Lionsgate is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the most successful horror series to date by bringing its first installment back into select theaters: The first installment in the Saw series will be back in theaters on October 31st for one week only. An October without Saw would be like a December without Christmas.
The first movie in the series may have premiered in 2004 but the idea was concocted many years before. Australian director James Wan and writer Leigh Whannell began to create the idea for the masterpiece after finishing film school. The two men did not have enough money to create this low budget film and after failed attempts to have the script produced in Australia, they flew to Los Angeles in hope of greater success.
Once in Los Angeles, the two filmed a modified scene from the movie in order to convince producers of the genius behind the idea. The producers Gregg Hoffman, Mark Burg, and Oren Koules all read the script and immediately put the wheels in motion on the film. They created the horror genre production label, Twisted Pictures and had to put down a second mortgage on their headquarters to fund the project. Saw was given a production budget of a little over $1 million.
Wan, Whannell, and the three producers put a lot of faith and trust in this revolutionary idea. The first movie was such a success that it went on to spawn a highly grossing seven film series. The series grossed over $874,000,000 worldwide and became the most successful horror series ever. Comics, toys, rides, and many more attractions grew from this one small project to continue the success over many years.
The Saw series has, of course, drawn a lot of controversy because of its hardcore physical and psychological torture to characters. Many immediately put the series under the genre of torture porn. The writers of Saw disagree with this label because the movies have less torture than a movie like Hostel, but the characters are rewarded with life by inflicting pain on themselves or others to escape certain death while in traps.
The plot of the first Saw film focuses on two men who wake up in a secure lair of a serial killer, with a dead body lying between them. The killer, nicknamed “Jigsaw,” leaves them tape recorded messages with details of how to make it out alive. The only way for one to make it out alive is to do the unthinkable. The two men desperately try to find a way out, while also trying to figure out who’s behind their kidnapping.
The first movie in the series is truly amazing and is one of my favorites of all time. Fans can rejoice for the return of the beloved film that started it all. There is speculation that Lionsgate may use the return of the first film to announce the reboot of the series. There has been talk since the series ended in 2010 that there is a possibility of a return to the popular series. Both Wan and Whannell have gone on to direct and write great films over the last few years; however, both would be up for returning if there is a new, bold and fresh look to the series. Oren Koules believes there is a high possibility of a return in the future if the new idea will bring back popularity and will be a box office success.
Check out the link below to see the poster for the upcoming re-release of Saw and the new ten-year anniversary trailer released by Lionsgate.
http://www.slashfilm.com/saw-2014/