'Saw VII' in 3-D Gets Predictable Release Date

We could have guessed this, but it's been confirmed, anyway. Shock Till You Drop says Saw VII will be released on October 22, 2010. Lionsgate said that, despite the worst showing yet for a movie in this annual series a couple months back, we'll get Saw movies as long as they make money. And they've made plenty. Even Saw VI made five times its budget worldwide. And because it's been solidly entrenched on that same pre-Halloween weekend since the series started. I do think the bloom is off the rose, and Paranormal Activity or not, the Jigsaw movies may not return to their former glory at all. If nothing else, rival studios won't be the least bit afraid to open a movie opposite Saw anymore, and that probably won't be good for business. Of course, with an average budget of about $10 million or so, the name recognition alone will keep these in the black. I am discouraged by the return of director David Hackl, whose Saw V was an absolute mess; Kevin Gruetert made some progress in the most recent installment, but Hackl made the worst one of the bunch. The new wrinkle, of course, is that Lionsgate will turn this into a 3-D film, so now the regurgitated storyline will fly at your face.