#12 - The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986)
Sequels to well-loved films seem to be almost always met with backlash. Moviegoers generally want a sequel to be exactly like the original (only better, of course), or they don't want one at all. A common complaint is that a crappy sequel (or god forbid, a remake) will somehow spoil the integrity of the existing film. This mentality is stupid. In spite of how many horrible sequels the Nightmare on Elm Street or Hellraiser films have, the original films still exist and are still loved by fans. If you don't like the sequels, you have the option of not watching them. Imagine that!
Anyway, what was I talking about? Oh yeah, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2. Here is a sequel that many people hate, or at least think is incredibly stupid. They are blinded by their love for the original. I won't argue that this film is as good as the first TCM, because it isn't, but the comparison is useless anyway because other than the family of killers, this movie has almost nothing to do with the original. Instead of an intense and scary slasher, viewers got an over-the-top dark comedy. I feel like this film would have been much more popular without the baggage of being a sequel.
This movie has developed a cult following since it's release, and with good reason. It's gory, hilarious, and just generally insane. Dennis Hopper is great as a Texas Marshall obsessed with tracking down the killers, who have been imbued with much more personality here. Bill Moseley plays a new member of the family, "Chop Top", who is disgusting and hilarious and is the highlight of the film, in my opinion. Much of the film's action takes place at an abandoned, uh... I guess it's a theme park for war games? I don't know. But it's awesome, with crazy carnival lighting and mounds of gore and bones scattered around (and used in the decorating, of course).
If you haven't given this one a chance, and are a fan of 80's horror-comedy, there is no excuse for skipping it. It makes no attempt to live up to the original, and instead goes the batshit insane route, and in my opinion it works really well. A blast to watch.
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