The Horror Thread

[Rocketman]

The first Saw film is an amazing horror film. It's one of my favorites. The series should have stopped right there, however. Seemed to me that everything that followed was more about how the people died and less about why.

I actually think that if they had left the first movie alone, it would've ended up being on the same level as Se7en, The Sixth Sense, or The Silence of the Lambs over time. These are considered some of the greatest, timeless classics of all-time.

Saw really stayed with me a while after I left the theater. But now, it doesn't have that staying power - that haunting quality - because you know you have six other stories to watch after it. In other words, it's impossible for me to just leave it alone and think of it as a singular thing. As a result, I could probably never see that movie again for the rest of my life and I wouldn't be affected by it.

Silence of the Lambs, Jaws, and The Exorcist are probably the three rarest examples of where you can disregard the sequels and the first film is still untouchable. Their sequels don't ruin the classic feeling of the originals. I need to watch those movies at least once a year.

Elm Street, Friday the 13th, Halloween... I don't think these sequels really hurt the originals because they're all fun. There's a non-scary, innocent, have-a-popcorn-marathon-with-friends quality to them that makes them get a pass, I think.

 

[Matt Mortem]

I actually think that if they had left the first movie alone, it would've ended up being on the same level as Se7en, The Sixth Sense, or The Silence of the Lambs over time. These are considered some of the greatest, timeless classics of all-time.

I agree. The sequels ruined the impact of the first film.

 

[The Dark Defender]

I prefer several SAW sequels over the original and liked Jigsaw better when I got to know more about the character.

Se7en, for whatever it's considered, is drastically overrated imo

I think SAW is by far the best long-running series in horror history and one of my favorite movie franchises in general. Not a bad one in the bunch, even the much despised SAW VII (or SAW 3D, or The Final Chapter, or whatever) is pretty entertaining with a nice wrap up for the series.

The only ongoing horror series that I find close at all is Paranormal Activity, I love all 4 existing films in that franchise. I'm one of the few that even loves the fourth and hasn't gotten sick of the series yet.

 

[Matt Mortem]

I prefer several SAW sequels over the original and liked Jigsaw better when I got to know more about the character.

Se7en, for whatever it's considered, is drastically overrated imo.

 

[The Dark Defender]

That's always been the face I made when listening to the endless b***ing about the SAW sequels and lauding of the thoroughly mediocre Se7en as being the greatest thing since sliced bread.

 

[Man in the Suit]

I personally loved all of the Saw movies. Some of the best, intricate writing in horror movies in a long time. I still don't understand the hate it gets.

YES. I tell people this all the time. I always get into with them and all they can say is "Torture porn." I'm like, no, they're pretty much cop/thriller/cat & mouse movies. Most fans watch them for the characters and plot. It's unlike any other horror franchise.

I think it people would look at better if it was TV show. I'm surprised they haven't tried to reboot it as one... yet.

 

[def28]

Never got why people like the Saw films other then the elaborate deaths (which are pretty rad). Or consider them horror, it's much more of a thriller/mystery. They always remind me of the boring direct to tv cop movies my parents watch only with way cooler kills haha. To each their own I guess.

Re watching some Tales From The Crypt. How has this not been rebooted into a anthology movie or another HBO series yet?

 

[Rocketman]

I think SAW is by far the best long-running series in horror history.

Hmm, that's an interesting thought. I honestly don't know what I'd consider the best long-running Horror series in terms of being consistently good or fair.

... Maybe Halloween is the closest? (And that's not saying anything.)

Damn, that's a challenging observation. Damn you.

EDIT: I got it! Final Destination is pretty consistent throughout all five films, I think. I'd even consider 5 one of the very best.

 

[The Dark Defender]

Never got why people like the Saw films other then the elaborate deaths (which are pretty rad). Or consider them horror

I think the capture scenes can be pretty frightening, as is the thought of just waking up in a horrible situation with no memory of how you got there.
Adam's capture in SAW and Keri's in SAW III were pretty great.

And I like them for the complex and on-going character arcs/storylines and morality play. Each film has different themes to it, and I love how most of the situations people end up in are specifically tailored to their transgressions.

 

[Teelie]

All I usually hear about Saw is how gruesome the death scenes are from fans of that sort of thing. Whether there's more to the movie or not I don't care to find out. Graphic dismemberment shown in detail and as real as possible just doesn't interest me.

 

[jonathancrane]

The first saw film was a fine murder-mystery film. It had a terrific cast, lighting, writing, and premise (oh, and of course, the awesome Michael Emerson.)

 

[The Dark Defender]

All I usually hear about Saw is how gruesome the death scenes are from fans of that sort of thing. Whether there's more to the movie or not I don't care to find out. Graphic dismemberment shown in detail and as real as possible just doesn't interest me.

You aren't talking to the right fans then, I posted on the house of Jigsaw message board throughout nearly the entire run of the franchise and remain good friends with many hardcore SAW buffs, and the traps are far from the most important thing about the movies to most of the devoted fan base.

Generally it's people that hate the movies that focus almost entirely on the gore.

 

[Rocketman]

All I usually hear about Saw is how gruesome the death scenes are from fans of that sort of thing. Whether there's more to the movie or not I don't care to find out. Graphic dismemberment shown in detail and as real as possible just doesn't interest me.

Agreed. Good ol' fashioned scares for me, please.

 

[culver3vlr22]

You aren't talking to the right fans then, I posted on the house of Jigsaw message board throughout nearly the entire run of the franchise and remain good friends with many hardcore SAW buffs, and the traps are far from the most important thing about the movies to most of the devoted fan base.

Generally it's people that hate the movies that focus almost entirely on the gore.

For me I loved saw for the twists, the idea of living your life for a reason and not taking the beautiful gift of life. I love how connected they are, it truly is the best horror franchise with 7 movies.

Oh and the traps IMO are pretty cool call me sick lol idk I like em it was a gimmick yes but clever in a way.

 

[The Dark Defender]

I like the traps if the idea behind them is specific to the victim, I'm not big on the random ones that could just as easily be applied to anybody.

If someone wants to hate the SAW series for being just a bunch of gore and torture, that's up to them, but that's certainly not what attracts most of the fan base.

 

[Majik1387]

I also always got chills when that Saw theme music kicks in at reveals; I don't care if it's usually at the cliffhanger end of the movie, I love it.

It's on par with Marilyn Manson's Resident Evil theme for me before they went more action > horror after the first.

 

[Matt Mortem]

Manson's RE music is so good

 

[Majik1387]

He should do more horror movie scores. I think he has it in him.

 

[The Dark Defender]

Too bad he didn't get to finish his TCM03 score, probably would've been quite good, plus the score that's in the movie is complete garbage.

 

[Matt Mortem]

He should do more horror movie scores. I think he has it in him.

I agree. That RE score was creepy

 

[Thundarr]

Agreed. Good ol' fashioned scares for me, please.

Same here!

Incidentally, I decided to rewatch the original Friday The 13th with a friend who had never seen it (or who saw it so long ago that she forgot most of it). It was the most fun I'd had watching that movie in a long time because of HER reactions to it. At the very end, when Alice falls asleep in the canoe and dreams that Jason pops up out of the water and grabbed her, Kym screamed louder than Adrienne King did in the movie. My room mate & I burst out laughing.

 

[Figs]

I'd hate to say thinking the movies are bad isn't a good enough reason.

Jigsaw is a horror icon. I don't like saying ghost face is as no one person is ghost face it's just a mask.

And why feel sorry that ppl think they are horror icons? Because you don't? Or because you want the youth of the world only liking your icons. An icon is a personal belief.

It's not that I want the youth of today only liking the horror icons I like, I just don't see how or why a little puppet on a bike became one...especially when it's not even alive. It's just a toy that some old cancer ridden guy uses. I would rather that guy be considered the icon from these films, even if I don't care for any of the sequels.

 

[Rocketman]

I meant to post this earlier today.

Have any of you noticed that Horror fans as a community are generally the nicest, most civil group of people you'll ever come across? Like, it's almost eerie - but a great kind of eerie, because it's always great discussion.

On IMDB, which I consider one of the cesspools of the Internet, the Horror board on there has the nicest, coolest posters you'll ever interact with. They're all awesome. If you don't agree, or you like something someone else doesn't, it doesn't matter. Everyone can like everything - no one's wrong. It's crazy. It's literally the best part of IMDB.

Even this thread, I'm loving every post, every viewpoint. I'm so grateful and happy to be a part of an unofficial community where this genre is so passionately loved. Like, the genre is a huge part of my life, and these are among some very big reasons why.

 

[Victarion]

It's not that I want the youth of today only liking the horror icons I like, I just don't see how or why a little puppet on a bike became one...especially when it's not even alive. It's just a toy that some old cancer ridden guy uses. I would rather that guy be considered the icon from these films, even if I don't care for any of the sequels.

I agree with you. A puppet doesn't instill the same sense of helplessness and fear as something that can chase you and can kill you (in contrast to the traps which, while twisted, are something you'd have to be lured into).

I recently watched Nightbreed on YT. Has anyone seen it, and what are your thoughts? The monsters all looked great, though I found it hard to root for anyone. The Decker character is similar to Cillian Murphy's Scarecrow from the Dark Knight Trilogy.

 

[Rocketman]

I always adored how Michael Myers never ran. He just walks. He doesn't need to run. He knows he's gonna get you. He's got all the time in the world. That's so freakin' scary. He's calm, he doesn't need to taunt you with any laugh or speech. I don't think there's another example of that, is there? Doesn't Jason run? He's definitely not as calm as Michael.