Note: Full spoilers for any Saw film prior to 2017 possible / likely.
I'm unashamed to admit that I'm a pretty big fan of the Saw series.
Yes, they had their limitations, yes the heretofore final film ('Saw 3D', 2010) was pretty terrible, but there was something very enjoyable about following what was basically an annual installment of a horror series for the best part of a decade.
So whats it all about?
In a nutshell; a deranged cancer survivor decides to play God with the morally wayward and place them in highly hazardous 'traps'- if they manage to escape / survive they will, in theory, fully appreciate their squandered lives.
In many ways, and echoed a million times throughout the internet, the series should have finished with the 3rd installment (with the main character - Jigsaw / John Kramer - and his chosen apprentice both dead), but God bless those greenback lovin' bastids at Lionsgate- they just couldn't let it go.
The next three films in the series followed the new antagonist / protagonist Detective Mark Hoffmann and his ever complex machinations to conceal the fact that he was the new Jigsaw.
Wisely, the later films also heavily featured the superb Tobin Bell (John Kramer) in flashback sequences.
One of the better installments for me was Saw VI, but it performed poorly in the box office (compared to the previous five films) , effectively killing the series off.
I've read that there were plans in place for parts VII & VIII, but they were revised, and the next film, 'Saw 3D' (also referred to as 'The Final Chapter') wrapped things up, but quite unsatisfactorily.
The story-line was approaching outlandish territory at this stage, and the final film was very poorly executed. With a heavy heart, I was glad to see it all end.
Fast forward seven years (dear lord) and we're back; Jigsaw is due to hit cinemas in October.
It features a new cast and story-line, and former apprentices / holders of the mantle (Detective Hoffman / Dr. Gordon) are nowhere in sight.
Could be a soft reboot. Could have some curve-balls. Will most likely finish with a twist (and some music by Charlie Clouser).
Regardless, I'm genuinely looking forward to it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPP6aIw1vgY
I'm unashamed to admit that I'm a pretty big fan of the Saw series.
Yes, they had their limitations, yes the heretofore final film ('Saw 3D', 2010) was pretty terrible, but there was something very enjoyable about following what was basically an annual installment of a horror series for the best part of a decade.
So whats it all about?
In a nutshell; a deranged cancer survivor decides to play God with the morally wayward and place them in highly hazardous 'traps'- if they manage to escape / survive they will, in theory, fully appreciate their squandered lives.
In many ways, and echoed a million times throughout the internet, the series should have finished with the 3rd installment (with the main character - Jigsaw / John Kramer - and his chosen apprentice both dead), but God bless those greenback lovin' bastids at Lionsgate- they just couldn't let it go.
The next three films in the series followed the new antagonist / protagonist Detective Mark Hoffmann and his ever complex machinations to conceal the fact that he was the new Jigsaw.
Wisely, the later films also heavily featured the superb Tobin Bell (John Kramer) in flashback sequences.
One of the better installments for me was Saw VI, but it performed poorly in the box office (compared to the previous five films) , effectively killing the series off.
I've read that there were plans in place for parts VII & VIII, but they were revised, and the next film, 'Saw 3D' (also referred to as 'The Final Chapter') wrapped things up, but quite unsatisfactorily.
The story-line was approaching outlandish territory at this stage, and the final film was very poorly executed. With a heavy heart, I was glad to see it all end.
Fast forward seven years (dear lord) and we're back; Jigsaw is due to hit cinemas in October.
It features a new cast and story-line, and former apprentices / holders of the mantle (Detective Hoffman / Dr. Gordon) are nowhere in sight.
Could be a soft reboot. Could have some curve-balls. Will most likely finish with a twist (and some music by Charlie Clouser).
Regardless, I'm genuinely looking forward to it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPP6aIw1vgY