“Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation” (1995), widely considered the worst of the franchise, has a lot going against it before you press play. The saga’s fourth entry didn’t get a full theatrical release, the poster and on-screen graphics look cheap, and it never achieves (or even tries for) scares.

Before I launch into full apologetics, I’ll admit it’s not actually good. It repeats the formula wherein teens are picked off by hillbillies who have a disturbingly complex structure in place. The scheme features a tow-truck driver (Matthew McConaughey as Vilmer), a seemingly helpful relatively normal person (Tonie Perensky as Darla), a crazy shock-stick-toting guy (Joe Stevens as W.E.), and a cross-dressing (cross-facing?) Leatherface (Robert Jacks).

Matthew and Renee

But “Next Gen” is an interesting film, too interesting to rate a mere 3.3 on IMDb. First in its favor is the cast. You may have heard it features McConaughey and Renee Zellweger, but you might be surprised that these aren’t trivial early career roles: They are the leads. And both are committed.

“Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation” (1995)

Director: Kim Henkel

Writer: Kim Henkel

Stars: Renee Zellweger, Matthew McConaughey, Robert Jacks

McConaughey’s mechanical-legged Vilmer leads the Slaughter gang and Zellweger’s Jenny is the Final Girl. The actors throw themselves into the insanity of the conclusive dinner scene; McConaughey even manages to deliver his trademark “All right, all right, all right” without looking silly.

A couple things work against “Next Gen.” For one thing, it’s not scary. Great hillbilly horror villains are almost sane, and we slowly realize they aren’t. Here, the Slaughters are immediately cartoons (albeit idiosyncratically entertaining ones – note W.E.’s recitations of famous revolutionary quotes).

Trying another comedy

For another thing, having the same structure – and many of the same shots (welcome back, meat hook) — for the fourth-straight film is rather lazy. And there’s another repeat: As with “Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2,” this one is a comedy.

But the original film’s writer Kim Henkel repeats himself with a purpose as he writes and directs “Next Gen.” This is actually a better comedy than “Chainsaw 2” if only because it’s a tight 87 minutes.

Henkel leans into every cliché to the point of laughs (or at least the clear intention of laughs): an over-the-top “girls are for the purpose of sex” teen boy (Tyler Shea Cone as Barry) who appears to be 35, a mousy girl (Zellweger) who is hot once she removes her glasses and has her prom dress conveniently ripped into something more fashionable, and a brief moment of inexplicably gratuitous boobs. That’s for starters.

Henkel has more ambitious meta-commentary ideas than Hooper’s sequel. It’s similar to Wes Craven’s “New Nightmare” (1994), known as a testing ground for “Scream.” (It’s worth noting that most people saw “Scream” before “Next Gen,” which didn’t get wide distribution until 1997. So “Next Gen” arrived outdated, another mark against it.)

The purpose of monsters

A post from halloweenlove.com notes that “Next Gen” is a precursor to “Cabin in the Woods” as it tiptoes into commenting on the higher purpose of monsters in society. With each successive “Chainsaw” sequel, we have to wonder “How are the villains (called the Slaughters in this version) still running their operation?”

Henkel comes up with the notion that a higher-ranking power has sanctioned the Slaughters’ ongoing slaughter.

This isn’t merely a case of a corrupt sheriff (as seen in the remake duology), but rather a deep-state conspiracy. So when James Gale arrives in a limo as Mr. Rothman, and he has ritual tattoos and piercings, and the Slaughters kowtow to him, and he randomly licks Jenny’s face … well, Henkel is going for something.

“Next Gen” ends with the original’s Sally (Marilyn Burns), in a fugue state, being carted past Jenny in the hospital. It’s perhaps a comment on how terrifying history repeats itself through the generations. Maybe it’s purposely blunt for the sake of humor.

“Next Gen” doesn’t crisply succeed at what it’s going for, but unlike with the two previous sequels, you can’t ignore this one. It’s more ambitious than the generic “Chainsaw 3.” It’s easier to watch than the bloated “Chainsaw 2.” And when one considers the dumb “Texas Chainsaw 2013,” we shouldn’t be so fast to position “The Next Generation” at the bottom of the barrel.

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My rating: