On watching Saw 3D in a cinema

I have a slight confession: I’ve never watched a Saw film in a cinema. Even the great first one. I’ve always abstained from paying for the honour of watching body parts get torn off, choosing instead to simply borrow the DVD from a friend. However, with the latest (and final) film getting the full Avatar-esque 3D treatment, I finally reached into my wallet and decided to go and see it.

While the film itself is complete bobbins (review on Movie-Moron soon), there was a bizarre feeling of community in the cinema screening. We (Nikki, her friend Sarah and myself) went to watch the preview screening on Thursday, the day before general release and were surprised to find the theatre packed the the gills. Even stranger, there was an even split between a male and female audience.

Nikki, being quite rubbish at watching horror films (she was terrified during American Psycho, while I laughed my head off) was understandably nervous about being surrounded by a group of gore fans and wanted to sit away from everyone else. However, we were soon blocked in by another group and couldn’t move. The bloke sitting nearest us apologised in advance if he cried during the film. This helped to relax Nikki a hell of a lot.

From my point of view, I’ve seen some incredibly nasty horror films in my time and hyperviolence doesn’t do anything for me. In fact, I find it funny. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that the woman sitting on my other side was also chuckling her way through the film. It felt good.

As the film wore on and the deaths became more vicious/ hilarious, Nikki began huddling into my arm in an attempt to hide from the terror of it all. She was on the verge of leaving the cinema (and she would have been the only one, too) when a bloke from the row behind us leaned over and gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. Now knowing she wasn’t alone, Nikki was able to continue watching the film and felt a little better about the ordeal.

I’ve never experienced that kind of community vibe before in a cinema. The only things that have gotten close are the cheers at Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire began, or the half-arsed round of applause that followed Revenge of the Sith. It was lovely. In fact, I’m almost disappointed that I didn’t watch the other six Saw movies in the cinema. Almost.

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