The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2

Usually sequels aren't nearly as good as the original and rarely surpass the first one of the series. Such is not the case however with 1986's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2.

Director Tobe Hooper had a daunting task at hand. How do you top a classic horror film that many regarded as one of the creepiest movies of all time. You add some unsettling humor to the gory proceedings. To do just that, Hooper brought in screenwriter L.M. Kit Carson, who also wrote the terrific, but sadly under appreciated, American remake of Breathless. The combination of Hooper and Carson have created one of the best horror flicks of all time.

It's thirteen years later, and former Texas Ranger Lefty Enright, Dennis Hopper, has been searching for his missing nephew, the wheelchair bound victim from the first film. Visiting every grisly murder sight in hopes of finding clues, Lefty finally catches a break when a local d.j. named Stretch, Caroline Williams, has recorded a murder of two frat boys that called into her show. Hoping to lure the killers out, Lefty has Stretch play this recording on her program. His hunch pays off when the killers Leatherface, Bill Johnson, and his brother Chop Top, Bill Moseley, show up to the radio station to knock off Stretch. The two grab her and take her to their macabre home, a former amusement park, with Lefty following close behind. Lefty, in full vengeance mode, plans on taking the family down and rescuing Stretch in the process.

This might have been the first gore fest that also had me in stitches. The studio that was releasing it, Cannon Films, was less than pleased with the humor that was injected into the script. They were expecting more of a straight slasher film. Luckily Hooper was able to keep the comedy in the final product. A lot of the sequels and prequels that followed kept that same funny, anarchic spirit. Even with the laughs, the film was still gory enough to earn an X rating. Not wanting to make any cuts, pardon the pun, Hooper decided to release the film unrated.

Oddly enough, Hooper wasn't even planning to direct it, he was just going to produce. But when he was unable to find a director that would be a good fit, he decided to take the reigns.

Hooper has assembled a great cast for this. Hopper, who was on the comeback trail at the time and would make a full comeback the following year with Blue Velvet and Hoosiers, is terrific as the hero who is hellbent on revenge. This character reminds me of Donald Pleasance's role as Dr. Loomis in the Halloween series. They are good guys that have lost a little of their mind over the years in their pursuit to stop evil. Willaims is also good as Stretch. It's a very likable performance and she's a good screamer. The real scene stealer however is Moseley as Chop Top. His funny and frightening portrayal is something to be seen to be believed. No wonder Rob Zombie uses him a lot for his movies.

This movie also has a terrific soundtrack that includes Oingo Boingo, The Cramps, Stewart Copeland, and Timbuck 3.

This is one of my favorite horror films and definitely the best of the franchise.

It's available on dvd and blu ray.