As a lifelong horror enthusiast who has seen more slasher flicks than I care to admit, it’s fascinating to delve into the evolution of the iconic “Saw” franchise. The way comedians like Chris Rock find humor even in the darkest corners of these films is truly remarkable. It’s a testament to their unique perspectives and the power of storytelling that can captivate audiences, even when dealing with grim subject matter.
“I want to play a game.”
For the past twenty years, it’s been since two individuals found themselves in an outdated restroom, marking the initiation of a sinister scheme devised by the infamous serial killer, Jigsaw.
On October 29, 2004, the movie “Saw,” directed by James Wan and written by Leigh Wannell, unexpectedly terrified moviegoers, earning a massive $103.9 million globally on a minimal budget of approximately $1 million.
Influenced by “The Blair Witch Project,” the duo’s creation soon became the foundation for a horror film series that not only outdid its inspiration but almost every other one available. Over seven films, released annually in October from 2004 to 2010, this franchise achieved something no other—horror or otherwise—had ever managed: surpassing the six consecutive films of “Police Academy” between 1984 and 1989.
And it didn’t stop there. The games began again with the release of 2017’s Jigsaw, bringing the franchise’s global box office receipts to a staggering $976 million. And the film tally continued to grow after Spiral: From the Book of Saw, the ninth installment based on a story idea from comedian and the movie’s star Chris Rock, arrived in theaters in 2021 followed by Saw X two years later.
It looks like this won’t be the last one fans saw, either as Saw XI is set to hit the big screen in September 2025.
Curious about the upcoming release? Let’s delve into 20 intriguing facts that have emerged from the world of the Saw franchise.
Originally, the creators James Wan and Leigh Wannell envisioned their first movie as a low-budget production where two actors were trapped in an elevator, shot through security cameras, to keep it confined and cost-effective. The story eventually unfolded as we now know it in a rundown industrial bathroom setting.
The inspiration for the franchise’s notorious villain Jigsaw arose when Leigh, believing he had a brain tumor due to recurring headaches, sought confirmation from a neurologist with an MRI scan.
The first movie was filmed over a period of 18 days with a budget slightly exceeding $1 million. Money was so scarce that only a limited number of takes were allowed per scene, which left James and editor Kevin Greutert with insufficient footage in post-production. To address this issue, they resorted to ingenious solutions. As James described to The A.V. Club, “We would piece together… fictitious shots and essentially make them look like surveillance camera footage.” Additionally, still photographs were employed to fill in gaps.
7. Following the unprecedented success of Saw, which raked in $103 million globally, the production for Saw II was swiftly given the go-ahead. However, neither Leigh nor James were accessible to work on it. Consequently, producers opted for a script titled The Desperate, written by Darren Lynn Bousman, to be adapted into the script for Saw II. Darren was then entrusted with directing, while Leigh managed to contribute revisions on the script.
9. At first, neither James, Leigh nor Darren declined the proposal for a third movie in the series. However, when producer Gregg Hoffman, who played a significant role in realizing James and Leigh’s vision, tragically passed away at 42 only weeks after the release of Saw II, they decided to return in his memory. Darren shared with ComingSoon.net in 2006 that “We all got together for lunch when we heard the news, and we were like, ‘You know what? They’ll make Saw III whether we’re here or not, so let’s do it for Greg.’ We had always planned for three films, and so we spent the next two weeks discussing it.
The MPAA initially threatened several films in the franchise with an NC-17 rating until modifications were made to achieve a more attractive R rating. However, Saw VI was deemed excessively violent for Spain and became the first film ever given a Pelicula X rating for violence – a rating usually reserved for adult content. Initially confined to only eight cinemas in the country, the movie was released nearly a year later with an 18 rating following the removal of several violent scenes.
13. In the movie “Saw 3D”, Chester Bennington, the lead vocalist of Linkin Park who passed away later, played the character Evan. He worked with an acting coach to grasp the character’s motivation. He mentioned in ArtistDirect.com interview from 2010 that understanding the character and his motives was more challenging than he anticipated. He thought he might be overthinking it, but a wonderful acting coach guided him through the complexities.
Starting from 2004, every October saw an annual blood drive dubbed “Give Til It Hurts,” inspired by the release of each new Saw film. This event was in partnership with the Red Cross, and donors were rewarded with a free ticket to watch that year’s movie. By 2009’s Saw VI, over 120,000 pints had been donated, equating to more than 360,000 lives saved. The tradition was revived for the release of Jigsaw in 2017 and has continued up until the anticipated premiere of Saw X in 2023.
- Fans can thank Chris Rock for the inspiration behind Spiral: From the Book of Saw.
In a 2021 interview with Comicbook.com, the comedian expressed his thoughts about a movie he watched, saying, “I thought there could have been four jokes added without ruining the film.” When it comes to Saw and Saw II, he felt the same way.
19. Nonetheless, Tobin made an appearance in “Saw X,” which signified Jigsaw’s comeback in what Lionsgate labeled as his “most intimately crafted game.” The movie took place between the initial and second “Saw” films, so the filmmakers needed to ensure that the scenes accurately depicted that specific period.
Initially scheduled for release in September 2024, the movie “Saw XI” was later moved back a year. Although fans will need to wait for further updates on the film, Tobin has confirmed his return to the role. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times in October 2024, the actor expressed his enthusiasm about further exploring his character: “I’m really excited about continuing to develop him. The character of John Kramer is far from finished; there’s still much more to uncover.
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2024-10-29 13:18