Cult films are so not a good place to go. Adored by millions and detested by millions more, these are the things that endless pub debates are made of. Tobe Hooper’s original version of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is generally considered to be a fine example of how to make a good horror movie and it has to be said that in its day, the film was shocking, innovative and genuinely quite horrific. But times move on, and thirty years later it’s time to stand back and let somebody else have a go.

In the baking Arizona sun, with the body of a young woman in the back of their truck, the teenagers have no choice but to try and find a policeman to whom they can report the crime. Their initial search is fruitless, but a local shopkeeper manages to raise the sheriff on the telephone and arranges a meeting. When the sheriff doesn’t show up, the party splits – two of the group walk off to try and find a telephone, whilst the other three stay with the truck. Whilst their three friends wait with the truck, the pair of explorers stumbles across a farmhouse, and try to make contact with the inhabitants to see if they have a telephone. There’s an old adage that says air that smells bad tastes bad - and this place stinks in a way that they could never have imagined in their worst nightmares. Ever get the feeling that somebody is watching you?

The primary difference between these two movies is the bad guy. Leatherface, the mad guy with the chainsaw, has become one of the greatest horror film nemeses of our time. In TCM 2003 he looks nastier and more frightening than he ever has before, and yet this time, the writers seem to have opted to try and make him into something more than just a power-tool wielding maniac. In TCM 2003, Leatherface has issues and whilst you might not be completely convinced that they would be enough to motivate the beast you see slicing and dicing, you can’t help but marvel at the modern day obsession with trying to explain everything. In the original movie, Leatherface was motivated purely by the cannibalistic instinct that he shared with his family. Whilst it’s not terribly nice to beat someone’s brains in with a mallet, it’s a quick enough death and makes no distinction between man and cattle. In TCM 2003, things take a whole new direction. The modern-day Leatherface is clearly deranged and obviously enjoys ritual murder, torture and mutilation. He doesn’t seem motivated by flesh anymore – now it’s all about skin…..

Anyone who thinks this movie lacks style, sucks. It’s official. TCM 2003’s director has embellished the original legend with little touches that lift the whole thing way clear of mediocrity. In one sequence, Leatherface’s loopy father summons the boy in an almost mythical manner and whilst the film is certainly not devoid of cliché, there are times when the table is turned. It is a moment of sheer genius to suggest that whilst the victims’ cars might not start and their cellphones might be dead, in this world, the serial killer’s weapon of choice might just stall as well. There’s a whole new supporting cast too of grotesque extremities of every kind of human nature imaginable. But perhaps the most satisfying fact of all is that our heroine actually has some guts. She might run around and scream a lot, but man she has got it in for that sheriff!