Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1994)
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17% of critics liked it
(30 reviews) -
33% of users liked it
(30,490 ratings)
In this third sequel to slasher classic The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, four Texas teens are abducted by a family of psychos on their way home from the senior prom. Bloodshed, torture, and intrigue ensue. Barry (Tyler Cone) and Sean (John Harrison) meet their fates quickly, but semi-bimbo Heather (Lisa… More In this third sequel to slasher classic The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, four Texas teens are abducted by a family of psychos on their way home from the senior prom. Bloodshed, torture, and intrigue ensue. Barry (Tyler Cone) and Sean (John Harrison) meet their fates quickly, but semi-bimbo Heather (Lisa Newmyer) lasts long enough to be tortured and burned before having her head cracked open like a walnut by a mechanical leg. Meanwhile, sweet, befuddled Jenny (Renee Zellweger) actively resists her captors by stealing cars, breaking through windows, and jumping off roofs. Although Leatherface (Robert Jacks), the human skin-wearing transvestite based on real-life serial killer Ed Gein, is back on board, the cannibal cast this time out also includes several new characters, from bionic villain Vilmer (Matthew McConaughey) to trashy realtor Darla (Tonie Perensky) and literature-quoting flunky W.E. (Joe Stevens). The plot also adds an X-Files-esque conspiracy to the basic Chainsaw concept in the form of deformed businessman Rothman (James Gale), who descends on the family of killers to critique their torture techniques. Written and directed by original Massacre scribe Kim Henkel, the film appeared at 1995 festivals in a 104-minute cut under the title The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre; after actors Zellweger and McConaughey became Hollywood stars, the film was re-titled, re-cut, and given a limited theatrical release in August of 1997. The nine minutes of deleted footage included scenes of Jenny's troubled home life. Both versions included brief cameos from Marilyn Burns, Paul Partain, and John Dugan -- all of whom appeared in Tobe Hooper's original film. Prodigious litigation preceded the film's re-release, although both the McConaughey and Zellweger camps denied attempting to block its release. The film's soundtrack includes a who's who of local Texas bands. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
- Directed By
- Kim Henkel
- Written By
- Kim Henkel
- Genres
- Horror
- In Theaters
- Oct 7, 1994 Wide
- On DVD
- Jul 20, 1999
- Studio
- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Joe Leydon, Variety
Zellweger makes Jenny the most formidable scream queen since Jamie Lee Curtis went legit.
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Bruce Westbrook, Houston Chronicle
From electric cattle prods to human infernos, it's an tough, rough ride.
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Janet Maslin, New York Times
Without much wit of its own, Kim Henkel's tyro film is just what the polished Scream makes fun of.
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Mike Clark, USA Today
The kind of cinematic endeavor where you suspect both cast and crew were obligated to bring their own beer.
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Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
Renee Zellweger and Matthew McConaughey try to out-bad-act each other in the luridly abysmal third sequel to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Cast
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Renée Zellweger
as Jenny
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Matthew McConaughey
as Vilmer
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Robert Jacks
as Leatherface
- Tonie Perensky
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Joe Stevens
as W.E.
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Lisa Newmeyer
as Heather
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James Gale
as Rothman
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David Lawrence
as Jack
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Tyler Shea Cone
as BARRY
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Susan Loughran
as Amanda
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John Harrison
as Sean

