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To help promote SAW :The Ride, Thorpe Park flew in Mark Burg the producer of the movies and Betsy Russell who plays Jigsaw’s wife. We sat down to talk to them about the ride.
Haunted Attractions: Hi Mark, what was it like seeing your ride in the flesh for the first time?
Mark Burg: It’s amazing that this little film that was envisaged by a few guys around a kitchen table has turned into something so big and “permanent”. The Saw movies may end at sometime (but not yet – we are currently in pre-production for Saw VI) but you guys here in England will have a permanent reminder in the shape of this incredible ride.
HA: What do you think of the ride?
MB: It’s amazing – it fits in so well with the stories from the film and the devious twisted games of Jigsaw. This isn’t just a rollercoaster named after a film but a real experience where the rollercoaster ride is just part of the story. It’s very exciting to be a part of it!
HA: How involved where you with the design?
| |  | | | | | | Betsy Russell (Jill in SAW III, VI and V) and Mark Burg (SAW Film Producer)
| MB: We sat down early on with the Thorpe Park team and talked through the many ideas that they had. We were confident that they could recreate these concepts for real and I am very impressed with the atmosphere in the queue line and station and I am sure this ride will be really popular.
HA: The Saw films are still really popular – what can we expect from them in the future?
MB: The Traps in Saw VI are some of the most twisted we’ve come up with. Our opening trap is just so incredible. When the designer presented it to us we thought it was so ingenious that we immediately asked him to come and work on rest the picture!
HA: Why do you think the films are so popular?
MB: Remember everyone in our films is tortured for a reason. They’ve all done something to someone else or hurt somebody so it’s really just a way of paying back the pain they’ve inflicted. Naturally Jigsaw’s methods are a little severe but he is almost like an antihero to the fans.
HA: How important do you think Saw: The Ride is in the future of the film series?
MB: You know what I’ve just thought of? We could do the premier of Saw VI right here at Thorpe Park! We’ve got the ride and it would be so cool to make people go through a much longer haunted house element before they even get to the screening! I really think that’s the way forward. The worldwide premier held at the home of Saw. I’m going to start looking into that now!
HA: We are big fans of scary attractions and we know that you licensed the Saw properties to one last year. Did you go and experience it for yourself?
MB: The Saw Haunted House in California? Yes I went down and it scared the crap out of me! There were people jumping at us from all angles and horrible scenes around every corner – it was really fun and has encouraged us to do more.
HA: Oh yes? Anything you can tell us about?
MB: Yes this is very exciting – we have just signed a deal with Universal to bring Jigsaw and the world of Saw to Halloween Horror Nights this fall, both in Orlando and LA. I know in previous years they have had Freddy Kruger and Leatherface well this time Jigsaw gets to do his thing! Watch for more information coming soon!
HA: That all sounds very exciting. Thanks for the exclusive news on that and thank you for your time today. It was great to meet you and we wish you continued success with the franchise. Hopefully we’ll meet up again later in the year for the premier!
More Information
Thorpe Park
Saw: The Ride |
