John Kramer, aka Jigsaw (or the Jigsaw Killer in VF), returns next October in Saw X, the tenth installment in the gruesome Saw franchise that began nearly two decades ago. An opportunity to remember that each opus, with its share of pitfalls, each more terrifying and Machiavellian than the next, was banned for children under 16 for its French release. All but one were released for under-18s, a rarity for a film other than pornography, as this list proves.
The part of the franchise that is restricted to under-18s in the context of its French exploitation is Saw 3, which was released in late 2006. The decision comes after several professional film organizations petitioned the Commission for the Classification of Cinematographic Works to request a second review. The film was banned (initially restricted to under 16s), due to the violence and sadism stemming from the torture scenes.
Saw 3 fully plays the torture porn and gore card. On the menu: a rib if the victim doesn’t take a key dipped in a can of acid, a bath of pork offal or even structures that swing limbs… A horror program that seduced the French audience, Saw 3 was the biggest success of the franchise. More than 770,000 recipients in France. Would his unprecedented banning ability have helped him attract more audiences?
“The film is aimed at an audience that will no longer fall into the trap of the first film”said director Darren Lynn Busman at the film’s release. “The spectators are a bit like the opponents of the puzzle killer, they are more experienced, they know his methods. Then you have to go further to trap them. (…) Traps combine surprise, horror and ingenuity, always sacrificing the victim’s conscience in the extreme case puts”.
We note more flexibility on the other side of the Atlantic, Saw 3 was paired with an R classification in the US, allowing people under 17 to see the film with an adult. But it wasn’t without its problems: according to producer Dan Hefner, it took no less than seven appeals to the MPAA, the American film classification body, to prevent the third part of the saga from being awarded NC-17, which denotes an unconditional ban on children under 17.
Saw X, the tenth installment in the saga, will be released in French cinemas on October 25. Who will be allowed to visit?
“Saw X” trailer:
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
