For the last few years, a new Saw movie has dropped at Halloween as regular as clockwork. Pumping the films out in quick succession has seemed far more important than ensuring they are any good, with many feel the franchise has lost its way. This seemed to be proved last October when Saw VI tanked, getting beaten to a pulp by Paranormal Activity. In its entire theatrical run, Saw VI made less money that Saw V did on its first weekend.
However, before that film hit cinemas, Lionsgate had already announced plans for Saw VII and VIII, but following last year’s failure, it seems they may have changed their mind and decided to wrap things up with Saw VII. Latino Review stumbled over an interview Demon FM did with Saw screenwriter, Patrick Melton.
In that, Melton says, “I think it’s going to end with Saw VII. I have a very strong feeling its going to end with Saw VII. That’s something we’re debating now. You saw in previous interviews or discussions where we thought Saw VIII would be the last one where we had the first trilogy and the second trilogy and then sort of a grand finale wrapped up in two films. But frankly because Saw VI hasn’t performed as well as we anticipated, the idea is well why make two movies when we can make one really excellent movie that wraps up as best we can?”
It sounds pretty much like Saw VII is going to be about explaining all the plot strands of the other movies and tying everything up. Melton adds, “VII is going to incorporate all six films and wrap things up, that is the intent, that is the plan as of now, how we can do that as effectively as possible. Because if we’re saying this is the end it should appropriately be the end and reach back to as far back in history as the films have gone.”
The question remains, does anyone care? If you read the interview, it sounds like the creators of the films have tried to create some elaborate plot that will result in major revelations, but the fact is, since Saw I, everything’s seemed thrown together and the audience hasn’t been paying attention to anything but the blood and gore.
Whether Saw VII really is the end is yet to be seen, as if the film gets a box office bounce this autumn, they’ll keep making sequels for the rest of time. The recent move by Lionsgate to force Saw VI director Kevin Greutert to leave Paranormal Activity 2 and make Saw VII instead seemed like a deliberate attempt to scupper the competition (both films are due to open on the same day), so we’ll have to see what happens this Halloween.