At this point in semester, we’re all giving into some worrying masochistic tendencies… Indulging in caffeine after hours, pleading with tutors for extensions and skipping class to catch up on sleep you missed, because you were skipping class. There’s a sick enjoyment that we find in the depths of week 8, signalled by how much we talk about our shared pain. On the 15th of May, Academy offers up an unlikely site of solidarity, streaming seven films from the Saw franchise.
The Saw films kicked off in 2004, and quickly became some of the most iconic films of the early 2000s ‘torture porn’ horror wave. They followed the horrific, diabolical plan of John Kramer, better known as the Jigsaw Killer (played by Tobin Bell). The Saw films all have thrilling, awful beginnings that make your stomach turn within seconds. Someone will wake up, trapped in a room or chained to an ominous object, and then endure a game show-like challenge to escape with their lives (spoiler: they never really win). Like many horror franchises, the lore becomes more and more ridiculous as the series goes on. However, there’s a certain thrill that comes from the campiness of the later films. Something for the whole family. Surprisingly, there’s actually moments of inventive and interesting filmmaking, amongst all the unsavoury gore. The films are definitely not for those with a sensitive stomach.
Head in with friends who are also avoiding their assignments, and see how long you can last. Maybe eat beforehand.
Craccum has two double passes to give away to Academy’s Saw Overnight Marathon on the 15th of May. Email arts@craccum.co.nz and tell us who you’d like to be stuck in a Jigsaw trap with!