Thorpe Park announces Saw - The Ride
Posted
[Ed. note: The following is an unedited press release. -J]
The UK’s thrill-capital, THORPE PARK, leading next generation film studio LIONSGATE and TWISTED PICTURES today announced that they will launch SAW – The Ride, the world’s first ever horror movie-themed rollercoaster, in Spring 2009. Based on Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures’ ‘Saw’ franchise, the most profitable horror franchise in movie history, SAW – The Ride is the scariest ride in the world. The latest installment in the series, ‘Saw V,’ premieres on Friday 24th October, and THORPE PARK will be inviting visitors to ‘Face Your Fears’ on their new terrifying attraction next year.
Like the films, THORPE PARK’s new rollercoaster will test the nerve of all who dare ride it and visitors will be at the mercy of the series’ master manipulator, Jigsaw. The ultimate test of SAW – The Ride will be a ‘beyond vertical’ drop of 100º from a height of 100ft, making it the steepest freefall drop in the world. Riders will also endure three inversions that will add another dimension to a whole new experience of adrenaline-fuelled fun for thrill seekers.
SAW – The Ride continues the growth of the ‘Saw’ franchise as an international cultural touchstone. The original 2004 ‘Saw’ launched a new wave in horror films and introduced a bona fide icon of terror: Jigsaw, the philosophically inclined psychopath with an exacting moral agenda and a genius for gruesome games of survival, ‘played’ with those he believes have ceased to value and appreciate the gift of life. Ratcheting up tension and invention with each successive film, the ‘Saw’ franchise has become a part of the zeitgeist while jangling nerves around the world. To date, the four ‘Saw’ titles have taken in over $550 million in worldwide theatrical box office and their combined gross DVD sales are nearly 24 million units.
Candy Holland, Creative Director for Merlin Entertainments Resort Theme Parks, is the woman behind the ride and arguably has Britain’s scariest and most exciting job. She is an extreme thrill enthusiast and will draw on her extensive background in theme park and theatre set design, working with the project team to make it the scariest ride in the world. Candy was also responsible for the creative development of THORPE PARK’s Stealth ride, Se7en maze, and Oblivion and Air at Alton Towers Resort.
Candy Holland comments, “I’m a huge fan of horror films and am utterly relishing creating the scariest ride in the world. Anybody who has sat through a ‘Saw’ film scared and terrified beyond belief will have some idea of what’s in store for them at THORPE PARK. SAW – The Ride is going to be shocking and intense…both physically and psychologically…and is sure to give you nightmares.
“We have worked in close collaboration with Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures on this project to ensure total accuracy of the key elements of the ‘Saw’ films, which when combined with the latest rollercoaster technology will create a phenomenal ride experience.”
Marketing Director of THORPE PARK Carolyn London says, “SAW – The Ride is definitely only for the brave, and will add an element of edge to an already adrenaline packed breadth of thrills on offer. We’re certain the ‘Saw’ theme will set pulses racing and will satisfy the appetite of those in search of the ultimate exhilarating experience.”
‘Saw’ producers and Twisted Pictures principals Mark Burg and Oren Koules remark, “We love scaring people, and SAW – The Ride is a whole new way to do it. The team at THORPE PARK have really impressed us with their grasp of the ‘Saw’ universe and with their dedication to creating a truly edgy attraction.”
Guy Avshalom, Lionsgate COO, and Aubrey McClure, Lionsgate Vice President of Promotions, Licensing & Merchandising, add, “SAW – The Ride is a reflection of how thoroughly the ‘Saw’ franchise has crossed over into pop culture at large. We are delighted to be working with THORPE PARK to continue that expansion with the scariest ride in the world.”
The new ride will be the Park’s fourth major rollercoaster, joining an already impressive portfolio of extreme ride experiences, including Stealth – Europe’s fastest rollercoaster, Colossus – the world’s first ten looping rollercoaster and Nemesis Inferno – the 4.5 G-force experience.
Link: Saw The Ride
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The Saw series is mentally disturbing. Very poor choice of theming. Movie theming is just lazy to start with, but this is just a very poor choice.
I can only imagine what we will all be saying if, God forbid, this ride kills someone
I kinda like the idea. It's so different, and...un-PC. :) Makes sense, though, as Brits seem to be far less PC than Americans.
a_hoffman50 said:
I would love to see some of the themes all of you "experts" can come up with.
How about just a good, fun ride with some interesting elements? Coasters have managed to do that for 100 years without any "themes." What happens when the theme runs its course, particularly for a movie series? You end up with a horribly dated ride.
So what do you do? Retheme it-- and in this case, rename it, or tear it down and put up something totally new.
Then again, when videos came out (yes I remember that) I thought "how dare they tell me what images to associate with this song?"
I wonder if during the lift they will have the little Jigsaw doll jump out at you, scaring the crap of you?
You know what would be really cool? If they have the queue line like a haunted maze..... With things popping out and scaring you....
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RGB, at least Cedar Fair isn't building this. Otherwise it would get renamed Toothed Cutting Tool after a few years.
I can't believe it took this long.I'd love to see some more adult, 'darker' themes for attractions. Used to do them in RCT a lot.
There's a reason Halloween events are so popular at parks.
My thing about the themes in the first place is that unless they can figure out a way to make it a different experience each time, it is spent on me on the first ride. I may think it was really awesome that first time, but after that, it becomes a bit of a waste. I know what's coming and such.
In the end, the ride itself is the only thing that sustains itself over time, in my opinion.
"If passion drives you, let reason hold the reins." --- Benjamin Franklin
I know exactly what you mean. I used to get my wife to dress up as a French maid, and that was fun for a while. Then when it got boring we introduced a feather duster too, and that spiced things up. But then I made her adopt a French accent, and for weeks she was practicing, "Wood yue lahk meh to turn zeez sheetz, mai oui?" Finally, after adopting a back story, and a motiff, and even a subplot or two, the whole thing just eventually collapsed under its own weight . . . *
So I guess you're right. It doesn't matter how much you dress it up, it's the underlying ride that counts.
*Completely fictional. My wife wouldn't be caught dead in a maid outfit. :(
My author website: mgrantroberts.com
Carrie M. said:
In the end, the ride itself is the only thing that sustains itself over time, in my opinion.
Substance over style?
Surely you jest. :)
A good ride is kind of like a good steak: You just need to do your best not to ruin it.
A good steak: cook it to medium rare, add some salt, pepper, and a good beer, it's perfect.
For example of a good ride, look at MF: It's great ride from the start that you ciuld put in many parks and it would draw a crowd. CP added the spice by placing it an a great location and not over "charming" it.
Coaster Junkie from NH
I drive in & out of Boston, so I ride coasters to relax!
Lord Gonchar said:
Carrie M. said:
In the end, the ride itself is the only thing that sustains itself over time, in my opinion.Substance over style?
Surely you jest. :)
Good thing for us, you've got both. :)
"If passion drives you, let reason hold the reins." --- Benjamin Franklin
Carrie M. said:
Good thing for us, you've got both. :)
Damn straight.
It's the pimp hat, isn't it. :)
Lord Gonchar said: Surely you jest. :)
And stop calling her Shirley . . .
My author website: mgrantroberts.com
I teeter on this idea. I liked the first SAW movie a lot, (The ending freaked me out!) A horror themed ride is a great idea...
But look at the story of the ride so far. Gigsaw left a box buried in the ground at a theme park and the construction workers found it. They found detailed plans in the box and were somehow forced to build a ride to test the fear of thrill seekers? OOOOooookay.
I'm not sure I like it or not. Saw is an awfully graphic story to base a theme park ride on, but maybe that's the point.
-Travis
www.youtube.com/TSVisits
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