The Hero That Wasn't

by Beanfigger
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)

The Saw series couldn't have come around at a better time for horror movie fans. In a time of recycling, retelling, and remaking,Saw (2004) stands out as one of the few original horror films that was made available to the general public. In addition to spawning one of the first moneymaking horror franchises we've seen in years, Saw was one of the first of the "puzzle" horror sub genre movies that are gaining a strong foothold among fans that seemed to be stuck in an endless cycle of generic slasher flicks. It's certainly a treat to see that we horror fanatics have another outlet aside from the creature features, ghost stories, zombie fares, and slashers to satisfy our desire to be thrilled by terror at the theaters. This is one of the reasons that I feel this movie will become even more famous as the years and decades go by. This, and other factors, will surely lock this gem into one of histories most iconic horror movies to come across the silver screen in this generation.

One of those other factors is, of course, the villain of the Saw series, Jigsaw. Clearly one of the most unique of all the famous horror monsters, Jigsaw spends much more time plotting and planning his victims' deathtraps than most horror killers. Those traps, which he calls "games," are elaborate contraptions with several simple machines and timers built by hand that torture and, most of the time, end the lives of his unfortunate captives. An obvious difference between Jigsaw and his fellow killing peers is that he doesn't actually kill anyone directly. He simply places them in captivity and then allows them to determine how much pain they are willing to subject themselves to in order to remain alive. He claims not to want the potential victims to perish, and he hopes that his games will prove to "cure" them of their lack of appreciation for life. In that respect, he seems to be the only monster that can hold a claim to being somewhat of a hero. It is in his opposite that the focus of this article lies.

Every great hero needs a great villain, and every great villain needs a hero. So what are the needs of a great villain who thinks and acts as though he's a hero? The answer is found in the character of Amanda Young. The only known survivor of the original movie, until much later in the series, Amanda was chosen by Jigsaw because of her delinquent nature. She was not the embodiment of innocence like other horror heroes, but instead was a drug addicted ex-con who had forgotten the simple pleasures of merely being alive. She battled through one of the most horrific and iconic Jigsaw games in Saw, and in fact was the first to directly gain and spread knowledge of Jigsaw and his terrible deeds. However, unlike other heroes who continued to be hunted by the killer after escaping death at their hands, Amanda turned the tables on the classic story line when she actually seeks out a companionship with Jigsaw because she feels he saved her with his insane game. Instead of playing the prey over and over again, Amanda spends many of the Saw sequels acting as Jigsaw's aid by helping him to set up his games, acquire his desired captives, and keep his deadly vision very much alive and kicking, even while Jigsaw himself is suffering from deteriorating health.

Amanda Young, played by certified scream princess Shawnee Smith, certainly breaks the tradition horror hero mold. This character's unique take on this traditional role definitely separates her as an iconic heroine when it comes to horror franchises. This character is one that I hope will garner much more curiosity and fame through the years. As one of the more interesting characters in horror, she stands out as a clear favorite of mine in this genre. As a delinquent turned victim turned villain, who aids a villain attempting to be a hero, but sometimes secretly acts as a sadistic villain, all throughout several movies in the Saw series, Amanda has no equal in the ranks of horror. This will remain so unless of course another one emerges from the very same Saw franchise, which may have been alluded to in the seventh installment, Saw 3D: The Final Chapter (2010), concerning Dr. Lawrence Gordon. Still, even the star of the original film played by Cary Elwes has some big shoes to fill left after the resounding impact of Amanda Young.