Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers (1988)

From the warning at the beginning to the very last cut, HCH is a lot of fun. What really separates it from the bucket-load of 80s crap is the addition of a private dick, unsubtly named Jack Chandler, who provides an occasionally clumsy but primarily enjoyable hardboiled, noir-esque voice-over. His wit and male weaknesses make him a likeable loser. The hookers play up to the scream-queen, comedy/horror stereotypes. It’s a fully self-aware script.
Despite the title there’s very few actual deaths by chainsaw, but having The Texas Chainsaw Massacre's Gunnar Hansen oversee them adds an extra in-joke for fans of the genre. The police chief also deserves a mention.

3 plastic sheets out of 5

THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE [1974]

I've seen A LOT of shocking and disturbing films over the years but none has ever really left the lasting impression that Tobe Hooper's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre did.
It's grainy camera work and choppy edits would usually turn me off the film but in Chainsaw's case it enhances the horror of the film by 100%. One terrifying scene is topped by the next with a fascinating use of extreme violence using next to no blood.
The nightmarish psychedelic music, the bizarre sound effects mixed well into the foreground, the distorted radio broadcasts and the effective use of disturbing day shots makes Chainsaw a one of a kind.
It's only weakness is it's lack of character developments. The only character that really stands out is the one you just can't wait to bite the dust.
With that, I can easily say Chainsaw is one of my top 10 favorite horror films of all time.

4½ John Larroquette's out of 5