20 Mind-Blowing Facts About The Saw Franchise
The masterfully crafted horror franchise could've turned out so differently.
During the early millennium, the horror genre went through a dry spell. Even though studios were churning out sequels and reboots to once-hot properties like Halloween and Friday the 13th, nothing seemed to be grabbing audiences.
But everything changed in 2004 when James Wan and Leigh Whannell's Saw came out of nowhere and became the biggest horror phenomenon in years. With its creative gore, mesmerising score, and mind-blowing twist, it wasn't a surprise Saw became a lucrative franchise. Fans couldn't get enough. Even after the killer was dead, the series chucked out another seven movies because people were so hungry for more.
But the making of the movies is just as interesting (and crazy) as the franchise itself. Did you know cinema goers could see the films for free if they donated blood? Did you know Dr. Gordon was meant to return much sooner? Did you catch the Pulp Fiction reference in the most recent movie? Read on to learn the the the most mind-blowing (and grossest) secrets of the Saw series.
If you haven't seen the films, avert your eyes. This article will contain ALL the spoilers.
20. The Director Doesn't See The Film As A Horror
Even though Saw was a money-maker and launched a franchise, it wasn't long before critics referred to it as mere "torture-porn" or a "gore-fest". But according to the director, James Wan, and writer, Leigh Whannell, this term is completely unwarranted. Excluding the Reverse Bear Trap scene, a lot of the gore is only implied. The other trap scenes are shown in fast-forward so the gore is barely seen.
In an interview with AV Club, the filmmakers said Marathon Man and Reservoir Dogs became famous because of their torture scenes and yet, weren't painted by critics with the same brush. The later entries could be referred to as "torture-porn", but the original filmmakers insist that the first film is a mystery thriller.