Annilee Ballentine Ramirez	....	set dressing buyer
Charles Seale	....	carpenter
Corissa Smith	....	scenic artist
Christopher Stull	....	set dresser
Kara Sutherlin	....	stand-by scenic
Mark Wallace	....	property master
Gary Wimmer	....	lead scenic
Robert R. Wonson	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Mark Allen	....	sound effects editor
Steve Bartkowicz	....	re-recording engineer
John Bires	....	sound engineer
Stacy Brownrigg	....	production sound mixer
Matt Colleran	....	sound re-recordist
Thadd Day	....	second boom operator
Chris Frazee	....	boom operator
Scott Martin Gershin	....	sound designer
Scott Martin Gershin	....	sound supervisor
Frederick Howard	....	sound editor
Trevor Jolly	....	sound supervisor
Kevin Maloney	....	additional boom operator
Paul Menichini	....	sound effects editor
Brad Sherman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Gregg Silk	....	assistant sound engineer
Branden Spencer	....	supervising assistant sound editor
Edward M. Steidele	....	foley artist
Jon Taylor	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jon Title	....	sound effects editor
Chris Trent	....	foley mixer
Jerry Trent	....	foley artist

Special Effects by
Gary D. Bierend	....	special effects assistant
Rocky Gehr	....	special effects
Brandon K. McLaughlin	....	special effects supervisor
Gregory Nicotero	....	special effects makeup
Christopher A. Suarez	....	special effects technician
Chiz Hasegawa	....	coordinator: KNB EFX Group (uncredited)
Kevin McTurk	....	special effects makeup (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Andy Barrios	....	Inferno artist: Asylum
Joel Behrens	....	compositor: Asylum
Simon Cassels	....	main title designer
Emma McGuinness	....	visual effects executive producer: Asylum
Nathan McGuinness	....	visual effects supervisor: Asylum
Kosta Saric	....	visual effects editor: Asylum Visual Effects
Jason Schugardt	....	visual effects supervisor
Greg Stuhl	....	digital artist
Bridget M. Taylor	....	digital artist: Asylum VFX
Jeff Werner	....	visual effects producer
Jesse James Chisholm	....	element photography (uncredited)
Mark Alan Loso	....	compositor (uncredited)

Stunts
Jill Brown	....	stunt double
John Cann	....	stunt double: Mike Vogle
Tony Cecere	....	stunt coordinator
Mark Ginther	....	stunt double
Nicola C. Hindshaw	....	stunt double: Jessica Biel
Diana R. Lupo	....	stunts
Carl Milinac	....	stunts (re-shoots)
Lillie Miller	....	stunt double
Ethan Rosenberg	....	stunt double
Bryon Weiss	....	stunt double: R. Lee Ermey

Camera and Electrical Department
Roger Basquette	....	digital video assist operator
Buzzy Burwell	....	set lighting technician
Matt Cowan	....	grip
Theda Cunningham	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Donald R. Howe Jr.	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Edison Jackson	....	best boy electric
Eric R. Laudadio	....	assistant camera
Greg Lomas	....	dolly grip
James Marks	....	remote camera technician
Edward A. Navarro	....	additional electrician
Eric Pickett	....	additional video assist
Paul Postal	....	electrician: additional photography
Van Redin	....	still photographer
Donis Rhoden	....	best boy grip
Peter D. Roome	....	additional first assistant camera
Andy Ryan	....	chief lighting technician
Tom Shinn	....	electrician
Peter Simonite	....	additional photographer
Greg Travis	....	grip
Jeffery J. Tufano	....	camera operator
Atom Vyvial	....	grip
Sean Wright	....	grip
Thomas Young	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera

Casting Department
Lisa Fields	....	local casting
Julia Kim	....	casting associate
Meagan Lewis	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Nyima Johnston	....	wardrobe
Stephanie A. Steel	....	costume production assistant

Editorial Department
Nathan R. Fitzgerald	....	associate editor
John McCunn	....	digital intermediate producer
Dennis McNeill	....	color timer
Sara Mineo	....	post-production assistant
Thatcher Peterson	....	digital color producer
Rob Sciarratta	....	video color timer
Kurt Smith	....	color timer

Music Department
Bob Badami	....	assistant music editor
Wayne Bell	....	composer: original theme
Jonathan Flood	....	composer: additional music
Tobe Hooper	....	composer: original theme
Malcolm Luker	....	score mixer
William V. Malpede	....	music assistant (as William Malpede)
Melissa Muik	....	score recordist
Jennifer Nash	....	music editor
Paul Silver	....	music editor: temp mix
Mel Wesson	....	ambient music designer

Transportation Department
Greg Faucett	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Crisoforo Aguilar	....	key set production assistant: additional photography
John Arszyla	....	medic
Meg Beatty	....	set production assistant
Allison Bergstrand	....	assistant: Mr. Field
Sidney Bowen	....	assistant: Mr. Nispel
Brinton Bryan	....	additional set production assistant
Doug Carter	....	key set production assistant
Diana Mia Cevallos	....	liaison: Chapman
Monique Champagne	....	production assistant
Brad Clark	....	assistant: Mr. Nispel
Logan Cooper	....	location scout
Shanti Delsarte	....	production coordinator
Tiffany Lynn Drucker	....	production assistant
Aaron L. Enz	....	assistant: Mr. Allard
Pam Fuller	....	script supervisor (as Pam Fuller Vasquez)
Josh Gold	....	assistant: Mr. Form and Mr. Fuller
Joey Hudgins	....	assistant location manager
Susan Jasso	....	additional set production assistant
Lauren Kaufman	....	assistant: Mr. Form and Mr. Fuller
Nell Kennedy	....	production assistant
Kelly Kernan	....	location manager
Vas Leonidov	....	artistic consultant: Mr. Nispel
Carolyn Mcguinness	....	assistant: Mr. Bay
Rich Newman	....	production assistant
Heidi S. Pavey	....	production coordinator: additional photography
John M. Pisani	....	unit publicist
Gabe Proctor	....	additional video playback operator
DeLayne Rasmussen	....	assistant production office coordinator
Jeremy Roberts	....	payroll accountant
Ralph Sall	....	album producer
Alicia Utz	....	assistant: Mr. Fleiss
Jeff Valeri	....	assistant production coordinator: additional photography
Suzanne Welch	....	assistant: Mr. Field
Leigh A. Wilbourn	....	production coordinator
Edward Albolote	....	assistant: Michael Bay (uncredited)
Justin Herber	....	assistant: Mr. Bay (uncredited)
Warner Loughlin	....	acting coach (uncredited)
Deborah J. Page	....	location manager: re-shoots (uncredited)
Christopher Scull	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Daniel Villagomez	....	credits administrator (uncredited)

Production Companies

• New Line Cinema
• Focus Features
• Radar Pictures (in association with)
• Platinum Dunes
• Next Entertainment
• Chainsaw Productions LLC

Distributors

• Focus Features (2003) (worldwide) (all media) (sales)
• Bir Film (2006) (Turkey) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox de Argentina (2005) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Communications (2003) (Canada) (all media)
• Alliance Atlantis Home Video (2004) (Canada) (DVD)
• Alliance Atlantis Motion Picture Distribution (2003) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2004) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Constantin Film (2004) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Eagle Pictures (2003) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Entertainment Film Distributors (2003) (UK) (theatrical)
• Entertainment in Video (2004) (UK) (DVD)
• Europa Filmes (2005) (Brazil) (all media)
• Good Machine International
• Herald Film Company (2004) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Highlight Film (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (2004) (France) (theatrical)
• New Line Cinema (2003) (USA) (theatrical)
• New Line Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Odeon (2003) (Greece) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (2004) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (2004) (Luxembourg) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (2004) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD) (2-disc special edition steelbook)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2004) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2004) (Finland) (VHS)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Veronica (2006) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)
• Village Roadshow Entertainment (2004) (Australia) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Asylum VFX (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Company 3  digital color timing
• Edel American Music  soundtrack released by
• Pivotal Post  Avid editing equipment provided by
• Sound Satisfaction  foley recording facilities

MPAA:

Rated R for strong horror violence/gore, language and drug content.

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Taiwan:R-18 | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Iceland:16 | Mexico:C | Portugal:M/18 | Australia:MA | Brazil:18 | Finland:K-18 | France:-16 | Germany:18 (nf) | Hong Kong:III | Ireland:18 | Italy:VM14 | Japan:R-15 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:18 | Philippines:R-18 | Singapore:R(A) | South Korea:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R (certificate #39964) | Argentina:16 | Chile:14 | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

Erica Leerhsen screamed so loudly during her screen test that people in other parts of the building called the police to report that a woman was being attacked.

Goofs:

Factual errors: While Leatherface sits and sews his skin mask, he is not really sewing. The hand wheel on the right of the machine does not turn. A sewing machine's hand wheel has to move if the needle moves, as they are synchronized.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Narrator: The film which you are about to see is an account of the tragedy which befell a group of 5 youths. It is all the more tragic in that they were young. But had they lived very, very long lives, they could not have expected, nor would they have wished to see as much of the mad and macabre as they were to see that day...
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "E! True Hollywood Story: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Sweet Home Alabama

Although Unnecessary, a Good Remake

On August 18th, 1973, in Texas, the youths Erin (Jessica Biel), her boy-friend Kemper (Eric Balfour), their friends Andy (Mike Vogel) and Morgan (Jonathan Tucker) and the hitchhiker Pepper (Erica Leerhsen) are returning from a vacation in Mexico to a concert of the Lynnard Skynnard. Kemper is driving his van, when they see a disturbed young woman dangerously wandering on the road. They decide to help her, and the woman commits suicide inside the vehicle. They decide to look for a telephone to call the Sheriff, and they end in the house of Thomas Hewitt (Andrew Bryniarski), where their lives are threatened by the sick Leatherface and his deranged family.

I was quite reluctant to see this remake. The original "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" is a classic, and as I have already written in other reviews, I do not see any reason to release remakes of movies, mainly classics. However, and although unnecessary, this remake is very good. The cast, leaded by the delicious Jessica Biel, have good and convincing performances. The cinematography is great, being very nasty in the property of Leatherface. In the end, I liked this version and I even dare to recommend it. I believe the fans, like me, of the original "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" will not be disappointed. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "O Massacre da Serra Elétrica" ("The Chainsaw Massacre")