The Halloween weekend was ably represented in the UK last weekend when the remake of 1974 horror classic The Texas Chainsaw Massacre launched into second position with $2.3m (£1.4m).

Including preview figures of $118,908 (£70,037) the film, which stars Jessica Biel as a young woman who, with a group of friends, accidentally catches the homicidal attention of iconic horror character Leatherface, played to a strong $7,048 location average - bettered only by chart leader Finding Nemo and Imax only player The Matrix Reloaded in the top 20.

The remake fared far better than 20th Century Fox's reissue of 1979 horror classic Alien, released in a new Director's Cut. The film that made Sigourney Weaver a star came in at ten, right behind latest Weaver feature Holes.

However, better news for Fox came from the limited release of Jim Sheridan's In America. The drama, which stars Samantha Morton, Paddy Considine and Djimon Hounsou, opened seventh with a good $5,547 location average.

This put In America ahead of Pathe's In The Cut despite that film's 30 site advantage. Jane Campion's drama/thriller has been filling column inches in the UK in recent weeks thanks to its launch at the head of the London Film Festival and high profile interviews with star Meg Ryan.

Note - Intolerable Cruelty fell 22% week-on-week excluding previews from the previous weekend's tally.