Best in Show: Saw Franchise's Feistiest Fighters (Pt. II of II)

(sawfilms.wikia.com)

5. Mallick (Saw V) - Fire Cover Up Group
While initially shaken by the situation, Mallick quickly turned into a character viewers could root for. An addict in need of salvation, Mallick was placed among the Saw V group of schemers and scammers for essentially causing the fire that led to the cover up. Mallick definitely had some wavering moments, but his ability to outlast, guided by Brit, lead to his salvation. His ultimate willingness to follow through on plans and never back down are inspiring and horrifying at the same time.


(sawfilms.wikia.com)

4. Xavier Chavez (Saw II) - Nerve Gas House

Saw II had plenty of haphazardly stumbled through the nerve gas house just praying they'd survive. Their meekness, weakness and general unwillingness to actively follow through led to many of them succumbing. The fact is outside of Amanda Young and Daniel Matthews who stood out for their partnership, Xavier Chavez was the only real potential survivor. Easily one of the series most villainous characters, Chavez was brutal and fully willing to do anything it took to live. He openly criticized, manhandled and eventually attacked the others in the home. He also scores additional points for figuring out the code to escape.

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3. Lynn Denlon (Saw III) - Shotgun Collar

Using her intelligence to defy all expectations, Lynn Denlon was the star of Saw III. Wearing a shotgun collar, the doctor was charged with operating on Jigsaw, all while a crazed Amanda Young stood by anxious and aggressive. However, Denlon's calm demeanor and ability to charm kept her on Jigsaw's good side and eventually, succeeded in her task. Unfortunately the increasingly unhinged Young cost her everything and blew her own test in the process; killing the empowered Denlon in the process. Denlon was one of the most intelligent and poised in the franchise and deserved more than her sad end.

(sawfilms.wikia.com)

2. Brit (Saw V) - Fire Cover Up Group

Instantly acting as the more level-headed, driven partner of Mallick, Brit is one of the series more underrated characters. She was able to make it to the end with little to no help from others and near consistently kept her cool. She's a rare leader in a collection of more sheepish characters. Her awareness, determination and aggression all help her survive in the end. While Mallick may have been a surprise survivor, no one should have ever doubted that Brit would walk out in the end.

(sawfilms.wikia.com)

1, Allison Kerry (Saw I, II, III) - Angel Trap

Similar to Daniel Rigg, Allison Kerry is often ignored in the pantheon of great Saw characters; this supporting protagonist actually had quite a run in her. Not only did she eventually go all in on her trap, but this perceptive detective drew conclusions and made decisions others ignored or couldn't make. Had it not been for an unbeatable trap, Kerry probably could have become an impressive force against Jigsaw and his network of minions. She's a bit relentless, but engaged in her career, she's a perfect character who- like Denlon - had a future. You know, if Amanda hadn't unfairly worked to take it away.

Best in Show: Saw Franchise's Feistiest Fighters (Pt. I of II)

With Jigsaw coming out on the 27th, horror fans everywhere will surely crowd to theaters to see if the creators have been able to recapture the glory of the gory and over-the-top franchise. Nostalgia runs deep in the franchise that led many audiences through their teen years, and in this, characters like Amanda Young, Jill Tuck, Mark Hoffman and Lawrence Gordon are sure to remember. Their perseverance, trickery and sometimes, villainy have turned them into the faces of the series. But what about the more minor characters - the fierce and combative survivors and victims who gave their all in their limited screen time? That's what this list is dedicated to: the feistiest fighters in the Saw series. Whether they lived, or they died, these non-essential characters gave their all to make it one more day.

(sawfilms.wikia.com)

10. Morgan (Saw IV) - Spike Trap

Maybe not the strongest character, but this middle-aged woman was quite determined to survive. Not only was she forced to overcome the traumatic abuse caused by her husband, but she also had to drag giant rods through her body. She's a really interesting character even if her role is minor, because she is a true survivor. Her years of wearying experience amassing around her, her will to live eventually grant her the power to overthrow them. Her story is heartbreaking, her determination inspiring and her ending, at least relatively happy.

(sawfilms.wikia.com)

9. Simone (Saw VI) - Pound of Flesh

Who would have thought that winning a reality shows would lead to such a memorable minor role in a Saw film. But, Tanedra Howard's winning performance in VH1's Scream Queens, proved that the aspiring actress could carry her own in a series overflowing with forgettable blood and guts. Her blind willingness to take on her money lender partner, Eddie, with such conviction is pretty impressive. While he chops away at pieces of flesh, she cuts off her arm in a grotesque scene of courage and pure adrenalin - iconic.

(sawfilms.wikia.com)

8. Daniel Matthews (Saw II) - Nerve Gas House

Some may suggest that Daniel Matthews, son of Detective and main character Eric Matthews, was somewhat dragged to the end of Saw II. Especially given the assistance of Amanda Young, it's easy to overlook this teenager's perseverance. But, for all his lack of big, swift decisions, is a really young kid who manages to outlast a bunch of full grown adults. Matthews goes through a huge ordeal in the trap his father indirectly led him into. Paying for the sins of a parent is hard, surviving it all should have been impossible.

(sawfilms.wikia.com)

7. Daniel Rigg (Saw II, III, IV) - Saw IV Series

Daniel Rigg never truly got the chance to shine. Sure his major role in Saw IV helped him build a presence, but by that point his constant appearance meant nothing but bad news. He's truly one of the more morally superior characters to grace the series and despite eventually meeting his end by not following directions exactly; he manages to save a few lives. Rigg is one of those characters who, in the long run of the series is quickly overlooked for bigger names who carry over to multiple films. But, in Saw IV he is the star and deserves to be recognized as such.

(sawfilms.wikia.com)

6. Debbie (Saw VI) - Steam Maze

Did Debbie last very long? Maybe not. But in her defense, she managed to make it through her entire trap before being tripped up by an additional twist. Easily one of the most all-in victims in Jigsaw's games, Debbie absolutely loses it, showcasing her level of tenacity. Debbie is one of the franchises greatest raging psychopaths. The flames in her eyes are brighter than any flames in the boiler room she finds herself in, and by the time her impending death finally hits her, it's an explosion of intensity.

 

In Defense: Annabelle



(imdb.com)

In reviews for the latest installment in the growing universe of The Conjuring, critics (including myself) have been quick to mark Annabelle: Creation as a much needed divergence away from 2014's Annabelle. Despite being a direct prequel that notably doesn't ignore the original, Annabelle: Creation reviews have consistently and with some good reasons, mentioned Annabelle and all its flaws. But, for all of its clunky misdirection and overly stale conventions, the first of what could be many spin-offs, Annabelle is deserving of a second watch.

Far better than it’s been lamented to be, Annabelle follows the Gordon's shortly after husband John picks up a very recognizable doll from a thrift store for his pregnant wife, Mia. After bringing the doll into the home strange things begin to happen and, after the murder of their neighbors by as satanic cult, they decide to move to the city. Things obviously don't slow down there and like many horror movies, the results are typical, but in many scenes, terrifying. Annabelle stars Ward Horton (Pure Genius) as John and Annabelle Wallis (Come and Find Me) as Mia. Tony Amendola (The Mask of Zoro) and Alfre Woodard is also featured as Evelyn, a neighbor and book shop owner with knowledge of the occult, and Father Perez, respectively.

Annabelle isn't perfect by any means. There are quite a few flaws that are worth noting. From the stale portrayal of a mystic minority character at the hands of Woodard to some really old horror scares that are less terrifying and more tepid, Annabelle deserves criticism. While Woodard herself is great in the film, her character is a disservice. Jump scares are also really overly placed throughout making it difficult to focus on the movie's plot itself. Plus, and perhaps most notably, through all of its sleek graphics and camerawork, the gleaming feeling of Annabelle leaves the movie feeling rather insincere. Sure you could figure out the play-by-play of the movie, but the greatest offense of Annabelle is its complete lack of personality. Rigid set design, although set in a time period, feel completely fabricated and the movie seems most worried about the industry's bottom line - making money.

But, writing off Annabelle completely is neglectful. While typical, Annabelle has multiple scenes that carry enough scares and tension to lift this movie up. That - paired with Annabelle Wallis' fantastic turn as a mother trying to adjust her life in the face of supernatural woes, more than compensate for the dead weight in this film. In fact, the storage room scene where Mia gets trapped in a basement and frights come out in waves is perhaps one of the scariest parts in modern horror to date. There are also the opening scenes in the young couple’s home that set the stage for what could have been an even better movie. Even if it later dismantles, these scenes are incredibly tense and well executed.

Overall, it’s not so much that Annabelle isn't deserving of criticism, it’s that the harsh words flung at this movie put it on an unfounded level. This is no Rings or Bye Bye Man. Annabelle has some horrifying parts. It has an amazing cast who all make the best of their roles, as well as some well-shot scenes that capture the dread felt by the characters. Annabelle isn't as good as it could have been and isn't as good as Creation, but it definitely shouldn't be ignored.

Best in Show: Saw Traps (Pt. II of II)

(sawfilms.wikia.com)

5. Five-Way Collars

This trap is particularly spectacular because of its later reveal. When five collared strangers wake up and are told that they have to reach keys across the room in 60 seconds, chaos ensues. When one person pulls their collar forward, the other people are pulled back, making for an intense fight for survival. What they don't realize though is, had they gone forward one at a time, they all could have reached their keys in time. This twist, later piling on with the following traps and the "one must die" mentality leads to a bloodbath of seismic proportions. This trap isn't the most glamorous but it is effective and creative.

(sawfilms.wikia.com)

4. Pig Vat

The pig vat trap is disgusting. By far one of the most stomach-turning inventions of the series, this trap isn't for the faint of heart. Between what one can assume is an awful smell and the very common fear of drowning, all exasperated by the fact that you'll drown in guts, the pig vat would be one of the worst traps to go through. This trap is simple - one person is chained down at the bottom of a vat while slaughtered pig parts are dropped on top of them, it’s the job of another to get the key. The key comes with an especially difficult task given the character's unwillingness to let things go and burn his children's stuff. Overall, putting your faith in another person is difficult; maybe the only thing more difficult is breathing in a vat of sludge.

(sawfilms.wikia.com)

3. Nerve Gas House

In terms of most elaborate, the nerve gas house is probably the most intertwining. Not only was the building filled with traps for its guests to fall victims to, this derelict home was actually a trap in and of itself. The house is simply filled with a gas that slowly kills those trapped in it unless they reached antidotes. While it only actually killed one, the power of the house was more in its ability to unhinge those within.

(sawfilms.wikia.com)

2. Needle Pit

Viewers have to wonder if Amanda would have ever gone into the nerve gas house knowing she'd be tossed into the needle pit. This is perhaps one of the most cringe-worthy traps in the entire series. Propelled into absolute terror through the yellow lighting used by the filmmakers and reaffirmed by the way Amanda is just tossed in, this trap is nothing short of awful. Most similar to pulling through a pig container of extremely sharp Legos, the needle pit is the nightmarish trap that would make even the most driven survivors turn away. The franchise really cashed in on viewers' fears of needles with this one and the results are absolutely blinding.

(sawfilms.wikia.com)

1. Reverse Bear Trap

Is there anything more iconic than one of the first traps encountered in Saw? The answer is a resounding no. Not even the film's main trap - a bathroom with plenty of twisting clues and a chance to saw off your own foot - can compare to the legendary reverse bear trap. It's hard to know how memorable this series would have become without the showcase of Amanda Young and the bear trap. Surely, there were other characters, but none of those storylines ruminated with the audience the same way this short bit did. It truly kicked off the series. This device stole the hearts of horror fans and its later usage throughout the series only continued its meaningful existence. Will it make a return in Jigsaw? Possibly, but even if it doesn't there's zero chance it'll ever be replaced.