SAW - The Ride Logo

Wednesday 22nd October

Well, the secret has been out now for just over a week and ‘Saw’ as a theme has been getting great reactions. The YouTube video has received over 41,000 views and seeded onto a number of high profile websites, including The Sun and Guardian online.

Saw (the films) are a proven success (although a bit terrifying for me!) and Lionsgate Films, who own the rights, have shown continuous drive to progress the brand beyond the cinematic screen and into other entertainment streams, as shown when they opened the ‘Official SAW Haunted Attraction’ in Brea, California this September.

In October 2007, we held focus groups with young adults to test whether a horror themed ride would prove popular - results showed unequivocal support for the use of horror theming, and the general consensus was that a horror film Intellectual Property would be a great addition - well, that’s what the Marketing team told me!

Attention to detail will be obvious throughout SAW - The Ride, and the creative team are working very hard on bringing the film to life through theming, including queue line experience which will help guests immerse themselves into the story and build up their apprehension and excitement. We have worked very closely with Lionsgate to ensure we capture the essence of the films, but without distracting from the ride. Lionsgate are fully behind the project and avid fans may even recognise a few original props from the films.

Thanks,

Keith Workman

To ask THORPE PARK a question about SAW - The Ride please visit the Fan Messages section.  Answers to your questions will be posted here.

Rollercoaster Based On Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures’ Megahit ‘Saw’ Franchise

The UK’s thrill-capital, THORPE PARK, leading next generation film studio LIONSGATE (NYSE: LGF) 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.

THORPE PARK will open for the full 2009 season on Saturday 14th March but to preview the ride visit www.sawtheride.com.  For further information please log onto www.thorpepark.com.

Friday 10th October
 
There have been some exciting milestones reached over the last two weeks!  The 29th and 30th September saw the camel hump in ‘Area 2’ completed; the last pieces of track and their columns were delivered by the 50th truck (that’s right – 50th!) on October 1st; and the track erection was completed on Sunday (5th).  This resulted in Gerstlauer leaving the Project Dylan site, as of Tuesday 7th October…for the time being at least.
 
All the team have been extremely busy, and since I last wrote we have completed the entire track.  Our main area of work was concentrated on the approach to the vertical lift, as well as the rest of the track based behind the trees.  The station building is being constructed and a bridge for the Canada Creek Railway (CCR) has begun.  We have continued to grout the bases for the ride structure and the profiling of the land is underway in preparation for the queue line and landscaping.
 
Torrential rain once again hit the site…and the rest of the UK, on Sunday 5th.  Although it created quite a quagmire, you’ll be pleased to hear it hasn’t affected construction and everything is on schedule.
 
Unfortunately, on a few occasions, ‘we’ have been the reason for a couple of rides being out of operation – sorry!  Laying foundations next to Logger’s Leap and working next to Samurai with cranes, meant that both rides had some ‘down-time’ recently.  But, come next year, the inter-relationship between Dylan, the two rides and also CCR will really make it all worthwhile.
 
Thanks,
 
Keith Workman