Discuss: Do You Want a 9th ‘Saw’ Film?

Posted by Dr. Cole Abaius (cole.abaius@filmschoolrejects.com) on June 8, 2009

Last year, I bragged to everyone I knew that I was going to sit through all five Saw films in a row during a special day-long screening leading up to the release of Saw V. I have no idea why that seemed like a decent way to spend my day at the time, but I think part of the plan was to hilariously journalize my experience and see if I could survive. As some of you probably guessed, I didn’t end up hitting up the Saw marathon, which was good, because I ended up hating the shit out of Saw V.

I’m pretty open about the fact that I’m a Saw fan. I loved the original and dug several of the follow-ups, even while slapping my head in disbelief that they kept making them. I get it. They’re fairly cheap to make, and they make a ton of money at the box office, but it’s surprising how quick the franchise is at pumping them out especially considering it popped out of the indie birthing canal.

Now, Bloody Disgusting has talked to star Tobin Bell who didn’t totally, outright deny the possibility of them talking about maybe doing a Saw IX. With that, the discussion has begun. The sixth installment hits theaters this Halloween-ish, and with its success rests the continuation toward a 7th or 8th film. They aren’t gauranteed yet, but the sixth would have to only be seen by James Wan’s mother in order for Twisted Pictures not to continue on.

My answer is a tentative yes with some major caveats.

• Marcus Dunstan and Patrick Melton wrote Saw V and the forthcoming Saw VI. If the next installment is nearly as poorly structured and convoluted as their first attempt, they should be shown the door.
• Jigsaw has to get involved again. Killing him was a great idea – if the series was going to end. Now it just looks like the creative team was caught with their pants down when two more films were ordered. If he’s not a major factor in the films somehow, there’s no point in doing them.
• If they are going to have an apprentice really take over the reigns, that person needs to actually follow Jigsaw’s code or there’s zero depth. With no depth, it just becomes torture porn and might as well be direct-to-DVD.
• The first film was compared to Se7en by some. That’s pretty far off-base, but I can’t imagine anyone even coming close to thinking Saw V compared. The franchise needs to re-evaluate the story, get back to what inspired the first film, and go from there.

Sadly, I don’t think any of this is going to happen. I’m sure that a new film will be rammed down our throats every single Fall until they fail to make more than $1 over budget.

Also, it’s funny that the question is whether you want a 9th film. Did any of us really ask for a 7th or 8th?

What do you think?

Read more articles by Dr. Cole Abaius