The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: A Family Portrait - Revisited

"'Can you be weird?' And I said, 'Ha ha ha, weird is what I do!'" - Edwin Neal

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
A Family Portrait
Revisited

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: A Family Portrait - Revisited Year of Release - 2000
DVD Release - MTI Home Video - 2000
Region 1 - NTSC - Unrated
Running Time - 60:24

Director: Brad Shellady
Starring: Edwin Neal, Jim Siedow, John Dugan and Gunnar Hansen.
Music: N/A

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a fascinating film. It's only natural that there would be interest in making documentaries about it. One such documentary is The Shocking Truth, which features on the Region 2 and Region 4 release of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Another is this, A Family Portrait. I'm assuming that the DVD is called A Family Portrait - Revisited, because it has been "Digitally re-mixed and re-mastered", ie: it was simply transferred from video to DVD...

SYNOPSIS

This documentary focuses on the experiences and recollections of the actors who portrayed "The Family" in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre - Gunnar Hansen (Leatherface), Edwin Neal (The Hitchhiker), John Dugan (Grandpa) and Jim Seidow (The Cook) - covering how they were cast, getting to know thier characters, the shoot itself and life after Chain Saw.

VIDEO

This transfer is presented in 1.33:1 and was most likely shot on a home video camera. It's also interpersed with shots and deleted scenes from The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. And as such, the video quality of the transfer isn't exactly brilliant. Having said that, it's a documentary, so it can be forgiven.

AUDIO

Presented in Dolby Surround 2.0 and being a documentary, the Audio track is sufficient. The dialogue is clear and easily understood.

EXTRAS

Cast Info

Featuring brief Bios and filmographies on Tobe Hooper, Marilyn Burns, Gunnar Hansen and Edwin Neal. It also has the Credits for The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

Movie Trailer - No Time Code

What looks to be the Original Bryanston Theatrical Trailer for The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. It is of a very poor video quality.

Trailer - No Time Code

A trailer for the documentary which is of the same audio and video quality as the feature.

Previews

Trailers for some of MTI Home Video's other releases. All of these are low budget independent films and the trailers are of varying audio and video quality.

Angel of the Night - No Time Code - A vampire flick with plenty of pointy teeth, bats, breasts and twin-pistol-wielding action. May be worth a look for a good laugh.
Lady of the Lake - No Time Code - Looks like a mix between The Evil Dead, Dracula and Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Looks like it could be enjoyable, actually.
Death Mask - No Time Code - Good God, this trailer has to be seen to be believed. I can't wait to see the film...

Trivia

A somewhat amusing trivia game about The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

OVERALL

As I've stated before, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is one of the most influential Horror films of all time, and interest in it is high. This documentary, while not as complete as The Shocking Truth, is still very good.

The interviews are fairly in-depth and Edwin Neal, in particular, is hilarious. This DVD is worth a look, but you probably wouldn't buy it unless you were a big Chain Saw fan.

The Film:
The Disk: