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Jigsaw would like to gently remind you that it's impossible for him to be oversaturated.

Kim Hollis: Are you surprised that over-saturation hasn't become an issue for the Saw franchise?

Sean Collier: I've always been very impressed with the Saw cottage industry. Remember, this isn't a franchise with a new entry out every two to four years, like the major horror brands of the '80s and '90s; there has been a Saw out every October for the past five years. As soon as a film is released, the next film begins production. In doing it this way, they've successfully made themselves something of a Halloween institution; go to the haunted house, buy a sexy nurse costume, see the latest Saw. The rhythm of it has a lot to do with the series' success, I think.

Eric Hughes: What Sean said. Also, some remarkable stats are that Saw made Hollywood history last year with the release of Saw IV, in that it was the first time a franchise released a new movie for four consecutive years. Saw V only adds to that fact. Also, if Saw V grosses more than $62.8 million, the series becomes the top-grossing horror franchise of all time. It's just astounding. And I don't think it has reached a point of over-saturation because it's a film franchise that people, for whatever reason, enjoy seeing. It's not like there's a spinoff TV show, a musical on Broadway (wouldn't that be interesting?) and the like. It's just a series of movies smartly released at the same time every year.

Brandon Scott: Am I surprised it hasn't reached over-saturation levels? Yes. But both Sean and Eric make good points. Apparently the method is working. By the way, I am typing this with one hand...I had to eat the other. (It's actually not bad with some fava beans.)





Scott Lumley: I think the concept of Saw is about as creepy as it gets. There's nothing supernatural about the bad guy. It's just a sociopath putting people into crappy situations again and again where they have to mutilate themselves or someone else to live. Everything in the film could actually happen. Pair that with some decent cinematography, some creepy trailers and some even creepier posters and you've got a franchise that's practically guaranteed to make money. I am impressed with the steady hand guiding the course of this franchise. Really impressed.

Eric Hughes: Scott's right about the posters. The one for Saw III where the guy's three bottom teeth are stand ins for the roman numeral three is particularly memorable.

Kim Hollis: I am surprised that oversaturation hasn't become a problem, but I also think that you can see from the answers above that they do seem to be reaching the target audience with their marketing. They're not trying to aim their ads/trailers/posters at me, a 40-year-old female (*arches eyebrow at anyone who is thinking about making an age comment*). They want to reach 17- to 30-year-old males. The creepy posters and the blood drive and all the other stuff they do to promote the film do a fantastic job of keeping awareness exactly where they need it.

Reagen Sulewski: I think there's a lot of value in being the originator of this kind of film (or at least seen as being the originator). With the slip from IV to V, I see this franchise as becoming unprofitable somewhere around Saw XXVI.

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