Once More Without Feeling: Movie Franchises that Have Gone on Too Long

July 9, 2010 | 5

Picture this. The year is 3008. Cinemas still exist, one of which you happen to be at. Pre-film trailers are still around too, and when the lights dim and you’ve taken that first mouthful of popcorn the first trailer to flash on screen is none other than…

SAW LXXXVI

Or Saw 84 to those of us not fluent in Roman numerals.

Hopefully the infamous slasher franchise will not reach such longevity (or if gore is up your street you’re probably praying for it), but you have to admit six installments is a little excessive. Admittedly the methods of death got increasingly creative, and I felt the posters were effectively chilling (“Give till it hurts,” anyone?) but as each instalment was released, it seemed to become more about what was bankable than what actually scared anybody. I find that when films become about bank balance as opposed to creativity and entertainment (I fear Twilight may be heading down this route, as did Fast and the Furious before it) they become lacklustre and lame. Read More