AThe script says that she is in her early 20s, but there has been debate over how old she should be given the original film was made in 1974, and a title card at the beginning of the film places the date at August 19, 1973. (While Heather is searching through the police file, 1973 is smudged out except for one part just before she realizes who her mother was, you can clearly see that the date is Aug. 19 1973.) Presumably this was either an oversight by the filmmakers, or an act of reconnecting the series continuity to make the events of the original film take place sometime in the late 1980s, despite the original film's release date. Everything in the film points to the story taking place in 2012, e.g., smart phones, today's gas prices, modern technology, and the date on Verna's tombstone.
QWhat are the differences between the Theatrical Version and the Unrated Version?
ANot only since 2007's overly brutal TCM: The Beginning, gruesome acts of violence are one of the series' trademarks. Therefore, it was fitting that the newest entry received the MPAA's infamous NC-17 rating. Since that is not lucrative for a theatrical release, censorship was applied in order to get the "R" rating (for strong, grisly violence and language throughout). Also, past experiences let hardcore fans keep calm because the uncensored version could be expected on the home video releases later on. Unfortunately, the announcement for the DVD and Blu-ray did not contain any information about a longer cut of the movie. Would customers really have to accept the censored "R"-rated version on those releases, as well? After weeks of silence, many of them tended to do so and were completely surprised once again when the news broke that the unrated version does indeed exist and will be available exclusively as video-on-demand on US iTunes. The censorship isn't as exciting as the background facts. The alterations are typical MPAA repertoire, so it's either framecuts or usage of harmless alternate material. Altogether 11 differences can be found between both versions and a detailed comparison with pictures can be found here.
QDo any other characters or actors return?
AThe 1973 scene has four actors returning from previous installments. John Dugan reprises his role as Grandpa from the first movie. Bill Moseley, who played Chop Top in Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, plays Drayton Sawyer (popularly known as "The Cook") from the first two movies. Gunnar Hansen, who played Leatherface in the first movie, plays a new relative called Boss Sawyer. Later in the film, Marilyn Burns, who played Sally Hardesty in the first film and in Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation, portrays Verna Sawyer-Carson.
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