Category Archives: classic

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

“The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” 50th Anniversary Special Edition

classic, documentary, horror

The hell-raising bloodshed of 1974’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre disrupted the movie theatergoers worldwide. Leatherface is running after a group of friends wielding the iconic chainsaw.

Directed by Tobe Hooper, the studio marketed this horror film based on actual events to attract public attention and sell tickets. Ed Gein, who committed gruesome crimes of murder, inspired Leatherface and minor plot points. Otherwise, the horror film’s storyline is predominantly fiction.

Ed Gein was a serial killer and body snatcher, robbing grave sites, also known as Butcher of Plainfield, The Mad Butcher and the Plainfield Goul. Gein’s murders were so horrific that his killing spree filled popular horror films: Psycho, The Silence of the Lambs and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year, making it the perfect time for horror fans to grab popcorn and their favorite beverage and pop the DVD or VHS in their machines.

Dark Sky Selects sent me The Texas Chain Saw Massacre 50th Anniversary Chainsaw Edition. To my surprise, I opened the box to pursue multiple theme-based features. A collection of many interviews on a multi-disc set will include:

  • Three new 4K UHD editions.
  • AA Blu-ray bonus disc containing new extra features.
  • Exclusive VHS movie release.

The special edition collector’s set is housed in a custom-made box replicating the iconic chainsaw from the film. The chainsaw is among the best swab gizmos I have ever seen. Opening it triggers the sound of Leatherface wielding it in the movie. They numbered each box set and only created 5000—I own #1251. 

This limited edition also features a newly designed 50th Anniversary O-card and brand-new bonus content, including The Merchandise of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and The Restoration of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre 50th Anniversary Chainsaw Edition will be available for $299.98 exclusively at darkskyselects.com.

Here is a breakdown of what you get:

DISC 1: 4K UHD (FEATURE FILM)

BONUS: 4 FEATURE COMMENTARIES

  • Writer-Producer-Director Tobe Hooper, Actor Gunnar Hansen, Cinematographer Daniel Pearl
  • Actors Marilyn Burns, Allen Danziger, and Paul A. Partain, and Production Designer Robert Burns
  • Writer-Producer-Director Tobe Hooper
  • Cinematographer Daniel Pearl, Editor J. Larry Carroll and Sound Recordist Ted Nicolaou

DISC 2: BLU-RAY (FEATURE FILM)

BONUS: 4 FEATURE COMMENTARIES

  • Writer-Producer-Director Tobe Hooper, Actor Gunnar Hansen, Cinematographer Daniel Pearl
  • Actors Marilyn Burns, Allen Danziger, and Paul A. Partain, and Production Designer Robert Burns
  • Writer-Producer-Director Tobe Hooper
  • Cinematographer Daniel Pearl, Editor J. Larry Carroll and Sound Recordist Ted Nicolaou

DISC 3: BLU-RAY BONUS FEATURES

  • NEW The Merchandise of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
  • NEW The Restoration of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
  • Feature-Length Documentary: The Legacy of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
  • The Cinefamily Presents FRIEDKIN/HOOPER: A Conversation About The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Between William Friedkin and Tobe Hooper
  • Flesh Wounds: Seven Stories of the Saw
  • A Tour of the TCSM House with Gunnar Hansen
  • Off the Hook with Teri McMinn
  • The Business of Chain Saw: An Interview with Production Manager Ron Bozman Interview
  • Deleted Scenes & Outtakes
  • Grandpa’s Tales: An Interview with Actor John Dugan
  • Cutting Chain Saw: An Interview with Editor J. Larry Carroll
  • Blooper Reel
  • Horrors Hallowed Grounds: TCSM
  • Dr. W.E. Barnes Presents “Making Grandpa”
  • Still Gallery
  • Trailers
  • TV Spots
  • Radio Spots

The film’s low budget, gritty style, extreme gore, and violence boosted its popularity. Since then, we’ve had horror films like The Blair Witch Project, Friday the 13th, Halloween and Night of the Living Dead.

The group of friends intends to visit an old family homestead. On their journey, they encounter a hitchhiker who behaves strangely. The stranger eventually turns on them and attacks them, leading to a harrowing chase through the Texas countryside.

They arrive at a farmhouse and meet cannibalistic killers, including the iconic Leatherface with a mask of human skin and a wielding chainsaw. Michael Myers copied the masking technique so beautifully on Halloween.

Upon its release, the film sparked controversy because of its graphic violence, a stark contrast to the Coen Bros. films or the SAW franchise. This controversy, however, only cemented its status as a cult classic and the most influential horror movie of its genre.

It generated many sequels and remakes, influencing countless horror films that tried to be deemed worthy.

Snow White

“Snow White” Trailer

animation, based on a book, children movies, classic, drama, fantasy, remakes,

Marc Webb directed Snow White from a screenplay by Greta Gerwig and Erin Cressida Wilson. The American musical follows Snow White, played by Rachel Zegler, and her confrontational with the evil Queen, played by Gal Gadot.

“Mirror, Mirror on the wall…” The seven dwarfs arrived, finding the beloved Snow White in their home.

The live-action film is a remake of the Walt Disney classic, the first animated, full-length motion picture.

Other films by Marc Webb:

500 Days of Summer

The Amazing Spider-Man

The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Gifted

The Only Living Boy in New York

“Nosferatu” with Nicholas Hoult, Lily Rose Depp, Willem Dafoe

classic, horror, mystery, , , ,

Relatively familiar with the gothic tale of obsession with a haunted young woman and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her, causing untold horror in its wake in 19th-century Germany.

Willem Dafoe stars as Professor Albin Eberhart von Franz, a Focus Features release. Credit: Aidan Monaghan / © 2023 FOCUS FEATURES LLC.

Robert Eggers directs this master tale of mystery and horror, starring Bill Skarsgard, Lily-Rose Depp, Willem Dafoe, Nicholas Hoult and Emma Corin.

Other films directed by Eggers:

The Northman

The Lighthouse

The Witch

The Beatles: Let It Be

“The Beatles: Let It Be” Restoration Trailer

classic, Disney+, documentary, music, re-release

Michael Lindsay-Hogg directed Let It Be, a 1970 film about The Beatles. The release arrived during their breakup. You can now stream the fully restored documentary on Disney+.

Sorry, Disney+ has blocked two of these clips, but hopefully, they will lift the ban.

Timothée Chalamet Upbeat and Playful in “Wonka” Trailers

based on a book, children movies, classic, family movies, fantasy, kid movies, , , ,

Paul King directed Wonka, starring Timothée Chalamet, who appears as playful, funny and charismatic as Willy Wonka. Produced by David Heyman, who brought us the Harry Potter franchise and other films, like Once Upon a Time … In Hollywood, the story follows Wonka during his formative years.

The focus is on young Willy, how he met the Oomp-Loompas on his early adventures, and how he established his candy manufacturing business.

Only Heyman can plan such a powerful cast, including Olivia Colman, Ryan Gosling, Hugh Grant, Sally Hawkins and Rowan Atkinson.

Here is a delightful story based on Roald Dahl’s classic novel and character.

“The Little Mermaid (Live-Action Movie)” Trailers, Featurette, Clip and TV Spot

action, adventure, based on a book, children movies, classic, family movies, kid movies, music, remakes, ,

Based on a classic fairy tale by the talented Hans Christian Andersen, The Little Mermaid (Live-Action Movie) arrives as a live-action adaptation of the 1989 animated film by Disney Studios.

Rob Marshall directs the story that follows Ariel, played by Halle Bailey, a young mermaid who dreams of living on land and going through life as a human.

Ariel makes a bargain with the evil sea witch Ursula, played by Melissa McCarthy, and trades her lovely voice for a chance to live as a human, walking with two feet and legs on land. There is a catch, which makes the story interesting. Ariel must win the love of Prince Eric, played by Jonah Hauer-King, in three days to make the human transformation permanent.

All is not so easy because Ursula connives to create challenges that even Ariel doesn’t understand. Living on land is new to her, but she adjusts and tries to win Eric’s heart.

The movie has songs from the original animated film and some new ones to keep the redundancy at bay.

DreamWorks “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” Trailers and Poster

adventure, animation, based on a book, children movies, classic, comedy, sequels,

Produced by Guillermo del Toro and directed by Chris Miller, the magical story of Puss in Boots continues with the feline crusader, played by Antonio Banderas, trying to restore his nine lives after using up eight.

According to the DreamWorks fandom page, the original title was Puss in Boots: Nine Lives and Forty Thieves, and it’s now Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. The change most likely occurred because the story focuses on Puss getting his last wish to regain the eight lives he spent swashbuckling through fairytale land.

“Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return To Hogwarts”

based on a book, children movies, classic, fantasy, , ,

How often have you wanted to return to Hogwarts and spend time with Harry, Hermione, Ron and the other delightful characters written beautifully by J. K. Rowling?

In 2011, before the release of the last Harry Potter movie, YouGov America reported that 18 percent of those surveyed had read all the Harry Potter books. And 31 percent had read at least one book.

The story of Harry Potter is over with the disintegration of Voldemort in the last book and movie. We can still appreciate the seven books and eight movies by re-reading and re-watching the telling of a fantastic story.

Perhaps that is why HBOMax brings us Harry Potter’s 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts on New Year’s Day. Viewers watch as actors reminisce about working on one of the world’s finest movie franchises.

“Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” Trailers and Posters

adventure, based on a book, children movies, classic, fantasy, prequel, , ,

Bringing back David Yates, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore introduces Mads Mikkelsen as Grindelwald, a wizarding villain that Johnny Depp played prior.

The rest of the cast includes Katherine Waterston, Ezra Miller, Jude Law and Eddie Redmayne.