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Bonds and Brotherhood: Why I Can’t Wait for Saw Legacy

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We all have them. That one horror flick that resonates because of an intensely personal memory attached to it.

For me, it’s not one movie, but a franchise.

From the moment Tobin Bell rose from the floor until the final “game over” from Cary Elwes, Saw has signified far more than a lucrative horror series. My love for fall turned from crisp temperatures, the baseball playoffs and Halloween season to something deeper in October 2004.

The first few chords of Charlie Clouser’s “Hello Zepp” conjure images that are the mirror opposite of puppets and tricycles and intricate traps, because for me it’s about friendship.

It’s not rare these days to hear guys calling each other “bro,” but when I first started saying it, I meant it. My boy Dan is like a brother to me. We’ve known one another for nearly twenty years; we’ve worked together, lived together and been through a lot of shit together.

It was a bond that began with a mutual love of movies, and that has never changed. We can have entire conversations that are nothing more than lines from our favorite flicks.

That shared passion eventually brought us to a beautiful creation borne from the minds of Leigh Whannell and James Wan.

Every October for seven years we made our way to the theatre to absorb John Kramer’s complicated lessons about appreciation of life, and in an odd way, that’s exactly what happened.

Other friends who weren’t quite as keen on horror would wonder why we continued to venture off for the latest Saw installment because it was the same thing over and over and the main character died three movies back.

Our response became standard, “We’ve come this far.”

I don’t need to explain to anyone that life has a way of changing things. The responsibility of careers and families are the catalysts for time apart extending from days to weeks and finally to months.

For Dan and I, it wasn’t only about careers but geography, and the fact that nowadays he goes from his regular job to the gaming shop he purchased about three years ago. While I’m glad Dan’s  “living the dream” as he’s apt to put it and I still pop in from time-to-time, it only makes me miss the old days when we had more time to spend together to binge watch Pulp Fiction, The Dark Knight and of course, Saw.

We enjoyed the series for very different reasons. While each of us loved the deeply woven, interconnected stories, he dug the traps while I declared that Bell’s intensity was always worth the price of admission.

For as much as I adore horror, I’m not big on gore. Unfortunately I’m a bit too adept with regard to putting myself in the shoes of the characters, so each time that the series upped the ante with the traps, I squirmed in my seat more and more. In turn, Dan laughed at me more and more.

Hell, the year IV came out, we went right after work and decided to grab some sandwiches to sneak into the theatre so we could have dinner. I was uncertain about it because like I said, not a fan of gore, especially when I’m eating. Dan looked over and casually noted, “You’ll probably have most of it eaten before the trailers are over and even if you don’t, it’s not like we’re gonna see flesh getting peeled off somebody right away.”

When the autopsy began and the doctor started to pull Kramer’s face off of his skull, I shot a death stare and “Motherfucker” in Dan’s direction, who was doubled over in laughter as I dropped the last few bites of my sandwich on the floor. The film was in its second night, so of course I accused him of having seen it already, because how in the fuck did he know that was going to happen?  He denied it with a chuckle then and denies it to this day, but I’m still not sold.

By the time what was supposed to have been The Final Chapter rolled around, it became an event. We got together for a marathon viewing of the first six movies so that we could pontificate and determine how Saw VII would draw to a close. I would like to say that we were proud to have called Dr. Gordon’s return, but I’m sure we weren’t alone with that conclusion. The key placed behind a dude’s eye and what was supposed to have been Jigsaw performing the surgery on tape limping from the camera to the operating table was probably pretty obvious, but it was still a fantastic way to spend the day.

The baseball playoffs were actually in full swing at the time. In fact, the eventual World Series champion Giants were hosting the Braves in San Francisco and the woman I was seeing at the time texted me to join her and some friends at a bar for the game. I rarely miss a postseason contest, but had to decline. She wondered why I would rather sit and watch a bunch of old movies instead of watch baseball and drink with my girlfriend.

But she just didn’t get it, we’d come this far.

On the night, Dan and I headed for Buffalo Wild Wings and the Saw grand finale, but while we were pleased that we had, in fact, called it, neither of us were necessarily happy with the send-off. We felt that such an epic saga couldn’t have ended there.

A journey that began with kidneys on eBay concluded with the final curtain dropping on Picket Fences, an unsatisfying finish to a race that had sprawled out over seven Octobers.

Shortly thereafter, I took on a more demanding job. Dan bought the shop. I moved.

There were the occasional get-togethers and we still travel to Comic Con in Minneapolis each May, but as it so often does, life got in the way.

Another seven years have passed since our last Saw excursion, but there will not be an eighth. Legacy will hit theatres this October.

When I got the news that Saw would officially have a Part VIII, I immediately texted my brother to say “I want to play a game. Again.”

Dan’s response was simple, “We’ve come this far.”

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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