It should be said that Cary Elwes’ presence in the final “Saw” film was a bit of a surprise to me when I experienced the movie in eye-gouging 3D last year — so while this interview is sort of a spoiler, knowing Cary reprises his role as the original’s doomed doctor is only half the shock.
To maintain that veil of secrecy, I will simply say that you can read PopWrap’s interview with the iconic actor knowing that it’s entirely spoiler free — and includes at least one shout-out to Buttercup!
PopWrap: How did the opportunity to bring Dr. Gordon come about?
Cary Elwes: It had discussed before but it was the fans who really campaigned for Dr. Gordon to come back. They kept asking “when are we going to see him again,” so I really have them to thank for getting the character back. So I told the filmmakers that I thought it would be appropriate if he came back to bookend the series at the very end.
PW: Where does “Saw” rank in terms of the characters fans approach you about?
Cary: Well, of course there’s one that I get a lot of attention for, obviously. Which I’m sure I don’t have to mention.
PW: “Princess Bride?”
Cary: Yes. But now I get approached by a lot of “Saw” fans too.
PW: What did you think of the way Dr. Gordon returned?
Cary: I thought it was very clever — an ingenious way of tying my character into the whole story. But the writers are very smart in terms of the intricate plots, I felt confident in whatever they would come up with.
PW: This was the first movie you shot in 3D, the process doesn’t change much for an actor though, does it?
Cary: No, not really. It’s a fun way to film and sometimes you can come up with a few interesting visual things that are effective for the medium. But we really didn’t want to make it gimmicky.
PW: I kinda think that the horror genre is ideal for 3D, what about you?
Cary: I think so too – right now, as this particular filmmaking process gets cheaper, I think you’ll see a lot more horror/thriller movies in 3D. It’s more than likely an economic issue otherwise I think everyone would be doing it.
PW: Do you ever think it’ll get to a point where straight drama’s are filmed in 3D?
Cary: No, I don’t think so. My guess is that there will always be room in the marketplace for two and three dimensional films. I don’t know how effective a simple drama would be in 3D, or what difference it would make. I think the medium only really lends itself to this are films with action or effects in them.
PW: This franchise is very labyrinthine — had you kept up with the movies since starring in the original?
Cary: I have watched them all and that’s one of the things I like about them – it’s the thinking man’s horror film. It’s not gratuitous for the sake of being gratuitous. There’s a logic to it and a plot that requires the audience to participate and follow the through lines very carefully.
PW: You got the rare opportunity to revisit a character you previously played, are there any others you’d like to play again?
Cary: Not really. I feel like if a film is effective, you’ve explored every nuance of that character by the end.
PW: Are you someone who can go back and watch their old work?
Cary: Pretty much, for me, I like to see the finished product one time to see how the picture looks and if my work fits in with everyone else’s, but after that, I never bother to see my work a second time.
PW: What’s your most enduring memory about “Saw?”
Cary: The thing took off like no one expected. I think that’s a credit to James Wan and Leigh Whannell, who wrote the original film. They had an idea that was smart, intelligent, well-made and well thought out. Obviously they didn’t know it would take off like this, but I think the fans really just got excited about the whole series. Seeing lines around the block for screenings have been extraordinary. They care about it, they’re passionate about it and that’s the best part.
“Saw: The Final Chapter” is now available on DVD, click here to buy
Photo: Lionsgate