The Collector (2009) was initially a rejected premise for a Jigsaw origin story and proposed prequel to the Saw horror franchise - which was instead reconfigured as a standalone original feature. The end result is simply relentless torture porn centered on a sadistic masked villain in a bloody mansion full of booby traps. If you didn't know it was supposed to be a Jigsaw prequel in the first place, you would probably think it was a Saw ripoff - which many critics did at the time.
Personally I didn't enjoy the film's overall mean spirited vibe - including what I thought were unnecessary depictions of animal cruelty. Yeah, I'm one of "those" people - endanger all the people you want but by god save the movie pets!
The Collection (2012) however, is a superior sequel to The Collector with bigger traps, bigger set pieces and bigger kills. From the writers of several SAW sequels, this entry ramps up the thrills, heroic rescues and bloody slasher action to deliver a satisfying conclusion.
Three Stars
- Brent Snyder
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