Having absolutely no intention to, I actually watched the 1980 original and this one almost back-to-back...within 24 hours of each other. I had seen this on another list but didn't even think about it being a reboot of the original from 1980 (which I had never watched until recently.) Having seen them virtually back-to-back, though, actually proved useful as I can now attest that this version is almost an identical remake of the original, as far as the storyline (or lack of one) goes. Truly there is hardly any "story" to this movie...and what tiny bit of "story" there is, you're left to decipher it for yourself. There are microsecond glimpses into a very weak back story but you're basically left trying to figure out what the backstory is. (His mom was a whore and he saw her in action, so that scarred him? I don't know...I'm still trying to figure it out?) In any event, as far as the very weak storyline, they're identical. Where this version supercedes the original is the dark emotions that are so beautifully portrayed by Elijah Wood. I don't know that I've ever seen him in anything else but he was terrific in this one. There were multiple scenes and shots where the torment of a twisted mind was clearly visible in his eyes, his expressions; he made the "Maniac" character come to life in far better ways than the original ever came close to. Was he a sick, twisted, perverted individual? Yes...but behind those tortured eyes, you almost felt some twinge of pity for the guy who's psyche had been mangled by his inattentive mom who often left him on his own. Aside from that, the kills were, of course, a bit more gruesome (which is always fun). All that being said, though, the film was still sorely lacking in any kind of defined story, so this - like the original - wound up being just a 85-minute prolonged trail of brutal kills with a nearly-identical confusing ending. I give it a "6" because of the raw emotions that are portrayed here by Elijah Wood, and - of course - because of the more gruesome kills. (Fans of blood and guts, don't get your hopes up; there's nothing here even remotely like _Texas Chainsaw Massacre_ or _Hostel_ .) Bottom line, however, is this is still relatively weak, and you won't be missing anything if you give this one a pass.