TCM Comparison essay

The original Texas chainsaw massacre film compared to the most recent remake of the film, released in 2003 share the same characteristics and features as the original film which was released in 1974. As the 2003 remake of the film almost follows the same narrative as the original, the film itself is able to adapt and appeal to a new target audience. The fact that now, due to new changes in technology, the directors are able to make the film appeal to a new generation of audience, whose expectations of a horror film would differ in comparison to the audience that were watching the original film in the 1970s. During this time period most of the grusome aspects of the film were hidden due to censorship.
Director Tobe Hooper produced the film in 1974 where the plots main focus was on a group of teenage friends on a road trip in Texas. As their bus runs out of gas they stop near an abandoned house where they are slowly pursued and attacked by a perculiar family who specialise in killing innocent victims. The main killer which is responsible for the killing is called Leatherface.

The 2003 version of texas chainsaw massacre is was directed by Marcus Nispel and produced by Michael Bay. In this version of the film the plot differs where five college students are on their way to a music concert in Dallas comapred to the original film in 1974 they were heading to another place. They are returning from a trip to Mexico when they see a lonely girl walking in the road which is another contrast compared to the original version of the film as the person who they pick up is another member of the family, giving the teenagers an insight to what the rest of the family would be like.

Although the 2003 version is an updated version of the original it still follows similar conventions of the original. The films are able to reflect the zeighgiest as the beginning shows a group of teenagers, without parents, going away together and taking part in activities which include illegal drug taking and sexual activities. It is common within the slasher genre that the couple which are most promiscuous die first. The roles within the film differ due to the fact that in the 2003 verisoin there is no guy in a wheelchair compared to the 1974 film where there is.

Similary both films show at the end the final girl, the only serviving charcater at the the end who manages to escape from the family and leatherface. The ending in which both the 2003 version and the original 1974 film contrast due to the fact that in the 2003 film the girl escapes and manages to save a baby, which was taken by a member of the family, whereas in the original the girl escapes by getting on a car and driving off showing a medium shot of her bloodied face, laughing of the fact that she has managed to escape. This links to Todorovs theory of there being a new equilbream, due to the fact that she has managed to escape the family. This can give off the idea that women are shown to be more superior to men as the character Erin is shown to be be superior to the sheriff as she runs him over and continues to go over his body.