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James Wan and Leigh Whannell hit the big time in 2004. After their little $1.2 million fright-fest Saw premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, the buzz surrounding the project started at a dull roar. A couple of months later, when a terrifying and sick red-band trailer hit the Internet, horror fans started to drool with excitement. Here, at last, was a film that didn't sanitize its violence and was willing to embrace the grotesqueries of the human spirit.

That anticipation eventually turned into an $18 million opening weekend when the film received its wide release on the weekend before Halloween. It went on to earn a remarkable $55 million at the box office and is already a solid hit on DVD. It was only natural that a sequel would be rushed into theaters, with Wan and Whannell both maintaining some presence in the production.

And so it is that the two return as executive producers for the sequel, with Darren Lynn Bousman onboard to direct from his own screenplay. The movie will once again follow the deranged, sadistic serial killer known as Jigsaw. This creepy gentleman abducts morally wayward people with the intention of teaching them the value of life. To achieve this end, he forces his captives to play horrible games, with the prize being their own survival.

Of the original cast members, so far Shawnee Smith and Tobin Bell are set to return. Given the popularity of the first film, the second is almost certain to make a splash as the savvy studio, Lions Gate, will again release it just in time for the Halloween season. (Kim Hollis/BOP)

Vital statistics for Saw II Main Cast Donnie Wahlberg, Franky G, Glenn Plummer Supporting Cast Emmanuelle Vaugier, Tobin Bell, Shawnee Smith, Beverley Mitchell, Eric Knudsen, Dina Meyer Director Darren Lynn Bousman Screenwriter Leigh Whannell, Darren Lynn Bousman Distributor Lions Gate Trailer Click Here for Trailer Official Site http://www.saw2.com/ Rating R Running Time 93 minutes Talent in red has entry in The Big Picture

Comparison films for Saw II
Title	Date	Opening	Adjusted Opening	Screens	PSA	Adj PSA	Total BO	Adjusted Total	Mult
Saw	10/29/04	18.28	18.28	2315	7894.80	7894.8	55.15	55.15	0.00
Halloween:H20	8/7/98	16.19	20.81	2607	6210.00	7679.7	55.02	70.73	2.87
Ring, The	10/18/02	15.02	15.61	1981	7580.00	7580.0	128.90	134.01	8.58
Se7en	9/22/95	13.95	19.33	2441	5715.00	7620.0	100.12	138.78	7.18
Halloween: Resurrection	7/12/02	12.29	12.77	1954	6291.00	6291.0	30.26	31.46	2.46