Uniquely thrilling and disturbing even by today's standards,
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is undoubtedly one of the most influential horror movies ever made, and Pioneer Entertainment has produced a superb DVD edition befitting its legendary status. Director
Tobe Hooper oversaw both the remastering of the soundtrack and the high-definition scan from the original negatives, and with the enhanced picture and Stereo Surround Sound, the film is cleaner and crisper than ever before. Surprisingly for a low-budget film made in 1973, this disc is also packed with special features. The trailers and TV spots for both the original theatrical release and New Line's re-release are included, as are trailers for the film's inferior but not uninteresting sequels. The deleted scenes and alternative footage are very rough and mainly silent, but do include many fascinating moments (such as a cut scene showing Leatherface putting on makeup for dinner!) and are helpfully accompanied by text intros and script excerpts. Other extras include a blooper reel, location stills, and a huge selection of posters. The audio commentary is provided by Hooper, director of photography
Daniel Pearl, and Leatherface himself,
Gunnar Hansen, and is both humorous and informative, offering revealing insights into the realities of making a movie on a shoestring. By any standards this is an excellent DVD, adding a great deal to what was already a classic film. ~ Patrick Lee, All Movie Guide