Trailer Park Aug 12 2008 @ 07:56 pm
TRAILER PARK: Saw V
Apparently, American audiences are craving another addition to Lionsgate’s Saw franchise … after all, what would October and its accompanying holiday be without some good torture porn? But what’s so special about this particular trailer that makes me point it out?
The new teaser for Saw V is the third trailer I’ve seen in a year in which the main musical centerpiece is an ironically used piece of religious music. The first trailer was Hitman which used Schubert’s Ave Maria, the second Alien vs. Predator: Requiem using Silent Night, and now this new horror film using the classic hymn of the Christian faith Be Thou My Vision.
This has to be the most blatantly offensive of them all. Although I’m a Christian, I’m certainly not one to get caught up in the boycotts that emanate so often from the orifices of the Christian Right; but this is just wrong. It may not be illegal, but its one of the most distasteful, disrespectful, and intentionally offensive pieces of advertising I’ve ever seen. Shame on Lionsgate.
Sorry if my angst shows, but I really don’t think we need another one of these films. Don’t we have enough already? Every time I see a new preview for one of these, I’m reminded of something Frank Darabont (director of The Mist) said in an interview last year:
The torture-porn thing is pretty distasteful. I’m just not into it. Horror unfortunately tends to go in these cycles where it puts itself back in this ghetto. I just don’t find anything amusing about people getting tortured. I wish we weren’t making these movies. I think it degrades the culture. I think it diminishes the human spirit.
Truer words, Frank. Truer words.
Here’s the link to the trailer at YouTube — it doesn’t quite deserve the HD treatment
on Aug 12 2008 @ 8:01 pm 1. Evan Derrick said …
I, like you, am not one for boycotting. But that’s just twisted, especially considering all of the text they put up on the screen during the teaser. “Be Thou My Vision” is what was sung at my wedding, which makes this even more distasteful.
Ah, how low can marketing departments go?
on Aug 12 2008 @ 9:36 pm 2. Luke Harrington said …
What would Jesus boycott?
Seriously, though…I am not easily offended. I can’t even remember the last time something offended me. If something is stupid enough, though, it gets put on the fast track to my “offensive” bin. This trailer, of course, is painfully, pathetically stupid — essentially an admission on the part of Lion’s Gate that they’ve run out of ways to shock, short of mocking a billion people’s religious tradition.
That’s the only possible interpretation I can think of — as far as I can tell, it’s not like this trailer has anything to say except “Ha, ha! You thought we were talking about Jesus!” This is essentially all the eloquence and profundity (and artistic merit) of the Gospel of Austin 3:16.
I think it’s safe to say that Saw V will go just as unseen by me as all previous Saws.
on Aug 13 2008 @ 9:48 am 3. Collin said …
I agree : )
on Aug 13 2008 @ 10:11 am 4. Kristena said …
This is just plain irritating.
on Aug 13 2008 @ 11:47 am 5. Rachel said …
I wouldn’t call myself a devout Christian, and many wouldn’t call me a Christian at all, but I found this teaser extremely distasteful too. I wouldn’t say I’m offended necessarily, but disgusted Lionsgate would stoop to such a level. I saw the teaser at “The X-Files” movie with my mom, and I’m surprised her devoutly Christian self didn’t take offense.
on Aug 13 2008 @ 5:08 pm 6. Matthew Lucas said …
I don’t like the SAW franchise or torture porn in general…but I like this trailer simply because the use of “Be Thou My Vision” adds a disturbing new dimension that the films just don’t have. It’s ballsy, creepy, and provocative. Sure it will piss people off…but there are always people who get pissed off over stuff like this…and it only serves to get more people in the theater. Lionsgate knows what they’re doing.
on Aug 13 2008 @ 6:39 pm 7. Luke Harrington said …
Really? Not to be overly cynical, but haven’t we seen all this stuff (ironic use of religious imagery, creepy kid singing a song), done better, in dozens of horror movies (and trailers) before this? I might agree, if the whole thing weren’t so derivative, inept, and generally clueless.
on Aug 13 2008 @ 10:48 pm 8. Matthew Lucas said …
Maybe so, but the use of music like that is something I’ve always liked. The “Silent Night” trailer for AVP: R actually made me want to see the movie. Never did though, haha.
on Aug 14 2008 @ 6:02 am 9. Luke Harrington said …
Probably for the best.
on Jan 12 2011 @ 12:42 pm 10. Xanax. said …
Xanax….
Xanax….