They are cheap, nasty, grimy, and completely unpleasant films.

But I love them dearly.

And Im far from the only one.

It would not be an entirely unfair assessment, but it would also be quite reductive.

The current state of blockbuster filmmaking is an extremely interesting one.

Marvel has proved that there is a large audience for films that rely heavily on internal continuity and interconnections.

As a voracious television watcher, I love films like this.

I pay obsessively close attention to plot details and debate them fiercely with other fans.

But this trend in blockbuster cinema did not start with a TV series or a superhero franchise.

It started with theSawfilms.

What had happened to Doctor Gordon?

Was Eric Matthews alive?

What was in the letter that made Amanda lose her mind?

What was the deal with that suspicious Detective Hoffman?

Would Jeff find his daughter?

Did Jigsaw have another accomplice?

But it had me thrilled and excited.

Were we excited about seeing what vicious and gruesome contraptions the filmmakers would come up with?

Not at all; I dont think anticipation for gore was mentioned once.

It was the plot that had us compelled.

It just madeSaw Va much more exciting prospect.

The writers of theSawfilms had no doubt that we would wait for our answers.

InSaw IIIAmanda seems to suddenly veer from merely unsettling to complete psychopath after reading a letter.

Do we find out the contents?

Yes, but not untilSaw VI.

I dont know if there has ever been another film franchise that loved its fans as much asSaw.

An increasingly convoluted picture was illustrated more and more with each new film, and we loved it.

Was it overcomplicated and sometimes a little bit laughable?

Absolutely, but it was insanely fun to follow.

Im not denying that the films are sickeningly violent, or thatSaw VIIwas insulting garbage.

There is something audacious about a gorehound horror franchise embracing this soap opera plotting; something unique and exciting.

Fast forward to the present day and almost every film franchise is adopting the same way of thinking.

Its kind of a moot point.

TheSawseries will probably always be somewhat disrespected for what it is, and thats okay.

It does not mean, however, that the fans will love it any less.