Saw Alive - Thorpe Parl 201o
In 2009, when Thorpe park debuted Saw: The Ride, guests were wowed by the attention to detail in the indoor queue line section and how well the ride fitted in with the film. As Halloween got closer, speculation mounted as to what the park would do when Saw went “live” for the first time. Unfortunately a few people in pig masks and random scares just didn’t work in the slow moving queue line and most people left thinking that somehow Thorpe Park had missed a trick.
Then suddenly, out of the blue, Jigsaw was heard on park announcements saying that the games weren’t over and that a new game would be coming to the park in 2010. Well that game is here, and it is called SAW Alive.
SAW Alive has been built on the old abandoned boat that has been knocking around the parks for years. Re-themed to look even more run down and decrepit, the new attraction complements the warehouse station of the nearby ride, creating a cohesively themed run down part of the park. Anyone venturing into these buildings will be under no uncertain impression that what lies within is something very dark and twisted.
Once through the quite ugly outside queue line, the path leads onto the boat and the games begin:
We are invited to pose with a Billy doll for a photo (for sale afterwards at the exit!) and then are introduced to the main theme via a Saw themed video. As expected, we have a certain amount of time to make our escape.
At this point things become a bit of blur. Iconic scenes and traps from all 6 movies are sighted in between periods of darkness, scare actors and effects. Some of the scenes are quite chaotic with up to three actors working at one time.
It’s incredible to see the detail of some of the sets and traps and SAW is easily the most immersive designed scare attraction Thorpe have ever created. From the smells of urine and burnt flesh through to real jeopardy as you pass through certain elements (the electrocution tunnel for example), everything just looks and feels pretty REAL.
SAW Alive doesn’t really let up and as you stumble from set to set you really do wonder how this is going to end. But Jigsaw is always one step ahead of the guests and as we finally stumbled out the exit there was a genuine feeling of being glad to be out.
One of the key elements to attractions like this is the use of surprise and distraction and SAW Alive manages both really effectively. While taking in the scenery and enjoying the attention to detail it is easy to be caught unawares. I just hope that once guests become a bit more used to the location and action of the traps that the element of surprise isn’t removed. Also I do fear that boisterous teenagers will take the electrocution tunnel element too lightly and will be deliberately throwing each other against the railings!
All in, Saw alive is a great attraction that really recreates the tone and suspense of the original films. You want gore? – it’s everywhere!. You want devious tricks? – they’re all present. You want to be scared stupid? Yes, it does that too! Sometimes!
As for the future of the attraction, it’s hard to say. On quiet days it’s hard to imagine that there will be a permanent acting crew on hand due to the expense of employing people. On press night we counted 9 different actors (10 if you count the one we saw when we were accidentally led into the changing room instead of a room exit!)
In the mean time though if you’ve ever watched one of the SAW movies and wondered how awful it must be to be trapped inside one – then Saw Alive is hopefully the closest you’ll ever get to living that experience!
Then suddenly, out of the blue, Jigsaw was heard on park announcements saying that the games weren’t over and that a new game would be coming to the park in 2010. Well that game is here, and it is called SAW Alive.
SAW Alive has been built on the old abandoned boat that has been knocking around the parks for years. Re-themed to look even more run down and decrepit, the new attraction complements the warehouse station of the nearby ride, creating a cohesively themed run down part of the park. Anyone venturing into these buildings will be under no uncertain impression that what lies within is something very dark and twisted.
Once through the quite ugly outside queue line, the path leads onto the boat and the games begin:
We are invited to pose with a Billy doll for a photo (for sale afterwards at the exit!) and then are introduced to the main theme via a Saw themed video. As expected, we have a certain amount of time to make our escape.
At this point things become a bit of blur. Iconic scenes and traps from all 6 movies are sighted in between periods of darkness, scare actors and effects. Some of the scenes are quite chaotic with up to three actors working at one time.
It’s incredible to see the detail of some of the sets and traps and SAW is easily the most immersive designed scare attraction Thorpe have ever created. From the smells of urine and burnt flesh through to real jeopardy as you pass through certain elements (the electrocution tunnel for example), everything just looks and feels pretty REAL.
SAW Alive doesn’t really let up and as you stumble from set to set you really do wonder how this is going to end. But Jigsaw is always one step ahead of the guests and as we finally stumbled out the exit there was a genuine feeling of being glad to be out.
One of the key elements to attractions like this is the use of surprise and distraction and SAW Alive manages both really effectively. While taking in the scenery and enjoying the attention to detail it is easy to be caught unawares. I just hope that once guests become a bit more used to the location and action of the traps that the element of surprise isn’t removed. Also I do fear that boisterous teenagers will take the electrocution tunnel element too lightly and will be deliberately throwing each other against the railings!
All in, Saw alive is a great attraction that really recreates the tone and suspense of the original films. You want gore? – it’s everywhere!. You want devious tricks? – they’re all present. You want to be scared stupid? Yes, it does that too! Sometimes!
As for the future of the attraction, it’s hard to say. On quiet days it’s hard to imagine that there will be a permanent acting crew on hand due to the expense of employing people. On press night we counted 9 different actors (10 if you count the one we saw when we were accidentally led into the changing room instead of a room exit!)
In the mean time though if you’ve ever watched one of the SAW movies and wondered how awful it must be to be trapped inside one – then Saw Alive is hopefully the closest you’ll ever get to living that experience!
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