The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning is a 2006 prequel to New Line Cinema's 2003 film The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Directed by Jonathan Liebesman and produced by Michael Bay, the film was released on October 6, 2006 in North America and is set 4 years before the 2003 remake. The film previously had the subtitle The Origin. New Line Cinema had to pay $3 million more than expected in order to keep the franchise in the studio fold after Dimension Films made a pricey deal with original rights holders.

The plot focuses around the origins of Leatherface and his cannibalistic family. It tells how Thomas Hewitt (Leatherface) came to be a chainsaw wielding murderer. It also focuses around four people Chrissie (Jordana Brewster), Dean (Taylor Handley), Bailey (Diora Baird) and Eric (Matthew Bomer) going on a road trip before the two men go to Vietnam to fight in the Vietnam War.

Along the way they get in a wreck and Chrissie is thrown from the car, where she then hides. The other three are met by Sheriff Hoyt (R. Lee Ermey) and are taken to the Hewitt residence. Soon they realize they are there to be murdered, for food, one by one, by the soon to be infamous murderer known as Leatherface.

DVD Release

— The film is set to be released on DVD January 16, 2007 as both an Unrated version (labeled "Too Shocking For Theaters") as well as an R-Rated version.

Trivia

— The theatrical trailer was attached to the remake of The Omen.

— According to a producer, the film was originally rated NC-17, and 17 scenes had to be edited in order to secure an R-rating.

— Made $19 million on its opening weekend, already covering the budget cost of $16 million.

Witness the birth of fear as Texas Chainsaw Massacres arrives on ...
Monsters and Critics.com, UK - Dec 5, 2006
... into Leatherface as the hit prequel The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning arrives on DVD on January 16, 2007, from New Line Home Entertainment. ...

Texas Chainsaw Prequel Arrives Unrated
Cinema Blend - Nov 26, 2006
Anyway, a few days ago New Line released details on their impending DVD release of Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning. Pre-ordering starts December 12th ...

Slasher movie sinks as low as it can
Biloxi Sun Herald, MS - Dec 1, 2006
In "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning," roadtrippers go cross-country and are assaulted and eaten by inbred cannibals. ...

'CSI' actress unrelated to Sandra Dee
Indianapolis Star, IN - Dec 13, 2006
Is "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" based on a true story? A: No, it's not a true story. There's a serious-voiced narrator (John Larroquette) at the beginning ...

Interview with Director Alan Rowe Kelly on The Blood Shed
Student Operated Press, FL - Dec 16, 2006
I had to make sure the characters weren’t the same folks from films like The Hills Have Eyes, Wrong Turn or Texas Chainsaw Massacre. ...