“Texas Chainsaw 3D”, the seventh installment in the “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” franchise and the first wide release film of 2013 hit the theaters this weekend and pulled surprising numbers in the box-office for it’s debut. The 3D project ripped through the competition this weekend, beating out “Django Unchained,” “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” and “Les Miserables”, pulling in $23 million this weekend. Trey Songz without a doubt helped pull the movie ahead from the competition with fan girls all over filling the theaters to see if their favorite R&B star would survive the massacre. The latest in the series’ opening up with strong numbers proved to be a financial success among the remakes, but unfortunately, like all other slasher flicks it lacks the substance to be remembered for anything more than being a huge time waster with a disappointing performance.
“Chainsaw 3D” takes place right after the 1974 original, in which a deranged family killed 4 teenagers, leaving one alive to escape. When the local town discovered what happened, mob mentality took over and they torched the house, presumably killing the entire family. Only one member survived the fire, an infant named Edith, who had been taken from the scene and raised by one of the couples in town. Cut to 23 years later, and we have Edith – now called Heather (Alexandria Daddario) – receiving the last will and testament from her long lost grandmother informing her of the inheritance left after her grandmother’s death. She and a few friends head down to the mansion left for her, and realize not everything left behind is good.
I can’t really start writing what I think about the movie without shaking my head in disappointment. My expectations weren’t very high going into it, but damn. It’s pretty obvious that the studio’s only intention with the 3D delivery was to squeeze out a few extra bucks from the audience’s pockets, because it did practically nothing to enhance the movie besides a few expected 3D tricks for cheap scares. Unfortunately, remakes like this only seek to gain money off the original’s success and critical praise instead of furthering the story and making something to compliment the original.
As mentioned before, one of the main reasons for its opening weekend success was Trey Songz, grabbing the spot for the male lead and garnering attention from ladies that swoon over the R&B star. I am here to tell you that not even “Mr. Steal Your Girl” can stop you from wishing you spent your $17.50 on something else. When the movie stopped rolling, I counted at least 5 people complaining and wanting their money back. I wouldn’t classify “Texas Chainsaw 3D” as anything more than another overhyped slasher film that disappoints.
On a side note, I still find it pretty wild that movie theaters allow babies and children into these types of movies. No five year old should be watching blood and guts fly at them courtesy of 3D enhancements for 2 hours. Smh.
Check below for the full box-office report.
Ben Lester (@bjams11)