The classic horror franchise ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’, which terrified audiences in 1978, returns to the big screen in a new version directed by Daniel Goldhaber. The cast includes names such as Barbie Ferreira (Euphoria), Dacre Montgomery (Stranger Things), Aaron Holliday and Josie Totah. The U.S. theatrical release is slated for April 10, while Brazil still has no set date.
On the aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film opened with a 69% approval rating based on 16 reviews, revealing a polarized landscape. Some critics praised the deliberately unsettling premise and the clever use of social media as a backdrop, while others questioned the need for such a bold reboot. Comments from outlets such as The Hollywood Reporter, IndieWire, Variety and Slashfilm highlight both the strength of the direction and the feeling that the film does not fully deliver on its promise of graphic violence.
The plot follows a YouTube content moderator who, while dealing with videos that recreate the killers from the original film, begins to wonder whether what she sees are real recordings or mere simulations. The screenplay, written by Isa Mazzei and Daniel Goldhaber, explores the viral spread of violence in the TikTok era and the thin line between information and misinformation.
The original 1978 film became famous for allegedly showing real deaths, fueling an urban legend that circulated in the early days of VHS. In reality, all the scenes were the result of practical effects, but the myth persisted and helped cement ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ as one of the most controversial titles in horror cinema history.
