The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre

The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Theatrical release poster
Directed byKim Henkel
Written byKim Henkel
Produced by
  • Robert Kuhn
  • Kim Henkel
Starring
CinematographyLevie Isaacks
Edited bySandra Adair
Music by
  • Wayne Bell
  • Robert Jacks
Production
companies
  • Ultra Muchos[1]
  • River City Films[1]
Distributed by
Release dates
  • March 12, 1995 (1995-03-12) (SXSW)[2]
  • September 22, 1995 (1995-09-22) (United States)
Running time
95 minutes[i]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$600,000
Box office$185,898[6]

The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre[7] (also known as Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation) is a 1995 American slasher black comedy film[8][9] written, co-produced, and directed by Kim Henkel. It is the fourth installment in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre film series. The film stars Renée Zellweger, Matthew McConaughey, and Robert Jacks. The plot follows four teenagers who encounter Leatherface and his murderous family in backwoods Texas on the night of their prom. It features cameo appearances from Marilyn Burns, Paul A. Partain, and John Dugan, all stars of the original film.

Principal photography took place on location in rural areas in Bastrop and Pflugerville, Texas, with a largely Austin-based cast and crew.

The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre premiered at South by Southwest on March 12, 1995, and received a limited release in the United States on September 22, by Cinépix Film Properties. The following year, Columbia TriStar Pictures acquired distribution rights for both theatrical engagements as well as home media. The studio proceeded to re-edit the film and re-title it Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation before giving it a limited theatrical re-release on August 29, 1997. Between its two releases, the film was a box-office flop and received mixed reviews from critics, with some lauding its dark humor and nightmarish tone, while others criticized the coherence of its screenplay.

Both contemporary and modern critics and film scholars have noted the film's prominent elements of parody and recursiveness, as well its unique implementation of a secret society subplot involving Leatherface and his family members.[10] In the years since its release, the film has gone on to develop a cult following.[11] Though a full soundtrack was never released, a companion single featured in the film performed by star Robert Jacks and Debbie Harry was released on compact disc in 1997.

  1. ^ a b c "Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. American Film Institute. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference rest was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Leydon, Joe (March 20, 1995). "The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre". Variety. Archived from the original on March 11, 2015.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference murrayrev was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation". British Board of Film Classification. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference box was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Harper 2004, p. 145.
  8. ^ Adams, Jason (October 9, 2013). "Awfully Good: Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation". Joblo.com. Archived from the original on September 4, 2023.
  9. ^ Rabin, Nathan (March 29, 2002). "Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on September 4, 2023.
  10. ^ Muir 2011, pp. 351–352.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference burnett was invoked but never defined (see the help page).


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