Now as if this transformation into caricature weren’t enough on its own, the filmmakers of Saw VII thought it would be a good (i.e. money-making) idea to have the seventh instalment made in 3-D. The legitimacy of 3-D’s reputation within the history of cinema is still a matter of much debate, and will likely continue to be so for some time. While it is obvious to notice the particular creative qualities unique to modern-day 3-D filmmaking, I still find it to be too much of a gimmick that, in my opinion, takes the magic and enjoyment out of the movie-going experience. How could such an awe-inspiring display of visual creativity lack in the ways of magic? Well, it’s for the simple fact that the 3-D experience forces the viewer to be conscious of the fact that he or she is watching a 3-D movie and thus, consequently, a movie in itself. Ironically enough, the supportive reasoning behind 3-D filmmaking is rooted in the exact opposition to such detached participation. Supposedly, a movie shot in 3-D will help make the audience feel as though they were directly a part of the movie’s story itself; while I guess this theory seems to have been proven a success so far (not so much because of the theory itself, but more because of its ‘cool’ gimmickry), I still find it to be a somewhat futile experiment given the simple fact that our eyes already see in 3-D far better and more realistically than any computerized device could ever simulate.

The very concept of 3-D filmmaking seemingly would act as the perfect match for the horror genre. In the case of a movie like Saw VII, how could you go wrong with forcing your audience not only to watch torturous murder, but at the same time make them feel as though they were directly a part of the scene of the crime? Sounds like a prescription for box-office success (if not an anti-anxiety medication) to me! Of course without having ever experienced such an intense skew of horror movie-watching, I cannot state for the record on whether or not this latest instalment of 3-D experimentation will be a success. However, if my previous 3-D experiences teach me anything of their inherent artificiality, then any sense of legitimate fear will likely be transformed into a more laughable impression of fright. The challenge is on: come Halloween-time, all bets are off. Regardless of the outcome, let's be thankful that the Saw franchise will finally be turned-off as well.