Amanda Young is a fictional character created by James Wan and Leigh Whannell and is one of the antagonists in the Saw franchise . She first appeared in Saw (2004), portrayed by Shawnee Smith , as a victim of one of serial killer Jigsaw 's traps. Amanda's role was expanded in subsequent films, where she served as an apprentice to Jigsaw, with the goal of succeeding him after his death. Amanda has physically appeared in five of the ten films in the series. The character has gone on to appear in various other media, including video games and comic books.
177-614: Saw VI is a 2009 horror film directed by Kevin Greutert (in his directorial debut, after having edited the installments prior to this film) and written by Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan . The film stars Tobin Bell , Costas Mandylor , Betsy Russell , Mark Rolston , Peter Outerbridge , and Shawnee Smith . It is a sequel to 2008's Saw V and the sixth installment in the Saw film series . Similar to its predecessor, Saw VI maintains
354-553: A "fantastic job" in her recurring role as Jigsaw's "trusty sidekick ", Amanda. Shawnee Smith has been acknowledged as a " scream queen " due to the roles she has played in horror films, which includes her role as Amanda in the Saw films. This culminated in the selection of Smith as a judge and host for the reality series Scream Queens , in which contestants competed for a role in Saw VI . Tobin Bell and Shawnee Smith were nominated for
531-801: A British erotic horror film series is Hellraiser . Alien features heavy erotic imagery, with the design of the Xenomorph by H. R. Giger featuring both phallic and vaginal imagery, intended to symbolize patriarchal guilt as well as sex, rape, and pregnancy. Folk horror uses elements of folklore or other religious and cultural beliefs to instil fear in audiences. Folk horror films have featured rural settings and themes of isolation, religion and nature. Frequently cited examples are Witchfinder General (1968), The Blood on Satan's Claw (1971), The Wicker Man (1973), The Witch (2015), and Midsommar (2019). Local folklore and beliefs have been noted as being prevalent in horror films from
708-484: A bathroom to rot. At the end of the film, Amanda claims that she intends to continue John's work after he dies. Amanda has a brief appearance in the short film The Scott Tibbs Documentary , which is included on the Special Edition DVD of Saw II . In the short film, she is harassed by a news reporter who wants information about her experience when she was captured by Jigsaw, and Amanda responds by punching
885-410: A brief archival flashback from Saw II . Although Amanda does not appear in the eighth film, Jigsaw , it is revealed that John was assisted by Logan Nelson in preparing the "reverse bear trap" for the game that she survived in the first film. Amanda returns in Saw X , a film that takes place prior to her demise in the third film. Throughout the film, Amanda is an active apprentice to Jigsaw and
1062-476: A budget of $ 11 million, Saw VI began principal photography on March 30, 2009, and wrapped in May 2009. The film was shot at Toronto's Cinespace Film Studios . Greutert felt that there was some bold visual design stemming from what have been shown in previous Saw films, choosing to reuse past aspects he liked like some of the characters, leading him to search their salient points in the storyline to include them into
1239-530: A bunch of back-stabbing jerks, get what's coming to it. Most Americans, however, would probably prefer to pay lower premiums than witness their HMO manager being dissolved from the inside out by hydrofluoric acid." In May 2008 , it was reported that Kevin Greutert , the editor of the first five films in the Saw franchise , would make his directorial debut with Saw VI . Greutert found the process of transitioning from editor to director easy due to his experiences in developing short films and his knowledge about
1416-734: A century . Early inspirations from before the development of film include folklore , religious beliefs and superstitions of different cultures, and the Gothic and horror literature of authors such as Edgar Allan Poe , Bram Stoker , and Mary Shelley . From origins in silent films and German Expressionism , horror only became a codified genre after the release of Dracula (1931). Many sub-genres emerged in subsequent decades, including body horror , comedy horror , erotic horror , slasher films , splatter films , supernatural horror and psychological horror . The genre has been produced worldwide, varying in content and style between regions. Horror
1593-443: A co-production with Australia and Death Warmed Up (1984) a single production. Early features such as Melanie Read 's Trial Run (1984) where a mother is sent to remote cottage to photograph penguins and finds it habitat to haunted spirits, and Gaylene Preston's Mr. Wrong (1984) purchases a car that is haunted by its previous owner. Other films imitate American slasher and splatter films with Bridge to Nowhere (1986), and
1770-610: A commentary for Saw III . In the original script of Saw III , dialogue between John and Amanda made references to her past; in a scene describing her view of the bathroom trap she explains to John that "When I was a little girl, my father would lock me under the stairs. I was terrified of the dark, and he would leave me in there alone. For hours." Leigh Whannell describes in the Saw III DVD commentary that because of her childhood, Amanda had never properly learned to deal with stress and emotional pain, and thus turned to self-harm as
1947-423: A crime from the past committed (an accidental drowning, infidelity, a scorned lover) and a ready made group of victims (camp counselors, students, wedding parties). The genre was derided by several contemporary film critics of the era such as Ebert, and often were highly profitable in the box office. The release of Scream (1996), led to a brief revival of the slasher films for the 1990s. Other countries imitated
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#17327867672982124-434: A dislike for dissonance. Skin conductance responses (SCRs), heart rate (HR), and electromyographic (EMG) responses vary in response to emotional stimuli, showing higher for negative emotions in what is known as the "negative bias." When applied to dissonant music, HR decreases (as a bodily form of adaptation to harsh stimulation), SCR increases, and EMG responses in the face are higher. The typical reactions go through
2301-412: A fellow patient in the hospital being treated for an overdose she had suffered due to her drug addiction. John expressed his frustration that Amanda had learned nothing from her overdose. This motivated John to create her test, which was featured in the first movie. Amanda appeared in the video game Saw as the first victim that protagonist David Tapp had to save. When she was brought to the asylum, she
2478-470: A flashback scene she commits a mercy killing of Adam and is then attacked by the maimed Eric Matthews. Her face running with blood from their fight (reminiscent of Jigsaw's blood mask as he lies prone throughout Saw I ), Amanda walks away from the injured detective until he begins shouting after her that she's "nothing" and "you're not Jigsaw." These taunts are what provoke a response. In the present of Saw III Amanda confronts Lynn and Jigsaw whilst brandishing
2655-428: A good film." Shelley called these films derivative of "American films and presenting generic American material". These films included the horror film productions of Antony I. Ginnane . While Australia would have success with international films between the mid-1980s and the 2000s, less than five horror films were produced in the country between 1993 and 2000. It was only after the success of Wolf Creek (2005) that
2832-583: A great job, and [Amanda's] such a peculiar aspect of the Jigsaw character, with the fact that he had these tender feelings for this weirdo." Actress Shawnee Smith said that while did not personally fully identify with Amanda, she found many of Amanda's traits to be admirable. Smith stated that: "When you first meet [Amanda], she's at the bottom, she can't go any lower and it's the combination of that and having nothing left to lose and finding someone to love and to sacrifice for. Obviously she's tragic, but 95% of her
3009-445: A gun, angry and jealous over Jigsaw's apparent fondness for the physician, demanding to know why Lynn is so important to him, complaining that Lynn is "nothing" and "worthless" and crying that she (Amanda) doesn't mean anything to Jigsaw. "Nothing", "not Jigsaw" and "not important" become the signification closing in around Amanda – yet her demand "Fix me, motherfucker," is a mimicking of Jigsaw's continual ambiguity of speech as it carries
3186-506: A jump scare in a mirror can further build tension. Tight framing and close-ups are also commonly used; these can build tension and induce anxiety by not allowing the viewer to see beyond what is around the protagonist . The interaction between horror films and their audiences is another significant aspect discussed by Rhodes. He notes that horror films often serve as a safe space for viewers to confront and process their fears. This cathartic experience can provide psychological relief and
3363-536: A little bit and on this one, I pulled back even more." He commented that the "steam room" trap was the "best looking" of them all. He went on to say, "It's big and expensive. It's got furnaces, fires and steam. It's multi-leveled. The most complex Saw . We had techno cranes flying through. It was pretty amazing." Commenting on the "carousel room" trap Armstrong said: "It's very carnival, playground-like. It's just nasty. [There are] spinning red lights in there. It's really overwhelming to walk in and look at because everything
3540-495: A little more about if Jill is good or evil. Pretty much you'll know." Devon Bostick , who previously appeared as another character in Saw IV , was cast as Brent Abbott, the son of one of William's former clients. Greutert wanted to bring Cary Elwes ' Saw character Dr. Lawrence Gordon back but Elwes was unavailable. He was later cast in Saw 3D , though the storyline is different than the one Greutert had planned in Saw VI . With
3717-422: A lower phonation frequency range). Another study by Baliatsas et al. observed that there is a correlation between exposure to infrasound and low-frequency noises and sleep-related problems. Though most horror films keep the audio around 20–30 Hz, the noise can still be unsettling in long durations. Another technique used in horror films to provoke a response from the audience is cognitive dissonance , which
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#17327867672983894-410: A modern setting and made other horror material which pushed the erotic content of their vampire films that was initiated by Black Sunday . In the 1980s, the older horror characters of Dracula and Frankenstein's monster rarely appeared, with vampire themed films continued often in the tradition of authors like Anne Rice where vampirism becomes a lifestyle choice rather than plague or curse. Following
4071-467: A murderer. She chose to execute her subjects because she did not believe anyone would change, including herself. Huntley pointed out that Amanda's traps are used as a creative tool of juxtaposition with that of Jigsaw's, to effectively point out what the Jigsaw killer was not. Huntley outlined this, stating that: "If Jigsaw's games are encounters with Deleuzian affect, Amanda's games are anti-deleuzian, operating more as encounters with Lacanian notions of
4248-520: A new generation of filmmakers would continuously make horror genre films in Australia that continued into the 2010s. By 2005, New Zealand has produced around 190 feature films, with about 88% of them being made after 1976. New Zealand horror film history was described by Philip Matthews of Stuff as making "po-faced gothic and now we do horror for laughs." Among the earliest known New Zealand horror films productions are Strange Behavior (1981),
4425-475: A new genre nature taking revenge on humanity with The Birds (1963) that was expanded into a trend into the 1970s. Following the success of Willard (1971), a film about killer rats, 1972 had similar films with Stanley (1972) and an official sequel Ben (1972). Other films followed in suit such as Night of the Lepus (1972), Frogs (1972), Bug (1975), Squirm (1976) and what Muir described as
4602-483: A person relates to that specific cultural from then on in their life. The history of horror films was described by author Siegbert Solomon Prawer as difficult to read as a linear historical path, with the genre changing throughout the decades, based on the state of cinema , audience tastes and contemporary world events . Films prior to the 1930s , such as early German expressionist cinema and trick films , have been retrospectively described as horror films as
4779-504: A pig mask when capturing her victims. Also, in Saw III , she appeared wearing John's iconic red and black theatrical robe. Huntley analysed this as an attempt by Amanda to be "dressed as Jigsaw". Huntley further stated that: "For Amanda, Jigsaw as signifier can only ever stand in the place of a vexatious and frustrating lack and it is this which locates Amanda in such a conflicted position – having given "every cell" of herself to Jigsaw she
4956-429: A platform of needles that kills William by injecting acid into his body. Jill exits the room as Hoffman escapes his wrist restraints. He escapes from the trap just as it activates, sustaining an injury to his right cheek in the process. Contemporary reviews of Saw VI cited elements of social commentary in the film, highlighting the topicality of Jigsaw victims Eddie and Simone—two predatory mortgage brokers—in light of
5133-417: A real partnership". Through interviews with Shawnee Smith, it was revealed that Amanda's evolution into the killer she was at the end of Saw III was in part due to a horrible childhood. Smith stated on numerous occasions that Amanda was severely abused and neglected when she was a child. This was confirmed by Saw series writer, actor, and co-creator Leigh Whannell , who also commented on Amanda's past in
5310-428: A rotating roundabout where he is only able to save two of them from a mounted shotgun. The game is viewed by mother Tara with her teenage son Brent, and news journalist Pamela Jenkins from two opposite animal enclosures below the observation room. During the game, Hoffman is called away by Erickson to the audio lab after obtaining the videotape. Erickson, now aware of Strahm's demise, confronts Hoffman after discovering
5487-468: A self-injury scene be filmed and put into the film, believing it was necessary to show Amanda's tendencies for character depth. Amanda displayed indications of guilt and remorse in her actions, as she had a nightmare of one of her victims in a deleted scene in the director's cut of Saw III . In her dream she was confronted by Adam for what she had done to him, thus further revealing the emotional turmoil that her character exhibited. Jake Huntley wrote of
Saw VI - Misplaced Pages Continue
5664-522: A sense of empowerment as viewers face and overcome their anxieties in a controlled environment. The communal experience of watching horror films in theaters or discussing them in fan communities also plays a crucial role in the genre's impact and popularity.[6] Music is a key component of horror films. In Music in the Horror Film (2010), Lerner writes "music in horror film frequently makes us feel threatened and uncomfortable" and intends to intensify
5841-402: A source of emotional support, helping him carry out his plans under his supervision against those who have defrauded him with a fake medical treatment for his cancer. Amanda Young is featured in comic book Saw: Rebirth , which takes place before the events of the first movie. It is revealed that John Kramer noticed Amanda while in the hospital being treated for his illness. She is portrayed as
6018-417: A tremendous viable, emotional thread throughout the narratives." Fellow writer of Saw IV , Saw V , Saw VI , and Saw 3D Patrick Melton further stated that "I don't think we could have effectively told the story of Hoffman and John Kramer without including Amanda." Kevin Greutert , the editor of Saw , Saw II , Saw III , and Saw IV , and director of Saw VI and Saw 3D , further stated that "[Smith] did
6195-544: A two-step process of first orienting to the problem (the slowing of HR), then a defensive process (a stronger increase in SCR and an increase in HR). This initial response can sometimes result in a fight-or-flight response , which is the characteristic of dissonance that horror films rely on to frighten and unsettle viewers. Amanda Young As an apprentice to Jigsaw, Amanda began placing victims in inescapable traps, as opposed to
6372-587: A way of dealing with her problems. While in prison, her abusive tendencies were replaced with heroin use. However, after surviving the "reverse bear trap", she no longer used heroin and returned to cutting, burning, and other forms of self-injury. Her frail emotional state and somewhat mental instability made her quick to anger, and she would often act purely on impulse or emotion (such as trying to kill Eric Matthews, and her emotionally and physically abusive behaviour towards Lynn Denlon). A scene in Saw III explores Amanda's self-injuring tendencies, and shows her cutting
6549-814: A whole was a style like film noir and not bound to certain cinematic elements like the Western or science fiction film . The term "gothic" is frequently used to describe a stylized approach to showcasing location, desire, and action in film. Contemporary views of the genre associate it with imagery of castles at hilltops and labyrinth like ancestral mansions that are in various states of disrepair. Narratives in these films often focus on an audience's fear and attraction to social change and rebellion. The genre can be applied to films as early as The Haunted Castle (1896), Frankenstein (1910) as well as to more complex iterations such as Park Chan-wook 's Stoker (2013) and Jordan Peele 's Get Out (2017). The gothic style
6726-523: A young audience featuring teenage monsters grew popular in the 1950s with several productions from American International Pictures (AIP) and productions of Herman Cohen with I Was a Teenage Werewolf (1957) and I Was a Teenage Frankenstein (1957). This led to later productions like Daughter of Dr. Jekyll (1957) and Frankenstein's Daughter (1958). Teen horror cycle in the 1980s often showcased explicit gore and nudity, with John Kenneth Muir described as cautionary conservative tales where most of
6903-497: Is a "widespread and engrained acceptance of supernatural forces" in many Asian cultures, and suggests this is related to animist , pantheist and karmic religious traditions, as in Buddhism and Shintoism . Although Chinese , Japanese , Thai and Korean horror has arguably received the most international attention, horror also makes up a considerable proportion of Cambodian and Malaysian cinema. Ian Olney described
7080-521: Is a film subgenre that emerged in the 1970s with films such as Whoever Slew Auntie Roo? (1971) and Silent Night, Bloody Night (1972), which were soon followed by the influential Black Christmas (1974). Defining the Christmas horror genre has been described as challenging, as it has generally been regarded as a sub-genre of the slasher film . Adam Rockoff, in Rue Morgue , noted that
7257-499: Is a horror film trope , where an abrupt change in image accompanied with a loud sound intends to surprise the viewer. This can also be subverted to create tension, where an audience may feel more unease and discomfort by anticipating a jump scare. Mirrors are often used in horror films to create visual depth and build tension. Shelton argues mirrors have been used so frequently in horror films that audiences have been conditioned to fear them, and subverting audience expectations of
Saw VI - Misplaced Pages Continue
7434-431: Is a puzzle into which Amanda is, simply, unable to fit. Her addiction to drugs and her self-harming are 'helped' via the games she plays by something that proves to be far more pernicious, as Jigsaw comes to stand not as the object of her desire but the cause. Far from achieving a sense of self, status and stability through her role as Jigsaw's disciple, Amanda is not 'reborn' and ultimately loses her sense of identity. Amanda
7611-483: Is a subgenre of horror fiction that blends sensual and sexual imagery with horrific themes for the sake of sexual arousal . Erotic horror has had influences on French and American horror cinema. The works of Jean Rollin , such as Le Viol du Vampire and Fascination , are considered quintessential erotic horror films, blending deeply sexual imagery with gore. American cinema has also featured notable erotic horror film franchises, such as Candyman . An example of
7788-463: Is a subgenre of horror film whose common themes are based on religion and focus heavily on supernatural beings, often with demons as the main antagonists that bring a sense of threat. Such films commonly use religious elements, including the crucifix or cross, holy water, the Bible, the rosary, the sign of the cross, the church, and prayer, which are forms of religious symbols and rituals used to depict
7965-452: Is aggressive toward Lynn. While John is being operated on, he becomes delirious and professes his love for his ex-wife Jill Tuck , which Amanda mistakes for a professed love for Lynn. Amanda becomes upset and refuses to remove the shotgun collar trap from Lynn, which will kill Lynn if John flatlines . Amanda argues about John's ethics and whether or not Lynn learned anything, revealing that Amanda made her traps inescapable because she felt that
8142-428: Is applied to several films throughout the history of the horror film. This includes Universal Pictures' horror films of the 1930s, the revival of gothic horror in the 1950s and 1960s with films from Hammer, Roger Corman 's Poe-cycle, and several Italian productions. By the 1970s American and British productions often had vampire films set in a contemporary setting, such as Hammer Films had their Dracula stories set in
8319-566: Is confronted with a character who grapples with trying to understand her own identity as she simultaneously attempts to emulate Jigsaw's characteristics, while also setting herself apart as different from him. Huntley claims this predicament that caused Amanda's gradual emotional breakdown. Huntley stated that: What seems to be consistent thematically through the Saw films is that 'Jigsaw' is a part for various players, an identity composed of pieces and despite John's preparations and Amanda's willingness it
8496-403: Is easier to view films as cycles opposed to genres, suggesting the slasher film viewed as a cycle would place it in terms of how the film industry was economically and production wise, the personnel involved in their respective eras, and how the films were marketed exhibited and distributed. Mark Jancovich in an essay, declared that "there is no simple 'collective belief' as to what constitutes
8673-418: Is his sister. He is confronted by Tara and Brent, the widow and son of Harold Abbott, a former client who succumbed to his heart disease after William denied his medical request. John's videotape informs Tara to decide William's fate by using the lever in her cell connecting to tanks of hydrofluoric acid from each cage. As William and Pamela try to persuade the family, an enraged Brent pulls the lever, releasing
8850-425: Is observed by Mark Hoffman, who has just escaped from the trap that killed FBI agent Peter Strahm. He then uses Strahm's severed hand to plant his fingerprints at the scene. The police and FBI agent Dan Erickson investigate alongside FBI agent Lindsey Perez, whose survival was concealed by Erickson for her protection. During Eddie's autopsy, Dr. Heffner reveals that the blade used to cut the puzzle piece from his remains
9027-592: Is only able to act in an imitative and repetitive way, a second, or understudy, in danger of being only slightly more useful than the Billy doll, waiting both for and against Jigsaw's inevitable and impending death." Amanda eventually developed her own unique modus operandi , in which the traps she set were inescapable, and would kill the test subjects even when the victims had achieved the goals of their games. While John always refused to acknowledge his traps as murder, Amanda openly admitted that her actions did define her as
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#17327867672989204-562: Is particularly prominent in the cinema of Japan , Korea , and Thailand , among other countries. Despite being the subject of social and legal controversy due to their subject matter, some horror films and franchises have seen major commercial success , influenced society and spawned several popular culture icons . The Dictionary of Film Studies defines the horror film as representing "disturbing and dark subject matter, seeking to elicit responses of fear , terror , disgust , shock, suspense , and, of course, horror from their viewers." In
9381-464: Is reduced to nothing or, as Matthews accurately and devastatingly phrases it, "not Jigsaw." Amanda Young grows out of her original place of signification and cannot occupy the space she desires, nor can she regress to fit herself back into the position of the signifier "Amanda". The inevitable pressure of this untenable negativity is what causes Amanda's dissolution. Unable to express her desire for Jigsaw, unable to be Jigsaw and ultimately unable to be, she
9558-465: Is revealed in Saw II that Amanda started using heroin in prison. She was sentenced to prison after being framed by Detective Eric Matthews for a crime she did not commit. She appears in most of the film as one of the contestants of a trap set by Jigsaw (John Kramer) involving a house that will flood with nerve gas after a time limit. Also trapped are several other people who Eric had framed, along with
9735-400: Is spinning." Greutert said in an issue of the horror magazine Fangoria that the "carousel room" was, to date, the "longest trap scene ever". He admitted that originally they had ten actors riding the carousel, but it was ultimately scaled down to six, to "tie in to the [film's] title". Post-production services were provided by Deluxe . Saw VI was released on October 23, 2009 . Most of
9912-444: Is squeezed out of any position within the symbolic order and caught in a horror of a hollow point of signification – which is the subtlest trap of all. Kyle Turner writing for Slant commenting on Amanda's role in Saw X , stated "She’s all id, a tempest of emotion and fully embodied desperation and psychosis." After becoming one of John's apprentices, Amanda often took on many of John's iconic symbols. For instance, she often wore
10089-490: Is the lowest of all the Saw films. It remained at number two behind Paranormal Activity which was playing on only 64% as many screens as Saw VI , but made 67% more money. On Halloween weekend, it moved down to number six and made $ 5.2 million, a 63% decrease in ticket sales from the previous weekend. By its third weekend it declined in sales by 61% and was removed from 945 theaters. It fell into 11th place with $ 2 million. By its fourth weekend, ticket sales declined by 78% and
10266-875: Is the same blade used years earlier on Seth Baxter. Perez and Erickson reopen the investigation, and analyze the videotape found at the scene. Hoffman arrives at Jill Tuck's clinic and demands five envelopes containing photographs of the following game's test subjects from the box left to her in John Kramer's last request. The game involves health insurance executive William Easton and his associates, whose company's dubious business policy turned down their clients' coverage for medical treatment, one of them being John Kramer. After Hoffman abducts them to an abandoned zoo, William and his janitor, Hank, are suspended in chains with large metal vises that will crush their bodies each time they breathe in their oxygen masks. The vise kills Hank, and William proceeds to his other three tests to unlock
10443-463: Is to do a quick study for a round of Saw Trivial Pursuit , then this may be the movie for you. If you're looking to be jolted into fear or queasy laughter, skip this sequel and hope that the producers get their sick act together next time." Rob Nelson of Variety wrote, "Squeezing another pint of blood from its torture porn corpus, Lionsgate slays again with Saw VI , a film so frighteningly familiar it could well be called 'Saw It Already'. At least
10620-414: Is what caused her to join him. She survives the nerve gas house, saved by Daniel from a violent victim Xavier , and upon the arrival of Eric Matthews she abducts him as her first "test subject" and rescues John from his custody. Amanda expresses vengeful tendencies toward Eric, telling him that the "tables have turned" and that she will make him experience what it is like to be imprisoned, as she traps him in
10797-466: Is when someone experiences tension in themselves and is urged to relieve that tension. Dissonance is the clashing of unpleasant or harsh sounds. A study by Prete et al. identified that the ability to recognize dissonance relied on the left hemisphere of the brain, while consonance relied on the right half. There is a stronger preference for consonance; this difference is noticeable even in early stages of life. Previous musical experience also can influence
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#173278676729810974-608: The A Nightmare on Elm Street series, while others disassociate themselves from characters and series and focusing on genre auteur directors like Dario Argento , while others fans would deem Argento's films as too mainstream, having preferences more underground films . Andrew Tudor wrote in Monsters and Mad Scientists: A Cultural History of the Horror Movie suggested that "Genre is what we collectively believe it to be" In addition to these perspectives, Rhodes emphasizes
11151-500: The Australian Film Commission to change its focus to being a more commercial operation. This closed in 1980 as its funding was abused by investors using them as tax avoiding measures. A new development known as the 10BA tax shelter scheme was developed ushering a slew of productions, leading to what Peter Shelley, author of Australian Horror Films , suggested meant "making a profit was more important than making
11328-503: The Southeast Asia region, including Thailand and Indonesia . The found footage horror film "technique" gives the audience a first person view of the events on screen, and presents the footage as being discovered after. Horror films which are framed as being made up of "found-footage" merge the experiences of the audience and characters, which may induce suspense, shock, and bafflement. Alexandra Heller-Nicholas noted that
11505-487: The Spike Scream Award in the category of "Most Vile Villain" for their portrayals of John and Amanda respectively in Saw III . Smith's depiction of Amanda in the reverse bear trap was used in promotional posters for the first film. The same image also appears on the soundtrack for the first film. A depiction of Amanda in this device was released as a collectable statue by Hollywood Collectables, indicating
11682-460: The mafia due to his vigilante modus operandi , but the idea was quickly dismissed as not "feeling Saw enough" and more like " The Punisher ". Greutert said in a Demon FM interview that Lionsgate told him a week before filming, that Saw VI would be post-converted into 3D . Greutert was upset by this, since the film he envisioned was a 2D film, aesthetically. The plans were later abandoned due to time restraints. In July 2007, before Saw IV
11859-511: The novel , play and the film's story relying on the supernatural . Newman discussed the genre in British Film Institute 's Companion to Horror where he noted that Horror films in the 1930s were easy to identify, but following that decade, "the more blurred distinctions become, and horror becomes less like a discrete genre than an effect which can be deployed within any number of narrative settings or narrative patterns". In
12036-506: The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 39% of 75 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 4.5/10. The website's consensus reads: "It won't earn the franchise many new fans, but Saw VI is a surprising step up for what has become an intricately grisly annual tradition." Metacritic , which uses a weighted average , assigned the film a score of 30 out of 100, based on 12 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable" reviews. Audiences polled by CinemaScore reported that
12213-486: The subprime mortgage crisis , which was ongoing at the time of the film's release. Also noted by critics was Jigsaw's testing of William and his associates as a consequence for their unethical behavior as health insurance providers, with The Philadelphia Inquirer ' s James Franklin writing that, " Saw VI aims to give viewers the vicarious pleasure of seeing the American health insurance industry, personified here as
12390-462: The "Fear of the Demonic" features graphic accounts of satanic rites , witchcraft , exorcisms outside traditional forms of worship, as seen in films like The Exorcist (1973) or The Omen (1976). Some critics have suggested horror films can be a vessel for exploring contemporary cultural, political and social trends. Jeanne Hall, a film theorist, agrees with the use of horror films in easing
12567-413: The "turning point" in the genre with Jaws (1975), which became the highest-grossing film at that point and moved the animal attacks genres "towards a less-fantastic route" with less giant animals and more real-life creatures such as Grizzly (1976) and Night Creature (1977), Orca (1977), and Jaws 2 (1978). The film is linked with the environmental movements that became more mainstream in
12744-527: The 1940s, the horror film was viewed in different terms. Critic Siegfried Kracauer included The Lost Weekend among films described as "terror films" along with Shadow of a Doubt , The Dark Corner (1946), Gaslight (1944), Shock (1946), The Spiral Staircase (1946), The Stranger (1946) Spellbound (1945) while two years earlier, the New York Times described a new cycle of "horror" productions included Gaslight , The Woman in
12921-626: The 1960s and 1970s for horror films from Italy, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Spain, as well as co-productions between these countries. Several productions, such as those in Italy, were co-productions due to the lack of international stars within the country. European horror films began developing strong cult following since the late 1990s. It is unknown when Australia's cinema first horror title may have been, with thoughts ranging from The Strangler's Grip (1912) to The Face at
13098-484: The 1970s and early 1980s such vegetarianism , animal rights movements , and organizations such as Greenpeace . Following Jaws , sharks became the most popular animal of the genre, ranging from similar such as Mako: The Jaws of Death (1976) and Great White (1981) to the Sharknado film series. James Marriott found that the genre had "lost momentum" since the 1970s while the films would still be made towards
13275-479: The 1990s teen horror cycle, Alexandra West described the general trend of these films is often looked down upon by critics, journals, and fans as being too glossy, trendy, and sleek to be considered worthwhile horror films. Horror films in Asia have been noted as being inspired by national, cultural or religious folklore , particularly beliefs in ghosts or spirits. In Asian Horror , Andy Richards writes that there
13452-554: The American slasher film revival, such as South Korea's early 2000s cycle with Bloody Beach (2000), Nightmare (2000) and The Record (2000). Supernatural horror films integrate supernatural elements , such as the afterlife , spirit possession and religion into the horror genre. Teen horror is a horror subgenre that victimizes teenagers while usually promoting strong, anti-conformity teenage leads, appealing to young generations. This subgenre often depicts themes of sex, under-aged drinking, and gore. Horror films aimed
13629-563: The Latin-American market employing Mexican actors, Mexican horror films were produced throughout the 1930s and 1940s, often reflecting on the overarching theme of science vs. religion conflict . Ushered by the release of El vampiro , the Mexploitation horror film era started in 1957, with films characterised by their low production values and camp appeal, often featuring vampires, wrestlers, and Aztec mummies. A key figure in
13806-501: The Living Dead led to an increase of violence and erotic scenes within the genre. The 1970s would expand on these themes with films that would delve into gorier pictures, as well as films that were near or straight pornographic hybrids. Genre cycles in this era include the natural horror film , and the rise of slasher films which would expand in the early 1980s . Towards the 1990s, postmodernism entered horror, while some of
13983-547: The Mexican horror scene (particularly in Germán Robles -starred vampire films) was producer Abel Salazar . The late 1960s saw the advent of the prominence of Carlos Enrique Taboada as an standout Mexican horror filmmaker, with films such as Hasta el viento tiene miedo (1967), El libro de piedra (1968), Más negro que la noche (1975) or Veneno para las hadas (1984). Mexican horror cinema has been noted for
14160-508: The United Kingdom in second place behind Up , grossing $ 2.6 million on 375 screens. In Australia, it opened at fourth place with earnings of $ 846,000 on 164 screens. In its second week it came in eighth place with $ 4.4 million on 1,229 screens in 20 markets for a total of $ 11.8 million. The film opened in third place in Russia with $ 1.1 million on 273 screens while it fell to fourth place in the United Kingdom with $ 1.5 million on 381 screens over
14337-580: The Window (1919) while stories featuring ghosts would appear in Guyra Ghost Mystery (1921). By 1913, the more prolific era of Australian cinema ended with production not returning with heavy input of government finance in the 1970s. It took until the 1970s for Australia to develop sound film with television films that eventually received theatrical release with Dead Easy (1970) and Night of Fear (1973). The Cars That Ate Paris (1974)
14514-603: The Window (1944), Dark Waters (1944), Laura and Phantom Lady (1944). Mark Jancovich wrote in The Shifting Definitions of Genre: Essays on Labeling Films, Television Shows and Media (2008) that the term was virtually synonymous with mystery as a generic term, not being limited to films concerned with the strange, eerie and uncanny. Various writings on genre from Altman, Lawrence Alloway ( Violent America: The Movies 1946-1964 (1971)) and Peter Hutchings ( Approaches to Popular Film (1995)) implied it
14691-498: The abnormalities found in Strahm's fingerprints at the time of his death. When Hoffman's voice is unscrambled from the tape, he kills Erickson, Perez, and a technician. Hoffman returns to the observation room and finds the letter he wrote to Amanda Young , who indirectly instigated Cecil Adams' robbery at Jill's clinic that resulted in her miscarriage; Hoffman used this knowledge to blackmail Amanda into killing Dr. Lynn Denlon. The letter
14868-427: The atmosphere created in imagery and themes. Dissonance , atonality and experiments with timbre are typical characteristics used by composers in horror film music. In the book Dark Dreams , author Charles Derry conceived horror films as focusing on three broad themes : the horror of personality , horror of Armageddon and the horror of the demonic . The horror of personality derives from monsters being at
15045-466: The average grade moviegoers gave the film was a "B" on an A+ to F scale. Owen Gleiberman , writing for Entertainment Weekly , said that " Saw VI is the thinnest, draggiest, and most tediously preachy of the Saw films. It's the first one that's more or less consumed by backstory—which is to say, it's one of those hollow franchise placeholders in which far too many fragments from the previous sequels keep popping up in flashbacks." He said, "If your goal
15222-419: The best of the film's "outstanding performances", and Joshua Rothkopf opines that Bell's "half-cracked grandeur, boosted by Smith’s skewed stares of adoration, sends the film into a loopy giddiness." Alternatively, Casey Drury called Smith's acting and line delivery "exponentially shallow". Some commentators also noted that Bell and Smith had noticeably aged since last playing their characters in films set after
15399-572: The biblical account of the Massacre of the Innocents and more recently in works such as E. T. A. Hoffmann's " The Nutcracker and the Mouse King " (1816) and Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol (1843). Although ghosts have largely been replaced by serial killers, Christmas horror creates an outlet through which to explore "a modern reinvention of the Christmas ghost story". Erotic horror
15576-560: The biggest hits of the decade included films from Japan with the success of Ring (1998). Horror is a malleable genre and often can be altered to accommodate other genre types such as science fiction , making some films difficult to categorize. A genre that emerged in the 1970s, body horror films focus on the process of a bodily transformation. In these films, the body is either engulfed by some larger process or heading towards fragmentation and collapse. The focus can be on apocalyptic implication of an entire society being overtaken, but
15753-496: The case of her trap. In Amanda's trap, she wakes up with a device attached to her head that is set to rip her jaws apart; the device is described as a "reverse bear trap". The key to unlocking the trap is in the body of her "dead" cellmate, Donnie Greco , who is someone Amanda recognizes from the Homeward Bound Clinic, which is where Amanda stayed to recover from her drug addiction. Amanda prepares to cut Greco for
15930-524: The centre of the plot, such Frankenstein's monster whose psychology makes them perform unspeakable horrific acts ranging from rapes , mutilations and sadistic killings. Other key works of this form are Alfred Hitchcock 's Psycho , which feature psychotic murderers without the make-up of a monster. The second 'Armageddon' group delves on the fear of large-scale destruction , which ranges from science fiction works but also of natural events , such as Hitchcock's The Birds (1963). The last group of
16107-502: The chapter "The American Nightmare: Horror in the 70s" from Hollywood from Vietnam to Reagan (2002), film critic Robin Wood declared that the commonality between horror films is that "normality is threatened by the monster." This was further expanded upon by The Philosophy of Horror, or Parodoxes of the Heart by Noël Carroll who added that "repulsion must be pleasurable, as evidenced by
16284-550: The complexity of Amanda's character in the Irish Journal of Gothic and Horror Studies . Huntley noted that although Amanda sets herself as notably different from the Jigsaw Killer, her attachment toward him and her desire to be like him are central to her character's state of mind. Huntley stated that: The difficulty Amanda has in locating herself within the symbolic order is evident in the dénouement of Saw III . In
16461-407: The detective's son, Daniel . As the last surviving woman in the nerve gas house, her character seems to fill the role of the film's final girl , but this is a red herring . In a twist ending , it is revealed that Amanda is working with John, seeing him as a father figure and working as his apprentice. Amanda claims that the test she experienced in the first film ultimately saved her life, and this
16638-409: The discussions between the producers and filmmakers. Newcomer to the series, Andrew Coutts replaced him as editor for the film. Saw VI marked David A. Armstrong 's last time to serve as cinematographer of the series. Mark Burg and Oren Koules again served as producers, with James Wan and Leigh Whannell , creators of the series, executive producing. Charlie Clouser was brought back to compose
16815-563: The early films of Peter Jackson who combined splatter films with comedy with Bad Taste (1988) and Braindead (1992) which has the largest following of the mentioned films. Film producer Ant Timpson had an influence curating New Zealand horror films, creating the Incredibly Strange Film Festival in the 1990s and producing his own horror films over the 2010s including The ABCs of Death (2012), Deathgasm (2015), and Housebound (2014). Timpson noted
16992-410: The emergence of sub-genres like splatter films and torture porn. In a study by Jacob Shelton, the many ways that audience members are manipulated through horror films was investigated in detail. Negative space is one such method that can play a part in inducing a reaction, causing one's eyes to remotely rest on anything in the frame – a wall, or the empty black void in the shadows. The jump scare
17169-433: The environment reminds them of particular scenes. A 2021 study suggested horror films that explore grief can provide psychological benefits to the bereaved, with the genre well suited to representing grief through its genre conventions. In a study by Medes et al., prolonged exposure to infrasound and low-frequency noise (<500 Hz) in long durations has an effect on vocal range (i.e. longer exposure tends to form
17346-536: The evolution of the horror genre through various cultural and historical contexts. He discusses the impact of socio-political factors on the genre , such as the influence of World War I and II, the Great Depression , and the Cold War , which shaped the themes and narratives of horror films. For instance, the anxieties of the post-war era manifested in horror films as fears of invasion , contamination, and
17523-587: The fact that she had already passed one test. Amanda's close emotional bond and care for John was also further demonstrated in the film. Amanda seemed awkward and uncomfortable when she and John later ran into Jill as they left the room. It was also revealed that the masked figure who kidnapped Lynn Denlon in Saw III was Amanda. Another flashback reveals that Hoffman plotted to sabotage Amanda's final exam in Saw III . Knowing of Amanda's involvement in Jill's miscarriage, Hoffman blackmailed Amanda into killing Lynn through
17700-473: The film a negative review, writing "But, really, do reformers and victims of callous health insurers really want a guy with a penchant for elaborately constructed death panels of his own to be their advocate? Elsewhere, the usual critiques apply: terrible acting, zero suspense, laughable logic and the promise of another one next year. How can we get this policy canceled?" Chris Hewitt of the St. Paul Pioneer Press gave
17877-451: The film a negative review. He was displeased that the film offered nothing new saying, "The first three Saw movies had some intriguing ideas and an unusual way of presenting them, but the three most recent films have barely bothered to come up with anything fresh." Kim Newman of Empire gave the film three out of five, stating " Saw VI gets back to Saw basics in gripping, gruesome manner." Wesley Morris of The Boston Globe gave
18054-402: The film a two and half out of four stars saying, "Who knew that the franchise's creators would eventually find a plot twist that made sense? Who knew they'd realize that Tobin Bell's righteous killer had current-events value? Given our cable-news climate, it's not beyond imagining that John Kramer could have his own populist TV show: 'Jigsaw's Death Panel'?". Brad Miska of Bloody Disgusting gave
18231-421: The film didn't necessarily meant he would appear on it or that his character couldn't be killed off. A television reality show titled, Scream Queens , aired in 2008 on VH1 , in which ten unknown actresses competed for a role in Saw VI . Tanedra Howard won the competition, giving her a role in the film playing Simone; a role she would reprise in the sequel Saw 3D . Greutert stated that Saw VI would have
18408-482: The film seven out of ten and wrote " Saw VI is faithful to the franchise and the twist/finale are 100% satisfying. Saw fans will walk out of the theater with their fists in the air with the feeling that they've reclaimed their beloved franchise." Marc Savlov of The Austin Chronicle gave the film one and half out of five stars, saying "Enshrouding the whole gooey mess in the already blood-spattered surgical garb of
18585-418: The film was pulled from 1,314 theaters; it made $ 449,512. On its fifth and final weekend it made $ 91,875, an 80% decrease, and it was pulled from an additional 599 theaters. It was being shown in 178 theaters by the end of its run. The film closed out of theaters on November 24, 2009 , after 35 days. Saw VI began its international run in tenth place with $ 4.7 million on 946 screens in 11 markets. It opened in
18762-527: The film's stars attended the Lionsgate annual " red carpet " event for the film at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood , California . The Motion Picture Association of America only took issue with the opening scene, in which two characters have 60 seconds to escape a mechanical device on their heads with screws pointing at their temples by cutting off their flesh and tossing it into a scale. The scene
18939-589: The films stated if you partook in such vices such as drugs or sex, your punishment of death would be handed out. Prior to Scream , there were no popular teen horror films in the early 1990s. After the financial success of Scream , teen horror films became increasingly reflexive and self-aware until the end of the 1990s with films like I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) and non-slasher The Faculty (1998). The genre lost prominence as teen films dealt with threats with more realism in films like Donnie Darko (2001) and Crazy/Beautiful (2001). In her book on
19116-763: The first film. According to the website, The Numbers , which tracks DVD and Blu-ray sales in the United States and Canada, Saw VI placed number three in its first week on the DVD sales chart, selling 220,107 units ($ 2.7 million) in the United States. In comparison, Saw V sold 515,095 units ($ 11.3 million) its first week. The film grossed $ 13.4 million in home sales. Saw VI opened in 3,036 theaters on 4,000 screens and earned $ 6.9 million on its opening day, in second place behind Paranormal Activity which grossed $ 7.5 million that day during its second weekend of wide release. It grossed $ 14.1 million its opening weekend, which
19293-613: The focus is generally upon an individual and their sense of identity, primarily them watching their own body change. The earliest appearance of the sub-genre was the work of director David Cronenberg , specifically with early films like Shivers (1975). Mark Jancovich of the University of Manchester declared that the transformation scenes in the genre provoke fear and repulsion, but also pleasure and excitement such as in The Thing (1982) and The Fly (1986). Christmas horror
19470-553: The focus on the posthumous effects of the Jigsaw Killer (Bell) and the progression of his successor, Detective Lieutenant Mark Hoffman (Mandylor). The plot follows insurance executive William Easton (Outerbridge), who must complete a series of deadly "games" set up by Hoffman in order to rescue his employees and family. Meanwhile, the FBI comes to suspect that Agent Peter Strahm, who was framed by Hoffman as being Jigsaw's successor,
19647-521: The genre among viewers (ahead of South Korea), according to a 2016 research. In a study done by Uri Hasson et al., brain waves were observed via functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). This study used the inter-subject correlation analysis (ISC) method of determining results. It was shown that audience members tend to focus on certain facets in a particular scene simultaneously and tend to sit as still as possible while watching horror films. In another study done by John Greene & Glenn Sparks, it
19824-431: The genre continuously evolves, incorporating elements from other genres and responding to contemporary societal fears and anxieties. This adaptability is evident in the various sub-genres that have emerged over the years, such as psychological horror, body horror, and found footage horror, each addressing different aspects of human fear and the unknown. Rhodes also explores the role of censorship and regulation in shaping
20001-597: The genre did not become a codified genre until the release of Dracula (1931). Dracula was a box office success, leading to Universal and several other American film studios to develop and popularise horror films well into the 1940s . By the 1950s , horror would often be made with science fiction themes, and towards the end of the decade horror was a more common genre of international productions. The 1960s saw further developments, with material based on contemporary works instead of classical literature. The release of films like Psycho , Black Sunday and Night of
20178-579: The genre's popularity." Prior to the release of Dracula (1931), historian Gary Don Rhodes explained that the idea and terminology of horror film did not exist yet as a codified genre , although critics used the term "horror" to describe films in reviews prior to Dracula ' s release. "Horror" was a term used to describe a variety of meanings. In 1913, Moving Picture World defined "horrors" as showcasing "striped convicts, murderous Indians, grinning 'black-handers', homicidal drunkards" Some titles that suggest horror such as The Hand of Horror (1914)
20355-441: The good guy..." On Tom Cullen's list of the top five most noteworthy fictional female serial killers, as featured on Asylum , Amanda Young was ranked as number four. In a list that included Sharon Stone 's iconic Catherine Tramell , Cullen remarked that of all those featured on his list, Smith's Amanda would be the "most in need of psychiatric help". Don Summer, a writer for Best-Horror-films.com , commented that Shawnee Smith did
20532-500: The horror film have feelings similar to happiness or joy felt with friends, but intensified. Alternatively, audience members with negative feedback regarding the film would typically feel emotions they would normally associate with negative experiences in their life. Only about 10% of the American population enjoy the physiological rush felt immediately after watching horror films. The population that does not enjoy horror films could experience emotional fallout similar to that of PTSD if
20709-485: The horror films of Europe were often more erotic and "just plain stranger" than their British and American counter-parts. European horror films (generally referred to as Euro Horror) draw from distinctly European cultural sources, including surrealism , romanticism , decadent tradition , early 20th century pulp-literature , film serials , and erotic comics . In comparison to the narrative logic in American genre films, these films focused on imagery, excessiveness, and
20886-515: The horror genre" between both fans and critics of the genre. Jancovich found that disagreements existed from audiences who wanted to distinguish themselves. This ranged from fans of different genres who may view a film like Alien (1979) as belonging to science fiction , and horror fan bases dismissing it as being inauthentic to either genre. Further debates exist among fans of the genre with personal definitions of "true" horror films, such as fans who embrace cult figures like Freddy Kruger of
21063-521: The horror genre. The enforcement of the Hays Code in the 1930s and subsequent rating systems influenced the depiction of violence and sexuality in horror films. This regulation often pushed filmmakers to find creative ways to imply horror elements without explicit content, leading to a focus on atmosphere, suggestion, and psychological horror. The relaxation of censorship in the late 20th century allowed for more graphic and explicit horror, contributing to
21240-489: The iconic status that the character has obtained. Reviewing Saw X , Alison Foreman of IndieWire writes that Smith's "pitch-perfect performance — self-aware, soapy, and rivaling Chris Rock for funniest in the series — is still stunningly effective." Siddhant Adlakha observes that Smith returns for "a surprisingly sizable role that, like Bell, allows the actress to tie a neat bow on a character who may have been killed off far too quickly." Jack McCarthy cited Smith as giving
21417-533: The implication of her past drug addiction before she knew Jigsaw. Even at such a critical moment, jostling a gun between the terrified Lynn and the terminal Jigsaw, Amanda's desire to identify with her mentor remains. Huntley further points out that the biggest dilemma that Amanda's character faced is that she lost her sense of "self" following her "reverse bear trap" in the first film. This is characterised by her claim to have been "reborn", symbolising her neurotic desire to be somebody else other than herself. The viewer
21594-426: The inside of her thigh. The scene was not in the original script, and instead there was a brief scene in which Amanda is shown squeezing a razor blade (which was later replaced by a scene of Amanda squeezing a leather cutter), only hinting at Amanda self-injuring. Prior to filming, Smith had been reading A Bright Red Scream , a book that explains the reasons one would turn to self-injury. It was Smith who insisted that
21771-490: The irrational. Between the mid-1950s and the mid-1980s, European horror films emerged from countries like Italy, Spain and France, and were shown in the United States predominantly at drive-in theatre and grindhouse theaters. As producers and distributors all over the world were interested in horror films, regardless of their origin, changes started occurring in European low-budget filmmaking that allowed for productions in
21948-474: The key, only to find that he is not dead, but heavily sedated. Nevertheless, she uses a scalpel to stab him to death and searches his stomach for the key. Amanda finds the key with only seconds left before the trap would have activated. Billy the Puppet enters the room with Amanda shortly after she removes the trap, congratulating her on her survival and explaining that she now knows how to appreciate life. It
22125-494: The latter horror entries from New Zealand are all humorous films like What We Do in the Shadows (2014) with Jonathan King , director of Black Sheep (2006) and The Tattooist (2007) stating "I'd love to see a genuinely scary New Zealand film but I don't know if New Zealand audiences – or the funding bodies – are keen." After the 1931 release of a US-produced Spanish-language version of Dracula by George Melford for
22302-459: The letter he left for her in Saw IV (which she read in Saw III ). In the letter, Hoffman told Amanda that he would inform John of Amanda's indirect role in the incident. Feeling pressure not to disappoint her mentor, Amanda followed Hoffman's threats and shot Lynn. This resulted in Amanda's failure to pass the final test John had set for her and her death. In the director's cut of Saw VI , one of
22479-462: The mashup of classic gothic and romantic themes and characters with autochthonous features of the Mexican culture such as the Ranchería setting, the colonial past or the myth of La Llorona (shared with other Hispanic-American nations). Horror has proven to be a dependable genre at the Mexican box office in the 21st-century, with Mexico ranking as having the world's largest relative popularity of
22656-442: The miscarriage of John's son Gideon in Saw IV . It is also shown that after Amanda survived her test in the first film, John showed Amanda to Jill to prove that his method of rehabilitation was the only one that worked. It is implied that Amanda was once a patient at Jill's clinic and that Jill had given up on her. Amanda told Jill that John's method had helped her. Amanda appears in a flashback with John and Hoffman as they prepare
22833-505: The most characters of any Saw film to date but reassured the writers would stay true to previous storylines to prevent any "violations of logic and chronology". In March 2009, it was confirmed by news reports that Shawnee Smith would return as Amanda. Newly filmed "flashback" scenes would be created instead of using archive footage from previous entries, as had been done in the films since her character's death in Saw III . On April 19 it
23010-572: The ongoing health care debate is a crafty move on the screenwriters' part, but once you get past that pseudo-ironic touch, this Saw is no more or less disturbing than any other in the series". Horror film Horror is a film genre that seeks to elicit fear or disgust in its audience for entertainment purposes. Horror films often explore dark subject matter and may deal with transgressive topics or themes . Broad elements include monsters , apocalyptic events , and religious or folk beliefs. Horror films have existed for more than
23187-494: The operating room seen in Saw III, Hoffman questioned John about why he was letting emotional attachment get in the way of his perception of Amanda. Hoffman predicted that she would fail John. He then left the room through a secret exit just before Amanda entered the room with Lynn. In Saw VI , a flashback shows that Amanda, desperate for drugs, sent Cecil to Jill Tuck's clinic to steal some for her, making her an accomplice in
23364-403: The plot. In his words, Greutert wanted to bring "a lot of the same insane energy Darren Bousman brought" to the series, but making the film feel not only like a horror film but also a thriller , in addition to create the feeling of the audience being in a "rollecoaster ride which breaks down, it's slow and dark until something jumps out and the audience is back on the rollercoaster". He said that
23541-427: The popularity of sites like YouTube in 2006 sparked a taste for amateur media, leading to the production of further films in the found footage horror genre later in the 2000s including the particularly financially successful Paranormal Activity (2007). In their book Gothic film , Richard J. McRoy and Richard J. Hand stated that "Gothic" can be argued as a very loose subgenre of horror, but argued that "Gothic" as
23718-489: The previous Saw films, returned to compose the score. Shot on a budget of $ 11 million, it was filmed in Toronto from March to May 2009. Saw VI was released on October 23, 2009 and ended up grossing over $ 69.8 million globally. It was the lowest-grossing film in the Saw franchise at the time, but it was still considered a financial success given its low budget. The film received mixed reviews. A follow-up film, Saw 3D ,
23895-554: The process of understanding issues by making use of their optical elements. The use of horror films can help audiences understand international prior historical events occurs, for example, to depict the horrors of the Vietnam War , the Holocaust , the worldwide AIDS epidemic or post-9/11 pessimism. In many occurrences, the manipulation of horror presents cultural definitions that are not accurate, yet set an example to which
24072-528: The producers removed it because they thought it would be better to leave the door open for Eric's return in Saw IV . Leigh Whannell confirms on the Saw III DVD commentary that Amanda's murder of Eric was the first time she killed out of spite and that it was this incident that caused her to stray from John's intentions. Two deleted scenes were included on the Saw III Director's Cut DVD. The first
24249-431: The production office, with some improvised there and others coming from the script. Armstrong told Bloody Disgusting reviewer Mike Pereira that he thinks "visually" Saw VI might be his favorite, saying "We're kind of pulling back a little bit in the color palette. It's going to be more suggestive and not so vibrant, in your face like III and IV . It's more neutral and shows natural flesh tones. On Saw V , I pulled back
24426-430: The release of Francis Ford Coppola 's Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992), a small wave of high-budgeted gothic horror romance films were released in the 1990s. Also described as "eco-horror", the natural horror film is a subgenre "featuring nature running amok in the form of mutated beasts, carnivorous insects, and normally harmless animals or plants turned into cold-blooded killers." In 1963, Alfred Hitchcock defined
24603-473: The remaining bomb shackles from his limbs. The second test at an aquarium forces William to save his middle-aged secretary Addy over his file clerk Allen, who hangs to death from a barbed-wire noose. At the boiler room, William unwittingly releases his lawyer Debbie, who attacks him to retrieve a key inside his body and unlock a speargun attached to her harness. He fights her off until the device kills her. William's final test involves his six subordinates chained to
24780-471: The reporter in the face and storming off. Saw III specifies that Amanda had been working with John since the first film, and that she kidnapped one of the film's protagonists, Adam Stanheight , eventually killing him out of mercy shortly after the events of the film. Flashbacks in Saw III also reveal that Eric had escaped from his trap, and struggled with Amanda over the whereabouts of his son. Amanda managed to overpower him and left Eric for dead. By
24957-464: The requisite moralism is more playful than pious in this edition", but added, "Presumably owing to director Kevin Greutert's work as editor of all five previous Saw pics, the film's juggling of chronology is the franchise's best...." IGN 's Christopher Monfette rated Saw VI three out of five and wrote, "while Saw VI certainly offers a redemption for the series and the promise of a coming power struggle for Jigsaw's legacy, Saw VII will no doubt mark
25134-495: The reverse bear trap as weapons. After Amanda's death in Saw III, she is transported to the universe of Dead by Daylight by some unknown force; Amanda believes that these circumstances were brought on as another test from Jigsaw. Several of the film crew behind the Saw film series have commented on how Amanda's character is a focus point of the franchise. Marcus Dunstan , writer of Saw IV , Saw V , Saw VI , and Saw 3D stated that "Shawnee Smith's character [Amanda] represents
25311-468: The scenes added was a dialogue between Amanda and Cecil in which she convinces him to rob the clinic by saying, "I've been good to you". Also in the Director's Cut, a scene was added after the credits in which she approaches the room where Corbett Denlon is trapped (during the events of Saw III ) and frantically tells her, "Don't trust the one who saves you". At the end of Saw 3D , Amanda appears in
25488-450: The score. Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan , writers of Saw IV and Saw V , returned to write the sixth installment. Melton said that the film had good pacing and a resolution for the series. Greutert commented that Saw VI would have some finality to it, something he always wanted to see in the series. During the early planning stage for the script it was suggested that Costas Mandylor 's character, Detective Hoffman, should take on
25665-515: The signification of death within the symbolic order and the death drive. This is because Amanda, as a Lacanian subject, becomes caught between her own subjectivity and the object of her desire. In purely cinematic terms, Jigsaw directs his games while Amanda acts in hers... The subjects of Amanda's games, undertaken for Jigsaw, constitute only the throwing away, the discarding... At the most basic level, Amanda does not allow chance or potential to interfere, only ever seeing Jigsaw's games as constitutive of
25842-521: The songs the "most ferocious moments this time around". The DVD , Blu-ray and digital download were released on January 26, 2010. The DVD and Blu-ray releases include an additional scene after the credits roll, featurettes about Jigsaw, the traps, and the first look at Universal's Halloween Horror Nights "Saw: Game Over" maze. Music videos by Memphis May Fire , Hatebreed , Mushroomhead , and Suicide Silence were included with all editions. During its initial release, all three editions came bundled with
26019-549: The sub-genre sits within a trend of holiday-themed slasher films, alongside films such as My Bloody Valentine (1981) and April Fool's Day (1986). Others take a broader view that Christmas horror is not limited to the slasher genre, noting how it evolved from the English Christmas tradition of telling ghost stories. Christmas in literature has historically included elements of "darkness"—fright, misery, death and decay—tracing its literary antecedents as far back as
26196-412: The symbolic order, as an elaborate cover for staging the death of those who lack the survival instinct and thus do not deserve life." In a list compiled by Scott Collura for IGN of the top fifty villainesses in modern popular culture, entitled "Top 50 Chicks Behaving Badly", Amanda Young was ranked as number 42. Collura remarked that Amanda was so villainous that she made "a killer like Jigsaw look like
26373-452: The third film, Amanda is shown to be ignoring John's modus operandi by creating inescapable traps that kill the subject regardless of whether or not they successfully complete their test. She also shows a tendency to cut herself under stress. The dying John decides to test Amanda to see if she is still stable enough to continue his work by having her work with Dr. Lynn Denlon to keep him alive while she oversees Jeff Denlon's tests. Amanda
26550-400: The time to either shake things up or watch this franchise get the ax". Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter ' said, "If this is torture porn, it's as if it was designed to be enjoyed by Michael Moore ." He closed his review saying, "As usual, what gives the film whatever interest it has -- beyond satisfying the rapacious appetites of gore aficionados -- is the moral element attached to
26727-485: The trap for Timothy . It is shown that although Amanda and Hoffman were both apprentices of John, they were competitive and reluctant to work together. Amanda expressed doubts about Hoffman's ability to properly set up the mechanics of her devices, noting that she thought he was only useful for "heavy lifting." Hoffman openly expressed his dislike for her, saying that he was the one who truly valued his life. Amanda also questioned whether Hoffman should be tested, reflecting on
26904-424: The traps Jigsaw made, which had the intent of being survivable if certain actions were taken. This places her in an antagonist role within the series. Even as an antagonist, she has become a fan favorite. For her role as the character, Shawnee Smith has received a largely positive reception, leading to her recognition as a " scream queen ". Amanda first appeared as a supporting character in the 2004 film Saw . She
27081-424: The turn of the millennium. Bill Gibron of PopMatters declared a mixed definition of the psychological horror film, ranging from definitions of anything that created a sense of disquiet or apprehension to a film where an audience's mind makes up what was not directly displayed visually. Gibron concluded it as a "clouded gray area between all out splatter and a trip through a cinematic dark ride." Religious horror
27258-402: The unknown, reflecting the collective psyche of the time. Rhodes also highlights the significance of technological advancements, such as the advent of sound in cinema, which revolutionized the horror genre by enhancing its ability to evoke fear and suspense through auditory effects. Moreover, the horror genre's flexibility and adaptability are crucial to its enduring popularity. As Rhodes notes,
27435-416: The use of hard rock and heavy metal music, something that had been missing since Saw IV . He said in his review that "It's a fitting marriage, as hard rock and heavy metal are the sonic suitors to horror and torture porn films and video games". He particularly liked the songs by Hatebreed ("In Ashes They Shall Reap"), Converge ("Dark Horse"), My My Misfire ("The Sinatra"), and Kittie ("Cut Throat"), calling
27612-584: The use of faith to defeat evil. The slasher film is a horror subgenre which involves a killer murdering a group of people (often teenagers), usually by use of bladed tools. In his book on the genre, author Adam Rockoff wrote that these villains represented a "rogue genre" of films that are "tough, problematic, and fiercely individualistic." Following the financial success of Friday the 13th (1980), at least 20 other slasher films appeared in 1980 alone. These films usually revolved around three properties: unique social settings (campgrounds, schools, holidays) and
27789-492: The various Rube Goldberg -style set pieces. Here, it's exemplified by a well-staged sequence in which a man must choose who lives or dies during a particularly lethal variation of musical chairs." Roger Moore writing for Orlando Sentinel gave the film two out of five stars. He said the script "has a more lyrical bent, and a more satiric bite, than any of the other Saw sequels" and called the acting "perfunctory on most fronts". The Los Angeles Times 's Robert Abele gave
27966-421: The victims in traps would be more one-on-one with the trap and would be more personal to them. This was compared to Saw IV and Saw V , which most of the traps were set in big rooms and involved several people at one time. To conceive the traps, once the storyline was assembled without any specific details for the traps, the writers, Greutert, the producer and the production designer brainstormed ideas for traps in
28143-606: The victims would have learned nothing from the test they were put through. Amanda shoots Lynn in the stomach as Jeff walks in. Jeff shoots Amanda in the neck in retaliation. As she dies, a saddened John explains the nature of her test – Lynn and Jeff are actually husband and wife – and expresses his disappointment that she has effectively defeated the purpose of his actions by giving her victims no chance to learn from their tests. A deleted scene in Saw III shows Amanda killing Eric, by slashing his body several times while on top of him. Darren Lynn Bousman fought to keep this scene in, but
28320-468: The weekend for a total of $ 6.1 million. Saw VI was released in Spain on October 8, 2010 and grossed $ 1.2 million on its opening weekend in 211 theaters. Saw VI came to gross $ 27.6 million in the United States and Canada, and $ 40.5 million in other markets, for a worldwide total of $ 68.2 million; making it the second lowest-grossing film of the series. Saw VI was not screened in advance for critics. On
28497-488: Was a flashback showing Amanda meeting Adam in his apartment building before kidnapping him for Jigsaw's game. Adam complimented Amanda on her hair, gave her a flyer promoting a friend's concert, and took a picture of her. The second deleted scene was between Amanda and Lynn, in which they had a fight that resulted in cuts on Amanda's arms. It is also noted in Leigh Whannell's Saw III commentary that Amanda's character
28674-418: Was a melodrama about a thief who steals from his own sister. During the silent era, the term horror was used to describe everything from "battle scenes" in war films to tales of drug addiction. Rhodes concluded that the term "horror film" or "horror movie" was not used in early cinema. The mystery film genre was in vogue and early information on Dracula being promoted as a mystery film was common, despite
28851-448: Was abused by her father as a child, although this is never seen in any of the Saw movies. During Saw IV , Amanda's ability to carry the much heavier Detective Allison Kerry 's unconscious body is questioned by the FBI , leading them to believe that another accomplice is helping John. It is discovered that the events of Saw III and Saw IV occurred at the same time, revealing that Amanda
29028-441: Was alive during the events of the fourth film. Her bloody body is found by Agent Peter Strahm in the makeshift operating room just moments after her death. Amanda reappears in Saw V , but only through flashbacks and voice acting. On August 7, 2008, Shawnee Smith confirmed in an interview with Bloody Disgusting that she had heard that she would indeed be featured in the fifth installment of Saw . However, she claimed that she
29205-449: Was announced that James Van Patten would return as Dr. Adam Heffner, a character featured in the opening scene of the fourth installment performing the autopsy on John Kramer . Peter Outerbridge was cast as a new character, William Easton, and Tobin Bell , Betsy Russell , and Mark Rolston returned as their characters John Kramer, Jill Tuck, and Special Agent Dan Erickson, respectively. Russell commented about her character: "You find out
29382-523: Was banned in Trinidad and Tobago and Thailand . Saw VI: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack includes music by the bands Every Time I Die , Chimaira , Suicide Silence , Nitzer Ebb , Mushroomhead , and Lacuna Coil , among others. The soundtrack includes 18 tracks separated by three parts, each with six songs and includes three bonus tracks. It was released on October 20, 2009, through Trustkill Records . James Christopher Monger of AllMusic praised
29559-475: Was capable of growing the strength to serve and sacrifice for another human being. Now that's rare and it takes strength, courage, practice, diligence, and a fearlessness to build that." Smith also stated that she attempted to find the human being in Amanda, and tried not to merely turn her into a "super killer". Smith remarked of Amanda's relationship with Jigsaw that it was not so much an apprentice relationship, but that she perceived it as "a true friendship and
29736-416: Was cut down slightly to receive an R rating . In Spain, the film was rated with a Película X rating for extreme violence, and restricted screenings to only eight adult theaters in that region. Buena Vista , the film's foreign distributor, appealed the decision. After producers cut several of the "most violent scenes" to obtain a "not under 18" rating, it was released in Spain on October 8, 2010. Saw VI
29913-408: Was found by Pamela and given to Jill, who then uses it to ambush Hoffman. Jill, who had the remaining contents from her box including a sixth envelope containing Hoffman's photo, restrains him and locks a modified reverse bear trap to his head, posthumously fulfilling John's will to test Hoffman after his death. William reaches the end of his path and enters the cages where he reunites with Pamela, who
30090-445: Was found that the audience tends to experience the excitation transfer process (ETP) which causes a physiological arousal in audience members. The ETP refers to the feelings experienced immediately after an emotion-arousing experience, such as watching a horror film. In this case, audience members' heart rate, blood pressure and respiration all increased while watching films with violence. Audience members with positive feedback regarding
30267-411: Was held in a poison/antidote injection trap to reflect her intravenous drug use habits . Tapp rushes to rescue her, and she follows him around the asylum. However, she is soon "kidnapped" by Pighead , a henchman wearing Jigsaw's robes to hide Amanda's identity as Jigsaw's apprentice. Amanda became a downloadable playable killer “The Pig” for Dead by Daylight in 2018, utilizing a hidden blade and
30444-441: Was never on the set of the fifth film. Smith suggested that her reappearance would most likely be through the use of previously filmed archival footage. In the fifth film, Hoffman, in a flashback, questions why Amanda would be needed to participate in the nerve gas house trap (from the second movie). Amanda is briefly seen in this flashback, lying unconscious on the floor as John and Hoffman set up this game. In another flashback, in
30621-410: Was not actually Jigsaw's accomplice and re-opens the investigation, drawing Hoffman into motion to protect his secret identity. Greutert, who had served as editor for the previous Saw films, made his directorial debut with Saw VI . Melton and Dunstan, who had written the screenplays for Saw IV and Saw V , returned to write the screenplay, and Charlie Clouser , who had composed the scores for all
30798-419: Was released the following year in 2010. Predatory lenders Eddie and Simone are locked in head harnesses with screws aimed at their temples, and have one minute to each cut flesh from their bodies and weigh the scale in their favor to survive. Eddie, who is overweight, slices several chunks of fat from his stomach, but is killed after Simone chops off her arm and tips the scale before the timer expires. The game
30975-516: Was released, Costas Mandylor signed-on to appear as Mark Hoffman in Saw V and Saw VI . Mandylor commented on his character, "Hoffman is sort of torn of becoming a mad man or becoming a guy that's more composed, coming from a pure place like Jigsaw. That's my character's dilemma; does he go fucking crazy or follow the rules of the boss?". Scott Patterson , who played Special Agent Peter Strahm in Saw IV and Saw V , originally signed on to appear in Saw VI as well, though Patterson noted that signing on
31152-483: Was the first Australian horror production made for theatrical release. 1970s Australian art cinema was funded by state film corporations, who considered them more culturally acceptable than local exploitation films ( Ozploitation ), which was part of the Australian phenomenon called the cultural cringe . The greater success of genre films like Mad Max (1979), The Last Wave (1977) and Patrick (1978) led to
31329-412: Was the only known survivor of the Jigsaw Killer (portrayed by Tobin Bell ), a man who abducts people he deems unappreciative of their lives and forces them into death traps. Amanda was targeted by Jigsaw because of her past as a drug addict. Her trap is shown in flashback as it is described to the police and Dr. Lawrence Gordon (portrayed by Cary Elwes ) as Dr. Gordon was initially a prime suspect in
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