Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dumb characters, lots of gore, in seventh Chainsaw movie.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 18+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Texas Chainsaw 3D
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 10 parent reviews
Based on 21 kid reviews
Kids say the movie is filled with extreme violence and gore, making it unsuitable for younger audiences, as it features numerous graphic killings and strong language. While some viewers enjoyed the mindless horror and jumpscares, many criticized the lack of a coherent plot and found it to be more of a mindless gore fest than a true horror film.
- extreme violence
- unsuitable for kids
- mindless horror
- lack of plot
- graphic content
- mixed reviews
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Immediately following the events of the 1974 movie, a band of local vigilantes burns down the Sawyer farm, and a baby is secretly rescued from the scene. Years later, the grown-up Heather (Alexandra Daddario) works as a butcher in a supermarket. She learns that her blood grandmother has died and left her a mansion and decides to take some friends to see it. Unfortunately, a hitchhiker decides to ransack the place and accidentally unleashes Leatherface (Dan Yeager), who has quietly been living in the basement. Leatherface goes on a rampage, while Heather learns the terrible secret of what really happened on that day all those years ago.
Is It Any Good?
TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D starts with some good ideas. It follows immediately on the trail of the original classic, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) and introduces the main character as Leatherface's cousin. The movie touches slightly on the idea of families looking out for one another, which makes for an interesting dynamic toward the end. Unfortunately, the bulk of the movie is just another slasher flick, albeit a non-supernatural one.
Characters usually suffer their terrible fates through blatant stupidity, such as trusting the mysterious hitchhiker alone in a house full of valuables. They rarely behave in an even remotely logical manner -- for example, there's a scene in which a cop explores the Sawyer mansion alone. Director John Luessenhop shoots cleanly in order to capitalize on the 3-D effects, but there's nothing particularly scary or even imaginative here. Overall, it's better than some of the entries in this series but nowhere near as powerful as the first.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Texas Chainsaw 3D's violence. Do the gore and blood seem excessive for the genre? Are they necessary to the story? What impact does it have on you?
What's the appeal of horror movies in general and slasher movies in particular? Why has the Texas Chainsaw series lasted so long?
Who is the villain in this movie? Is it Leatherface, or are regular people to blame for these events? Or is it more of a gray area? Do horror movies have to have obvious villains?
Movie Details
- In theaters : January 4, 2013
- On DVD or streaming : May 14, 2013
- Cast : Alexandra Daddario , Tania Raymonde , Thom Barry , Trey Songz
- Director : John Luessenhop
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Lionsgate
- Genre : Horror
- Run time : 92 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong grisly violence and language throughout
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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