Edward Abraham

The problem with Netflix' version of "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" is the same as with most Netflix productions. Wokeism and social justice are more important than a plot and entertainment value. The original TCM film from the 1970s featured a cast of young people we could at least feel for, in that they really did nothing to bring on the chaos that ensued. The current version, however, introduces a cast of characters who are not really likable and seem to just be fodder for murder. As with so many Netflix productions, race and gender issues are introduced almost immediately into the film, and southern stereotypes quickly follow. The original film included long periods of tension and anxious anticipation. The latest version simply offers up an orgy of killing and blood on an ad hoc basis. We don't even have time to confirm whether our initial take on the cast is correct; most are quickly dispatched. Some will find this movie entertaining in that it doesn't waste time with much dialogue or character development. If you're taking the time to read reviews like this, you're probably not one of those people.

It's bad enough Hollywood feels the need to cram its politics into virtually every film it produces now, but could the producers and directors actually do it within an entertaining film? "13 Minutes" is billed as a suspenseful disaster movie, but it is anything but that film. It is a politically motivated drama with a cameo appearance by a tornado. It tries mightily to tug on the heartstrings and human emotion conjured up during times of turmoil and disaster, but the heavy-handedness of it ruins the effect. It is slow and plodding and filled with banal dialogue from cardboard cutout characters. Even without the political affront, the film would still be lousy.