Jigsaw (2017 film)
Jigsaw | |
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Directed by | The Spierig Brothers |
Written by |
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Produced by | |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Ben Nott |
Edited by | Kevin Greutert |
Music by | Charlie Clouser |
Production companies |
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Distributed by | Lionsgate Films |
Release date |
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Running time | 92 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $10 million |
Box office | $104.2 million[1] |
Jigsaw is a 2017 American horror film directed by the Spierig Brothers and written by Josh Stolberg and Peter Goldfinger. It is the eighth installment in the Saw film series and stars Matt Passmore, Callum Keith Rennie, Clé Bennett, and Hannah Emily Anderson. The plot follows a group of people who find themselves forced to participate in a series of deadly "games" inside a barn. Meanwhile, the police investigate a new series of murders that fit the modus operandi of the eponymous Jigsaw Killer, who has been dead for almost a decade.
Saw 3D, released in 2010, was deemed the final installment of the series before Lionsgate commissioned the production of Jigsaw from a pitch by Stolberg and Goldfinger. Early development began in 2013 with production officially starting in 2016 on a budget of $10 million.
The film was released by Lionsgate Films in the United States on October 27, 2017. Jigsaw received negative reviews and grossed a total of $104.2 million worldwide. It was followed by a standalone installment in the series, titled Spiral: From the Book of Saw, in 2021.
Plot
Detectives Brad Halloran and Keith Hunt pursue Edgar Munsen, who claims that he must start a "game" in exchange for his own survival. He activates a remote trigger, and is then shot and collapses.
Five people – Mitch, Anna, Ryan, Carly, and an unconscious man – awaken inside a barn with buckets on their heads and chains around their necks. A tape recording from
Halloran and Hunt investigate the discovery of corpses that appear to be the unconscious man and Carly, whose deaths fit Kramer's modus operandi. Halloran becomes suspicious of pathologists Logan Nelson and Eleanor Bonneville. Eleanor reveals to Logan that she is a Jigsaw fangirl, but now fears this might incriminate her. Hunt spies and informs Halloran. Later, Munsen is abducted from the hospital.
In the barn, Mitch is revealed to have sold a faulty motorcycle to John's nephew, causing his death, and is tested by being lowered into a funnel with a spiral-shaped blade powered by a motorcycle engine inside. He attempts to stop the blade, but is ultimately killed.
Munsen's corpse is found inside Kramer's grave. Halloran finds a corpse appearing to be Mitch in Eleanor's studio and calls for her and Logan's arrest. Logan convinces Hunt to let them go after telling him that the bullet which hit Edgar was fired by Halloran, whom he and Eleanor suspect to be the new Jigsaw Killer. Eleanor deduces the game's location and she and Logan depart for the barn, with Halloran in pursuit.
In the barn, Anna and Ryan are shackled to pipes at opposite ends of a room. Kramer confronts them and reveals that Anna asphyxiated her baby and framed her husband, who later committed suicide, and Ryan's drunken tomfoolery caused his friends' death in a car accident. Meanwhile, Hunt finds jigsaw-shaped pieces of flesh in Halloran's freezer.
For their final test, Kramer leaves the two a shotgun loaded with one shell, saying it is their key to freedom. Logan and Eleanor are ambushed by Halloran at the barn. Anna tries to shoot Ryan, but the gun backfires, killing her. Ryan finds the now-destroyed keys among the debris; they had been hidden inside the shell. Eleanor escapes Halloran, while he is drugged by an unseen assailant.
Logan and Halloran awaken in collars rigged with
Cast
- Matt Passmore as Logan Nelson
- Tobin Bell as Jigsaw / John Kramer
- Callum Keith Rennie as Detective Halloran
- Clé Bennett as Detective Keith Hunt
- Hannah Emily Anderson as Eleanor Bonneville
- Laura Vandervoort as Anna
- Paul Braunstein as Ryan
- Mandela Van Peebles as Mitch
- Brittany Allen as Carly
- Josiah Black as Edgar Munsen
- Edward Ruttle as Matt
- Michael Boisvert as Lee James
- Sam Koules as Melissa
Production
Development and writing
The original intention to end the series was to split 2010's Saw 3D into two parts, but those plans were cancelled after Saw VI (2009) under-performed at the box office.[2][3] After the intended conclusion, Lionsgate ceased making Saw films, while waiting to hear a pitch that they thought made it worthwhile to resurrect the series.[4] In December 2011, while speaking with CNBC, Lionsgate Vice Chairman Michael Burns revealed that a new Saw film was being discussed and would eventually be made.[5]
In August 2012, it was reported by horror film site Bloody Disgusting that Lionsgate was considering rebooting the film series.[6] By November 2013, an eighth Saw film was in active development by Lionsgate.[7] Jigsaw was conceived when writers Josh Stolberg and Peter Goldfinger, who had spent two years pursuing the opportunity to write a Saw entry, proposed their vision.[4] Stolberg and Goldfinger, both longtime Saw fans, had been called by their agents that Twisted Pictures and Lionsgate were considering reviving the franchise and if they were interested in pitching an approach. According to Stolberg, Saw producers Mark Burg and Oren Koules called them months later and hired them to write the film, as unlike other takes they had heard from, their pitch contained one particular element they really liked.[8]
The original pitch from Stolberg and Goldfinger took place in an oil derrick in the middle of the ocean, so when the players escaped from the room they were trapped in, they ended up finding themselves in the middle of the ocean with no way out. However, that element didn't convince Lionsgate and the duo had to present several different pitches until they settled on the idea of telling the story through a time shift storyline like in previous Saw films, but in a different way. It was at that point that Jigsaw was greenlit, so Stolberg and Goldfinger spent the following months rewriting and polishing their script. Their first draft for the film originally took place outside entirely, taking place in a new world unusual to that from the franchise instead of the usual claustrophobic environment. The idea didn't work out and they resolved to set the plot in a barn.[8]
In July 2016, Michael and Peter Spierig signed on to co-direct the film.[9] Charlie Clouser, who provided the score for all previous entries in the Saw series, returned to score Jigsaw. Clouser re-imagined the music of the Saw franchise, following the six-year hiatus between Saw 3D and Jigsaw. Clouser stated, "this will be an opportunity [for me] to re-imagine how [I] approach the score, and [I] will be trying a more stark, bold, and stripped-down approach that will be more in line with the strong vision that the Spierig brothers are bringing to the table".[10] Clouser described the film as a "reinvention" of the series, opining that "the Spierig brothers can deliver a fresh take on the material that will establish a new story line and new characters that can carry the saga into the future".[10] The directors further detailed their approach as being "Saw for 2017", and Michael Spierig explained, "It's perhaps not quite as vicious, and more fun. But it's still full of gore, that's for sure. It's got a really great mystery, and there are very interesting twists".[11]
Casting and filming
In January 2017, Laura Vandervoort, Hannah Emily Anderson and Mandela Van Peebles were announced to be part of the cast.[12][13] Vandervoort was drawn to playing Anna due to the character's flaws and for wanting to do her first thriller or horror film.[14] In March, Tobin Bell was confirmed to reprise his role as John Kramer "in some capacity". Other cast members, Brittany Allen, Callum Keith Rennie, Matt Passmore, Josiah Black, Shaquan Lewis, Michael Boisvert, and James Gomez were also confirmed.[15]
With a production budget of $10 million,[16] principal photography took place from early October into November 2016 in Toronto under the working title, Saw Legacy.[17][18] In June 2017, Lionsgate confirmed the official title as Jigsaw.[18]
Release
On October 10, 2017, Lionsgate began the "Saw Blood Drive". The
Jigsaw was released in the United Kingdom on October 26, 2017, and in the United States theatrically on October 27, 2017.
Home media
Jigsaw was released digitally on January 9, 2018, and on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray and DVD on January 23, 2018.[24] The film's soundtrack was distributed digitally on October 27, 2017.[25] The film grossed $7.7 million in home sales.[26]
Reception
Box office
In the United States and Canada, Jigsaw was released alongside Thank You for Your Service and Suburbicon, and was projected to gross around $20 million from 2,941 theaters in its opening weekend.[27] It made $1.6 million from Thursday night previews at 2,400 theaters, just below the $1.7 million Saw 3D made from midnight screenings seven years prior, and $7.2 million on its first day. It went on to open to $16.64 million, finishing first at the box office but marking the second lowest debut of the franchise.[28] In its second weekend the film dropped 61% to $6.56 million, finishing third behind newcomers Thor: Ragnarok and A Bad Moms Christmas.[29] In its third weekend, the film dropped another 47% and made $3.43 million, finishing fifth. Jigsaw has grossed $38.1 million in the United States and Canada, and $64.9 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $102.9 million.[30]
Critical response
On the
IGN gave the film a score of 4.5/10, writing "The good news is, Jigsaw is not the worst horror movie of the year. The bad news is, it's still bad enough that that's the good news...[It] doesn't capture what made the Saw franchise work in the first place."[33] Darren French of Entertainment Weekly gave the film a "C", calling it disappointing and overly long.[34] Bloody Disgusting gave the film two and a half out of five, saying the film "while being a fun ride, fails to justify its existence with a story that is overly familiar and a twist that doesn't live up to most of its predecessors".[35]
Variety's Owen Gleiberman found the film "garishly rote" saying "For 92 minutes, it more or less succeeds in sawing through your boredom, slicing and dicing with a glum explicitness that raises the occasional tingle of gross-out suspense but no longer carries any kick of true shock value."[36] Germain Lussier of Gizmodo largely panned the film saying "[it] is one of the better films in the franchise. Unfortunately, that's not saying much."[37]
Notes
- ^ Although Hoffman died in 2005, he had received posthumous producer credit in films produced by Twisted Pictures starting with Saw III (2006), before receiving posthumous executive producer credit since Spiral: From the Book of Saw (2021)
- first film.
- ^ The corpses found by the police in the present died similarly to the original barn game's victims.
References
- ^ "Jigsaw (2017) - Financial Information". The Numbers. Archived from the original on August 30, 2023. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
- ^ Bowles, Scott (July 22, 2010). "'Saw 3D' will be the final cut for horror franchise". USA Today. Archived from the original on December 20, 2022. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
- ^ Miska, Brad (August 24, 2016). "The Previous 'SAW' Entry Was Supposed to Be Split in Two! (Exclusive)". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on December 19, 2022. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
- ^ a b Stolberg, Josh [@joshstolberg] (September 3, 2017). "The studio was waiting to hear a pitch that they thought made it worth it to bring back the franchise. Pete and I spent two years--" (Tweet). Archived from the original on September 3, 2017. Retrieved September 3, 2017 – via Twitter.
- ^ Miska, Brad (December 7, 2011). "Lionsgate Finally Admits Jigsaw's Game Will Continue in Eighth 'Saw'". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on December 20, 2022. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
- ^ Miska, Brad (August 7, 2012). "Forget 'Twilight,' Lionsgate Tinkering With Remaking 'Saw' Franchise…". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on December 20, 2022. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
- ^ Miska, Brad (November 5, 2013). "Exclusive: Lionsgate Is Actively Developing Next 'Saw'". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on December 20, 2022. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
- ^ a b Miska, Brad (May 28, 2021). "[Interview] Writer Josh Stolberg Talks Alternate 'Saw' Sequel Ideas and Whether or Not Jigsaw Was Ever Going to Appear in 'Spiral'". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on December 20, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (July 13, 2016). "Lionsgate Dates New 'Saw' Movie & Ryan Reynolds Action Comedy 'The Hitman's Bodyguard'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 20, 2022. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
- ^ a b Couch, Aaron (October 7, 2016). "'Saw: Legacy' to Be Scored by Franchise Veteran Charlie Clouser (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on December 20, 2022. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
- ^ Romando, Nick (July 20, 2017). "Saw franchise returns with long-awaited Jigsaw trailer". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on December 20, 2022. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
- ^ McNary, Dave (January 26, 2017). "Laura Vandervoort, Hannah Anderson Join 'Saw: Legacy' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on December 20, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
- ^ N'Duka, Amanda (January 30, 2017). "'Mandela Van Peebles cast in 'Saw: Legacy'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 30, 2017. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
- ^ K. Kirk, John (October 31, 2017). "INTERVIEW: Laura Vandervoort in 'Jigsaw' and horror that can happen to you". Pop Mythology. Archived from the original on December 20, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
- ^ Squires, John (March 2, 2017). "[Exclusive] We've Got the First 'Saw: Legacy' Plot Details; Tobin Bell Returning!". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on December 20, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
- ^ McNary, Dave (October 27, 2017). "Box Office: 'Jigsaw' Slays With $1.6 Million on Thursday Night". Variety. Archived from the original on December 20, 2022. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
- ^ Barkan, Jonathan (July 6, 2016). "'Saw: Legacy' to Film This September?)". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on December 20, 2022. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
- ^ a b McNary, Dave (June 21, 2017). "Eighth 'Saw' Movie Gets a New Name". Variety. Archived from the original on December 20, 2022. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
- ^ Barton, Steve (September 25, 2017). "Jigsaw's Nurses Are Back With the Saw Blood Drive". Dread Central. Archived from the original on December 20, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2019.
- ^ Gallagher, Brian (September 25, 2017). "New Saw 8 Posters Unleash Jigsaw's Blood-Starved Nurses". MovieWeb. Archived from the original on December 20, 2022. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
- ^ Stolworthy, Jacob (June 21, 2017). "'Saw 8' release date announced: Horror franchise to return with 'Jigsaw'". The Independent. Archived from the original on June 8, 2022. Retrieved August 13, 2017.
- ^ Meldelson, Scott (September 15, 2017). "'Jigsaw' Will Open In IMAX And May Send 'Saw' Over The $1 Billion Mark". Forbes. Archived from the original on September 16, 2017. Retrieved March 30, 2019.
- ^ "Why Most of the Saw Movies Were Originally Rated NC-17". Looper. July 26, 2022. Archived from the original on December 18, 2022.
- ^ Miska, Brad (December 12, 2017). "The Trap is Set! 'Jigsaw' Returns On 4K HD, Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD! [Exclusive]". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on December 20, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2019.
- ^ Halen, Adrian (October 13, 2017). "Lakeshore Records Presents The Jigsaw - Soundtrack Featuring Music by Charlie Clouser". Horror News. Archived from the original on December 20, 2022. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
- ^ "Jigsaw (2017) - Financial Information". The Numbers. Archived from the original on August 30, 2023. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (October 25, 2017). "Jigsaw' Looks To Keep 'Saw' Franchise Sharp During Pre-Halloween Weekend With $20M+ Opening". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 25, 2017. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
- ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony (October 29, 2017). "Horror Has Few Scares At B.O. As 'Jigsaw' Dulls To $16M+, 'Suburbicon' Condemned With D- CinemaScore". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 27, 2017. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (November 6, 2017). "'Thor: Ragnarok' Flexes His Box Office Muscles To $120M-$122M Opening – Early Sunday AM Update". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 3, 2017. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
- ^ "Jigsaw (2017)". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on February 13, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
- ^ "Jigsaw". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
- Fandom, Inc.Retrieved August 10, 2023.
- ^ Bibbiani, William (October 27, 2017). "Jigsaw Review". IGN. Archived from the original on December 20, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
- ^ Franich, Darren (October 27, 2017). "Jigsaw is a bloody mess: EW review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on December 20, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
- ^ Thurman, Trace (October 27, 2017). "[Review] The Overly Familiar 'Jigsaw' Still Manages to Be Fun". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on December 20, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
- ^ Gleiberman, Owen (October 27, 2017). "Film Review: 'Jigsaw'". Variety. Archived from the original on December 20, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
- ^ Lussier, Germain (October 27, 2017). "Jigsaw Is Pretty Bad, Which Still Makes It One of the Better Saw Movies". Gizmodo. Archived from the original on December 20, 2022. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
External links
- Official website
- Jigsaw at IMDb