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Post by loverofbeers on Jan 1, 2013 22:50:32 GMT -5
The Mystery Box. I have had this as an idea since June. One point for any non-horror movie filmed in or where a part of the plot occurs in Texas. Two points for horror movies filmed in Texas (e.g the remake of Friday the 13th was filmed in Texas but portrays Crystal Lake. That's a two-pointer). Two points for horror movies that take place in Texas too. Three points for any of the Texas Chainsaw franchise besides "The Next Generation". Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Next Generation is a torturous watch, an abortion of cinema. That's a Four Pointer. Cause it blows so bad, the reward should be greater. Waco, the Rules of Engagement is also worth four points, but I won't be watching it. Makes me too angry and I know the story too well. Honor system at play and the competition ends at midnight Pacific time on the last day of the month. Dog will hunt!!! Bring it Jake.
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Post by loverofbeers on Jan 3, 2013 16:25:25 GMT -5
Can you feel it, can you hear it? 01/04/13 is almost here. The Chainsaw commeth..... "Dog will hunt. Get that bitch, Leatherface. Get that bitch. Dog will hunt!"
The Chainsaw.... is gonna.... slice.... you.... up. Bring it!
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Post by loverofbeers on Jan 4, 2013 1:25:33 GMT -5
I fucked up today. I failed the horror genre. I failed as a fan-boy of Tobe Hooper. I failed as a horror fan. I went online to buy a ticket for Texas Chainsaw 3D and I found out that I had no idea about the following, and that it already was sold out:
TOBE HOOPER, DIRECTOR-WRITER-PRODUCER OF THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE, LIVE IN PERSON!
Prepare to have your face ripped off! The Alamo Drafthouse and Lionsgate are proud to present a monumentally awesome evening for all generations of TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE fans -- a double feature screening of the original THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE in 35mm and its first-ever direct sequel, TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D! With Tobe Hooper in attendance!
In 1974, THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE was released. Five kids. A Volkswagen van. And the inhuman, cannibalistic Sawyer family. To the landscape of horror cinema, this was pretty much the equivalent of God floating down to earth, erasing all forms of disease, and incinerating white people with cornrows. In other words, TCM changed everything and made the world better. The film terrorized a bazillion people through subtlety, simplicity, and a beautifully ragged D.I.Y. aesthetic. With cross-dressing, schizo-maniac Leatherface as their mascot, Tobe Hooper and friends launched one of the longest-running and most controversial horror franchises of all time. That impact has never been lost.
After four decades of semi-sequels, requels, and reboots, the franchise returns with TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D, the first-ever direct sequel to the original film. TC3D gets down to what really counts. There's no attempt at irony. No smug self-awareness. This is Leatherface in all his glory -- hacking, chopping, and sawing everything that gets in his path, while opening up a new world of possibilities for the infamous Sawyer family. This film isn't another re-imagining. It's a reason to throw up your fists and rejoice. With Tobe Hooper's approval and appearances from original series cast members Marilyn Burns ("Sally" from TCM), Bill Moseley ("Choptop" from TCM2), and Gunnar Hansen (the original Leatherface!), this is the one that gets it right. (Joseph A. Ziemba)
TC3D directed by John Luessenhop (TAKERS); screenplay by Adam Marcus and Debra Sullivan and Kirsten Elms; story by Stephen Susco and Adam Marcus and Debra Sullivan; based on characters created by Kim Henkel and Tobe Hooper. Rated R for strong grisly violence and language throughout.
I still went to the theater and tried and I waited till showtime. Failed. No ticket cancellations. I will meet Mr. Hooper someday. I swear by my Uncle Satan. You can bet on it.
Instead.....
First, I watched The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) on lowly DVD from the comfort of my couch. So sad.
Second, I left the Alamo Drafthouse which Tobe Hooper was due to appear at, and the double feature, and I drove to extreme South Austin to another Alamo Drafthouse, and I watched Texas Chainsaw 3D.
Tomorrow I'll write a bit more about my thoughts on the original classic. No comment for a bit from me on tonight's debut. No spoilers here. Cheers!
LOB-6
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Post by loverofbeers on Jan 4, 2013 4:36:31 GMT -5
I'm not known for patience, so a small bit about this new movie. I read other reviews and have agreed with all but the ONE positive review I have read. No spoilers here, but a warning about Texas Chainsaw 3D. First, where is the word "Massacre"? The good, I loved the first minutes of the original movie shot in 3D. Very good stuff, until the director started HIS movie.... The Bad... Don't waste your money on 3D. Watch the regular less expensive to your wallet version if you must. The plot itself doesn't warrant flushing your cash down a toilet. If you want to support this movie do so, but as a huge fan of the original, it's REAL direct sequel by Tobe Hooper (1986), Part 3, and even the Michael Bay productions, this one is only better than the worthless "Next Generation". I almost feel like minutes of character growth and plot development were needlessly and harmfully edited, or trimmed, but the director, John Luessenhop, I feel, shouldn't be given this kind of credit. He never even directed horror before. How could this project be given to such a goof? As "THE DIRECT SEQUEL" to the original, the family name was changed back to Sawyer instead of Platinum Dune's Hewitt family (I liked these remakes). So why is Leatherface never referred to as Leatherface but as "Jeb", the little mutant kid from Michael Bay's alternative timeline? And what terrible casting! I have trouble with math, but these guys totally are idiots. Math matters. I think the decades of the 1990s and 2000s were forgotten (two decades of bodily aging for ALL the main characters). Math matters. Goofy ass shit that this is, I did enjoy it at a few turns. But the turning of the audience against law enforcement and the locals for Leatherface and his clan? I don't believe John Luessenhop understood the original, if he ever has even actually watched it. The bad guys are the Sawyers and that is how this apparently new franchise in the making should have proceeded (The Sawyers were not named in the original, except for Leatherface, but became known as the "Sawyers" in Parts 2 and 3. So much for ignoring all but the original and being it's sequel. The inconsistencies never end with this movie, nor the money grubbing hypocrisies).... Hope I didn't give any spoilers, but, C'mon! Sadly the cameos by Gunner Hansen and Bill Moseley should never have occurred. This movie tarnished both actors for me. And that is an injustice and an epic fail by the production team, the writers, the director, and sadly by these actors that I do and have liked for decades. Sorry for the negativity. A decent outing for a first time horror director if this movie didn't have an important film legacy to uphold. Cheers? EDIT: Uncle Creepy from Dreadcentral.com nailed it in his review heavy with SPOILERS. If you want it click away. www.dreadcentral.com/reviews/texas-chainsaw-3d-2012EDIT AGAIN: I cleaned this up and expanded it very slightly to be clearer in meaning.
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Post by loverofbeers on Jan 7, 2013 2:23:25 GMT -5
Just watched Killer Joe. Wow. It even had a TTCM reference ("I will cut your face off and wear it."). Plus a fucked up dinner scene with a fucked up Texas family. And filmed in New Orleans, so you know they all had happy stomachs. William Friedken is the most humble talented director I have ever seen interviewed. A Cheers! to that old badass. Well done and Texas fried! A very enjoyable watch and a hell of a black comedy. Everybody involved hit home run after home run.
LOB-6
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Post by loverofbeers on Jan 11, 2013 20:44:39 GMT -5
Oops, I meant LOB-7
Watched the great Coen Brothers' film, True Grit this week. The majority of the film was shot in Central Texas. The young actress was incredible. A modern classic. And don't kill me, but I don't think John Wayne was a good actor, so I for now have missed the original.
LOB-8
I had a very sad ending to this week. A Cheers! to my Louie. I love you so very much.
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Post by jakeawesomesnake on Jan 13, 2013 6:05:31 GMT -5
First I watched 1991 vampire horror movie Blood Ties which was shot and mainly takes place in Long Beach ,but at the very beginning the movie starts in Texas. The vampires are the protagonists and consider themselves Carpathian-Americans. I liked most of the soundtrack for this movie and alot of the ideas, such as vampires trying to be good ,but having to resist their animalistic instincts. This movie has laughably bad acting though, and despite being made in 1991 is very 80's from the style of shooting to wardrobe to alot of the acting style.
Second I watched 2006 slasher All The Boys Love Mandy Lane which was both filmed and set in Texas. I have mixed feelings about this one. As far as the positive the gore looked really good and it had both great cinematograhpy and a great soundtrack. I also thought the simple look of the killer with his hoodie and unkempt long short hair looked good. Now what I didn't like was the bad acting and predictability of this movie, also didn't like unrealistic parts where a dude gets blasted with a shotgun and survives without a mark on him. I've heard that the director was trying to do a The Cabin in the Woods reconstruction/homage of the slasher genre and while I thought he failed I do think that he had alot of good elements, especially for their first feature film.
Third I watched The Coen Brothers debut film 1984's Blood Simple. This was a really good film, the soundtrack and gore was great, as was the performance of M. Emmet Walsh as a sleazy private eye. I also liked how it showed people completely in over their heads such as having no idea how to dispose of a body or being unable to handle a murder that they ordered. The finale was magnificent except for the first badly acted kill ,but otherwise the violence was realistic and reminded me of a conclusion to an Italian Giallo/80's slasher film with great gore. Now I have The Four Top's It's The Same Old Song stuck in my head. This was filmed and set in Texas.
Finally I watched 2008's Apaloosa a Western directed and starring Ed Harris, along with Viggo Mortensen, Renee Zellweger, and Jeremy Irons. Second time watching this film and man is it great. The violence and gore is realistic and well done, the acting is good and there's also alot of good little comedic moments. Cinematograhpy is great as well and I also liked the soundtrack. Viggo Mortensen in particular is great along with his fucking huge 8 gauge shotgun. This was filmed in Texas ,but set in New Mexico.
And LOB sorry for the loss of your dog, it always sucks to lose a member of the family which is what most of my dogs have been to me. Glad you're keeping the great Terry Gordy though.
JAS-6
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Post by jakeawesomesnake on Jan 13, 2013 6:16:09 GMT -5
Just to clarify:
Blood Ties-Filmed in Long Beach and Los Angelses, California. Set in Loving County, Texas and Long Beach California.
All The Boys Love Mandy Lane- Set in an unnamed area of Texas. Filmed in Santa Clarita, California and Austin/Bastrop, Texas.
Blood Simple-Set in an unnamed Texas town. Filmed in Pflugerville, Austin, Houston, Hutton, and Round Rock, Texas.
Appaloosa- Set in Appaloosa, New Mexico. Filmed in Santa Fe, New Mexico and Austin, Texas.
Man alot of movies are filmed in Austin.
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Post by loverofbeers on Jan 13, 2013 18:02:52 GMT -5
Thank you for the kind words. That wolf-dog was like a son and brother. The wolf in him gave him a quiet but wild serenity and a calm air of dignity. He was like no dog I have had touch my life. He will be missed. Terry Gordy is a perfect name for the growing pooch. Out of the bunch, he is the one BIG man-child, like his namesake, yet very gentle with his sisters and aggressively affectionate with me. He likes to hit me in the nuts and to wrestle. He wants to be a "Miracle Violence Connection" all by his lonesome. Yep, there are lots of films shot here or in my backyard (Central Texas' Hill Country) or elesewhere in Tejas (espanol). Check these out: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Films_shot_in_Texas , movies.toptenreviews.com/list-texas.htm www.movie-locations.com/movies/t/texaschain74.html. Watched the extended version of RoboCop (1987) last night on a special anniversary DVD. The featurettes especially the "Villains" one are recommended watches. Might be on Youtube. This is a very good movie that I first watched on the big-screen back in seventh grade. I remember not having ever seen anything like the hand scene before (Thank you Rob Botin). I also remember how this movie's futuristic cars replacing Crown Victorias for police departments were the new Ford Taurus. That was before the Taurus had recall safety problems and ended up getting off on the wrong foot in the automotive industry. Just one of those things I remember happening co-currently. From the mighty Wikipedia: The futuristic appearances of the Dallas buildings such as the Reunion Tower is visible in the background near the end. The front of Dallas City Hall was used as the exterior for the fictional OCP Headquarters, combined with extensive matte paintings to make the building appear taller. The steel mill scenes were filmed at Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel's Monessen Works, in the Pittsburgh suburb of Monessen, Pennsylvania.Also: Statue
In February 2011, there was a humorous ploy asking Detroit Mayor Dave Bing if there was to be a RoboCop statue in his 'New Detroit' proposal, which is planned to turn Detroit back into a prosperous city again. When the Mayor said there was no such plan, and word of this reached the internet, there were several fund raising events to raise enough money for the statue which would be built at the Imagination Station. It is yet to be seen if a statue will actually be built, but it is reported that over $50,000 has already been raised on the internet.
The RoboCop statue is going forward as of April 2012.This is a very smart action/semi-dystopic sci-fi film, Paul Verhoeven's first American film. I highly recommend this movie. It also gave me a new appreciation for Marvel Comic's ROM series that I used to see sitting on the newsstands at Circle Ks and 7-11s in the middle of the 1980s. Hollywood should do a ROM movie. I think it would work with a good creative team and modern effects. LOB-9
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Post by loverofbeers on Jan 13, 2013 18:18:28 GMT -5
420 posts here for JAS, and counting. Cheers! to a milestone. My next beer is for you.
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Post by loverofbeers on Jan 14, 2013 0:31:17 GMT -5
Just watched a documentary, The Plutonium Circus (1995), for the third time since I watched it at the formerly great, now nonexistent Dobie Theater at UT Austin when it first was released. I really enjoy this documentary about Amarillo, Texas that is full of eccentric individuals. The documentary is about these people and also about the Pantex nuclear site. Available here on youtube, www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-085q_GK5E , just not great resolution, but Hell, that's okay in this case. One of the most colorful characters presented is Stanley Marsh III. A funny, dry, smart, and very entertaining Texan. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Marsh_3Here is the IMDB synopsis: Funny yet incisive look at the PANTEX Nuclear Weapons Plant, in Amarillo, TX, which was used for nuclear weapons assembly during the Cold War. The plant, which provides most of the jobs for those living in Amarillo, now operates as a disassembly-line where the weapons, which were once built there, are now being taken apart with the plutonium getting stored underground. The film deals with the issues of storing the plutonium and the effects the plant has had (and is having) on the town of Amarillo, as well as how it has affected the way people thought about the Cold War and its aftermath. It does so by taking a look at the lives and activities of the Amarillo residents directly or indirectly associated with, or having strong opinions about the Plant. I recommend. LOB-10
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Post by loverofbeers on Jan 16, 2013 3:36:20 GMT -5
Watched Zombieland.
The first chunk occurs in Texas whether in a freshman's dorm room in the campus of UT Austin (been there, done that) or in one of the dozen or so towns, Garland specifically (think King of the Hill, Arlen is a carbon copy of those small towns where high school football is religion), that make up the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex (been there, done that, and it sucks!).
I first saw this movie at it's world premier during FantasticFest a few years back at the historical Paramount Theater. The main four actors as well as the director were there for a Q&A session. Woody is one of the coolest Texans ever, too bad his father was a murderer. Woody still rocks. The next day at FantasticFest I saw Survival of the Dead with George Romero doing a Q&A. Painful, painful, painful. But I love Zombieland and it's great special cameo. Fun times. Good stuff.
Drinking a Mexican Bohemia. Salud!
LOB-12
Just found this on Wikipedia for the entry of King of the Hill:
In early 1995.... Mike Judge co-created the show King of the Hill with former Simpsons writer Greg Daniels. Judge was a former resident of Garland, Texas, upon which the fictional community of Arlen was loosely based; however, the show was based more specifically on Richardson, Texas, a Dallas suburb, as Judge stated in a later interview. I'll tell you what.... What?
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Post by loverofbeers on Jan 21, 2013 0:44:15 GMT -5
I watched two movies, Goin' South and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2. Don't feel like typing much, so I will copy and paste from the mighty Wikipedia. Goin' South is one of my favorite comedies. Watching this movie you get the feeling most of the cast were coked up. Here is Wikipedia: Goin' South is an American western-comedy film, directed by and starring Jack Nicholson. The 1978 film also starred Mary Steenburgen in her movie debut and included Christopher Lloyd, John Belushi (also in his movie debut), Richard Bradford, Veronica Cartwright, Danny DeVito and Ed Begley, Jr.Although not a big hit upon its original release in 1978, with either critics or audiences, Goin' South has increased in critical reception over the years, as well as better reception from the public especially Nicholson fans. It currently holds a 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.Henry Lloyd Moon (Nicholson), a third-rate outlaw in the late 1860s, is a bank-robber, horse thief and cattle thief who is due to be hanged in Longhorn, Texas to the great glee of the local populace and especially of the deputy sheriff, played with vengeance by Christopher Lloyd. Moon comes under especially close scrutiny from some women in the town, which turns out to be because of a local ordinance, dating back to Civil War days, that allowed a condemned man (short of being a murderer) to be saved from the gallows if an unmarried lady would agree to marry him and be responsible for his good behaviour.
Moon is saved from hanging by the intervention of a lovely young woman who agrees to marry and take charge of him. Julia Tate (Steenburgen), the headstrong but genteel Southern virgin who weds Moon, initially only wants him to help her work the gold mine she insists is on her property; but their shaky partnership soon evolves into much more.The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, like George Romero's Day of the Dead and John Carpenter's The Thing, was not a hit at first, but is considered in a better light today by fans of the horror genre (And like Day of the Dead, this movie is blessed by having Tom Savini working his bloody magic on special effects). "Stretch", who has a cameo in the beginning of Leatherface, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3, is one of my favorite, if not my favorite role by a woman in horror. Her legs do stretch..... Also this movie showcases Shiner Bock Beer from Spoetzl, Texas and Big Red, the best soda to drink while eating Texas barbecue. I also love that Chop Top is such a good brother, that he carts his (The Hitchhiker's) preserved corpse like an overgrown ventriloquist dummy. Also there are cameos by Joe Bob Briggs and Kinky Friedman. Oh yeah, some of the soundtrack is Cosmic Cowboy tunes. Fun Stuff, good times. Here is Wikipedia: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (also known as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2) is a 1986 American horror dark comedy slasher film, directed by Tobe Hooper. It is a sequel to the 1974 horror classic The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, also directed and co-written by Hooper. It was written by L. M. Kit Carson and produced by Carson, Yoram Globus, Menahem Golan and Hooper. The film stars Dennis Hopper as "Lefty", Caroline Williams as "Stretch", Bill Johnson as "Leatherface", Bill Moseley as "Chop Top" and Jim Siedow, who reprises the role of "The Cook".The sequel was highly criticized by some for its stylistic departure from the first film, including its bigger budget and emphasis on gore and wacky black comedy, as opposed to the original which utilized minimal gore, a low-budget vérité style and atmosphere to build tension and fear. The emphasis was on black comedy, which director Tobe Hooper believed was present in the first film, but unacknowledged by viewers because of its realistic and shocking content. Despite being successful in its initial 1986 theatrical run, the film failed to make a substantial profit for the studio; however, it eventually garnered a cult following and became popular on home video, which led to a special edition release of the film on DVD in 2006.Controversies The film was released theatrically in the United States by Cannon Films in August 1986. It grossed $8,725,872 at the box office.
After it was submitted to the MPAA in the United States, the film received an "X" certificate, prompting the filmmakers to release it as unrated. However, TV previews, theatrical trailers and even posters for the film displayed the written statement: "Due to the nature of this film, no-one under 17 will be admitted".The film was released on VHS by Media Home Entertainment the same year. When initially released on home video and laserdisc, it still had no rating. When reissued on home video and on DVD in 2000, it was given an "R" rating by the MPAA.
In a similar way to its predecessor, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre 2 has had a checkered past in regard to its relationship with censors in various countries. As a result, the film is still banned in Germany and Singapore. When the film was submitted in the United Kingdom to the BBFC for a certificate, the BBFC notified Cannon, the distributor, that at least 20 to 25 minutes of footage would have to be trimmed in order for the film to be given an 18 rating. Cannon then aborted its plans for a possible UK release in 1990. Despite this, it is now rated 18 in the United Kingdom.
The film was banned in Australia for 20 years. An uncut version was released on VHS by Warner Bros. Home Video in New Zealand in 1987, but could also be found (illegally, as the box proudly stated) in some Australian video stores at the time. Nowadays, the New Zealand VHS cassette has become very rare. In 2000, an unofficial VHS release was issued to retailers throughout Australia. This was done so illegally by a duplicating house, and without the knowledge of the OFLC. When news of the illegal copies leaked, a number of retailers were raided for possessing infringing copies. The duplicating house was similarly raided by Federal Customs. The film was finally passed for official release in Australia on 30 November 2006. The Uncut "Gruesome Edition" DVD was released on 24 January the next year.
The Theatrical Release poster for the movie looks like the poster for The Breakfast ClubDrinking a Central Texas' Hill Country cerveza brewed from Blanco,Texas, Real Ale's Rio Blanco Pale Ale. Cheers! LOB-16
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Post by jakeawesomesnake on Jan 21, 2013 10:37:07 GMT -5
First I watched Werner Herzog's 2011 documentary Into The Abyss which is about two prisoners who killed four people for a car and then got into a shootout with the police. One got fifteen years and the other got the death penalty. It goes into his crime and has in depth interviews with the criminals, law enforcement, and families of the victims. As I've come to expect from a Herzog movie there's a great soundtrack and some great cinematograhpy ,but due to the nature of the subject most of the film is interviews which I found interesting. The prisoners just seem like two shitheads particuarly the one who got death. The dudes just nuts and you can kind of tell just by the look on his eyes that he doesn't feel he did anything wrongs and has the audacity to tell everyone he forgives them for putting him in his position. One of the things I liked was that Herzog would point out inconsistencies in people's statements and that despite him being against the death penalty, he doesn't try to use the material to fit his personal agenda and the documentary seems to unintentionally make more of a case for it as opposed to it. Good documentary.
Second I watched the dreaded and awful 1994 horror movie Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation starring Matthew McConaughey and Renee Zellweger. I'll start with the positive I loved the rock soundtrack and the ending country/ bluegrass theme, I also thought that the cinematograhpy was above average, some of the blood looked alright and I liked some of the random yelling by the family. Ok everything else was horrible, the acting, gore, Leatherface was made too weak and didn't look physically imposing, the fact that the TCM clan are part of the fucking Illuminati (WTF?), and especially the ending where the clan gets killed by a random crop dusting plane. God this movie was bad even down to the cover for the film. I could tell as soon as I started the film that this was going to be bad ,but at least it had a good soundtrack.
Finally I watched the great 1986 horror film Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer for the second time starring Michael Rooker and Tom Towles. This movie in incredibly realistic which is seen in the gore, acting, and actual acts of violence. It also has a great soundtrack. What I never picked up on until this viewing was that Henry= Merle on The Walking Dead. I also liked all the dark comedy present in the film. This movie takes place and was filmed in Chicago ,but was also filmed in Austin Texas too.
JAS-13 points
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Post by jakeawesomesnake on Jan 21, 2013 10:58:08 GMT -5
Into the Abyss- Filmed in Huntsville and Conroe, Texas.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation- Filmed in Pflugerville and Austin, Texas.
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer: Takes place in various places across the country ,but mainly Chicago. Filmed in Chicago, Illinois and Austin, Texas.
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