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AFTER THIS `CHAINSAW MASSACRE' SEQUEL, GIVE FRANCHISE A REST.


Byline: David Hunter David Hunter (July 21 1802 – February 2 1886) was a Union general in the American Civil War. He achieved fame by his unauthorized 1862 order (immediately rescinded) emancipating slaves in three Southern states and as the president of the military commission trying the  Hollywood Reporter

In the same morbid league as ``Death Race 2000,'' ``The Texas Chainsaw Massacre'' (1974) was widely reviled by the mainstream as too extreme, but it was rescued from obscurity by rebel cineastes who got their kicks watching innocent people terrorized and killed with stylish direction and sick humor by filmmaker Tobe Hooper.

Blackly comic and extreme in its portrayal of a murderous backroads clan, Cinepix Film Properties' ``Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation'' jokingly refers to the first two ``Massacre'' sequels made in 1986 and 1990. One has to be in the right mood for this brand of horror-comedy, and for general audiences it's unpalatable.

Released originally in 1995 under a different title, ``Next Generation'' is resurfacing in a shorter version to cash in on the rising stardom of leads Renee Zellweger and Matthew McConaughey.

Those with the stomach and nerves to survive writer-director Kim Henkel's unnerving un·nerve  
tr.v. un·nerved, un·nerv·ing, un·nerves
1. To deprive of fortitude, strength, or firmness of purpose.

2. To make nervous or upset.
 shriekfest will find that Zellweger and McConaughey do their riskiest and possibly most satisfying work to date.

A high-school girl with a strong will to survive, but one who repeatedly is tortured and driven to hysterics hysterics /hys·ter·ics/ (his-ter´iks) popular term for an uncontrollable emotional outburst.  by evil hicks Hicks   , Edward 1780-1849.

American painter of primitive works, notably The Peaceable Kingdom, of which nearly 100 versions exist.
, Jenny (Zellweger) survives an ordeal that would make G.I. Jane flinch.

As the roaringly primitive lead sadist Vilmer, McConaughey radiates evil and physically intimidates. He's joined by the equally primal Leatherface (Robert Jacks Robert Jacks (born 1943) is an Australian painter, sculptor and printmaker.

Born in Melbourne, Australia. He studied sculpture from 1958 to 1960 at the Prahran Technical College, Melbourne, and painting in 1961 and 1962 at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (now
) in chasing down and terrorizing victims. In a mild warmup for the horrors to come, Jenny's hapless boyfriend (John Harrison

For other people named John Harrison, see John Harrison (disambiguation).


John Harrison (March 24 1693 – March 24 1776) was an English clockmaker who revolutionised and extended the possibility of safe long distance sea travel in the
) is run over by Vilmer in a tow truck.

The fate that befalls Jenny's friends Heather (Lisa Newmyer) and Barry (Tyler Cone) is far worse, and pushes the envelope of screen mayhem. When Vilmer isn't choking and breaking necks, Leatherface is revving up the chainsaw. As if this pair weren't enough, the nest of sickos is rounded out with a quotation-spewing redneck (Joe Stevens) and a deranged de·range  
tr.v. de·ranged, de·rang·ing, de·rang·es
1. To disturb the order or arrangement of.

2. To upset the normal condition or functioning of.

3. To disturb mentally; make insane.
 floozy floo·zy also floo·zie  
n. pl. floo·zies Slang
A woman regarded as tawdry or sexually promiscuous.



[Origin unknown.
 (Tonie Perenski).

After a few preliminary scares in the forest where Jenny and her friends are stranded, the film gets down to business with the beating and mangling The term mangling may refer to:
  • name mangling in computer software
  • using a mangle as a laundry device
 of Newmyer's character, while Jenny keeps escaping the clutches of Vilmer only to be hunted down and forced to endure more serious abuse. She keeps fighting back and eventually earns a well-deserved rescue.

Not happy with Hooper's ``The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2'' and ``Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III,'' Henkel, author of the original film, uncorks a frenzy of nightmarish imagery and vicious human behavior. One can't help but root for Zellweger's remarkable character, but one also hopes the franchise is given another long rest.

THE FACTS

The film: ``Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation'' (R; mayhem and torture, strong language).

The stars: Renee Zellweger, Matthew McConaughey, Robert Jacks, Tonie Perenski, Joe Stevens, Lisa Newmyer, John Harrison, Tyler Cone

Behind the scenes: Written and directed by Kim Henkel. Released by Cinepix Film Properties.

Running time: One hour, 26 minutes.

Playing: Selected theaters.

Our rating: Two Stars.

CAPTION(S):

Photo

Photo: In ``Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation,'' Renee Zellweger plays a high-school girl with a strong will to survive.
COPYRIGHT 1997 Daily News
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 1997, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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Title Annotation:L.A. LIFE
Publication:Daily News (Los Angeles, CA)
Article Type:Movie Review
Date:Aug 29, 1997
Words:509
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