10 Horror Films That Tried Something Different (And Failed)

Since Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) was introduced in Saw as a man riddled with terminal cancer, it was obvious the puppet-obsessed killer wouldn't be sticking around for long.

However, Bell was so captivating in the role, the filmmakers weren't ready to say goodbye to him even after Jigsaw popped his clogs in Saw III. To get around this, Jigsaw returned in future instalments through a series of flashbacks. But as the sequels continued to decline in quality, it was obvious having Jigsaw pop up for five minutes wasn't enough to save the series.

When interest started drying up, Chris Rock stepped in to give the property a fresh start. Rather than dwelling on Jigsaw's legacy like the later Saw sequels, Chris Rock's soft reboot, Spiral, focused on a brand-new killer.

But due to the forgettable traps, Rock's miscasting, an underwhelming villain, and a predictable twist, the film failed miserably to reinvigorate the franchise. Also, it wasn't the same without Jigsaw. Imagine A Nightmare on Elm Street without Freddy or Hellraiser without Pinhead. Villains of this calibre are so iconic, no substitute is good enough.

Unsurprisingly, the follow-up, Saw X, went back to basics, making Jigsaw central to the story once more. Considering how critically and financially successful this latest instalment has been, it further proves how silly it was for Spiral to exclude John Kramer.