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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that Thorpe Park's new 'Saw' themed ride is inappropriate and gimmicky?

35 replies

BarrelOfMonkeys · 02/04/2009 21:20

So the Saw horror film franchise has been very successful, but am I alone in thinking that it is wholly inappropriate for a family theme park to have a ride themed around a cert. 18 horror film, and then promote that ride as being suitable for over 12s?

I haven't seen any of the Saw films myself as I don't understand the appeal of the 'torture-and-gore' genre, but I am aware of the general content and to be honest, that Thorpe Park has such as ride really puts me off. But then I have always thought it inferior to Alton Towers anyway... and this seems to be a bit of a desperate attempt to do something 'different' to compete, imo. AIBU to write to Alton Towers and let them know that I think their Saw ride is just a bit, well, wrong?

(N.B. this will probably be a hypothetical letter to Thorpe Park, as I do have better things to do with my time such as, um, Mumsnet. But the principle of the thing, etc...)

OP posts:
Thunderduck · 02/04/2009 21:22

I'm confused. Do you want to write to Alton Towers or Thorpe Park?

Original poster
BarrelOfMonkeys · 02/04/2009 21:23

D'oh. Sorry, Thorpe Park. Can't talk to DH and type at same time!

OP posts:
moondog · 02/04/2009 21:24

I read about this in Telegraph,sounds nuts
However I'd sooner have a lesbian threesome with Sue Pollard and Angela Merkel than go to Thorpe Park so it remains purely theoretical for me.

Thunderduck · 02/04/2009 21:25

Well I think you're being a tad Unreasonable.

Family theme park doesn't have to mean that all rides are suitable for all ages. While I'm not a fan of Saw I've no objection to it.

If people don't like it they don't have to ride it.

Do you know what the ride entails exactly? Are there characters and scenes from Saw featured?

Original poster
BarrelOfMonkeys · 02/04/2009 21:28

Well, I did look at the website first, which claims it is 'The world?s first ever horror movie-themed rollercoaster is the most terrifying ride in the world, testing the nerve of all who dare ride as it leaves you at the mercy of the film's master manipulator, Jigsaw.' So it sounds like it is tying in pretty closely with the film, or at least trying to.

They're running a competition as well, where you have to 'Face a horrifying gore endurance test and push your nerves to the limit for the chance to prove yourself worthy of being the first to ride. Only one thing is for certain... there will be blood.'

OP posts:
Thunderduck · 02/04/2009 21:34

The description doesn't bother me in the least. I'd try it out if I wasn't so terrified of roller coasters.

Mumcentreplus · 02/04/2009 21:36

[email protected] don't like the SAW movies..they are rubbish (only saw 1 and that was enough) and irritating...but bring on the roller coaster!

Original poster
BarrelOfMonkeys · 02/04/2009 21:38

But why would they say it's suitable for 12 year olds? When the film clearly isn't? Or am I missing something? (They clearly state minimum age of 12 on the website on their 'who can ride Saw?' section.)

OP posts:
Original poster
BarrelOfMonkeys · 02/04/2009 21:40

Oh, and I like rollercoasters myself, no issues there (despite being on Oblivion at Alton Towers in the early days when it got stuck for 10 mins dangling us all over the drop. Made the ride last longer at least!)

OP posts:
Hulababy · 02/04/2009 21:43

Presumably the height or age limit on the ride makes it a no go for younger audiences?

And I assume the outside of the ride does not show inappropriate images or text?

Thunderduck · 02/04/2009 21:44

Because it won't be as graphic as the film, and rides aren't rated as films are. The ratings are related to safety not suitability.

KayHarkerIsPlayingWithMitchell · 02/04/2009 21:47

I like rollercoasters, but I think YANBU. The series of films are basically torture porn.

Wildly inappropriate to tie in something that kids will be taking part in with something like that, imo. Verging on the 'What kind of sick puppy are you?' territory, actually.

Hulababy · 02/04/2009 21:47

Universa Studios has rides linked to movies - such as The Mummy Returns. The age imits are lovwer than the fims as the graphics and "film" content is nowhere near as scary as the actual films.

Hulababy · 02/04/2009 21:47

Hmmm - my L key is sticky; sorry for that.

CharleeInSpring · 02/04/2009 21:49

That ride sounds insane, i am so going to go on it at first opertunity. At the end of the day your not forced onto it so just don't go.

The Saw films are very clever so far, can't wait to see the next one.

Original poster
BarrelOfMonkeys · 02/04/2009 21:50

Maybe I am being overly tetchy today, but it just doesn't feel right that effectively the horror film is being marketed by stealth... kinda like the Playboy stationery argument, iyswim.

OP posts:
KayHarkerIsPlayingWithMitchell · 02/04/2009 21:51

yeah, but as scary as The Mummy is in places, it's about a supernatural creature that doesn't really exist, and has never really existed. Like a ghost train or something.

Saw is about a serial killer, of which, sadly, there have been many, and will be more. There's a line that goes across, surely?

Hulababy · 02/04/2009 21:52

It certainly doesn't sound like a ride I'd fancy but it realy does depend on the actual ride itself I guess.

Original poster
BarrelOfMonkeys · 02/04/2009 22:10

It's not so much that I wouldn't want to go on the ride - if it was packaged up as, oh I don't know, a vampire ride, then fine. It's the content of the film, which is essentially is a series of acts of sadism strung together, which differentiates it from things like The Mummy, as Kay Harker says. And the ride is being promoted as suitable for kids. At least in The Mummy, it's 'good vs evil' and you know good wins...

OP posts:
pointydog · 02/04/2009 22:13

I feel uneasy about this ride too. Lots of under 18s have seen therse films and it's yet another way of piling on the marketing pressure to make young teens and many pre-teens watch that kind of sick wankery.

MillyR · 02/04/2009 22:14

YANBU

I was going to go this summer. Now I know about this ride, I'll go elsewhere.

Shambolic · 02/04/2009 22:25

I'm not entirely comfortable with this - if the under 18's aren't supposed to have seen the film why is the ride supposed to appeal? And I would guess (hope) that thorpe park is aimed more at people under 18 than grown-ups...

Yes it is dodgy.

I mean they wouldn't be allowed to have a "Deep throat" rollercoaster featuring scenes and sticking closely to the original, now, would they...

pointydog · 03/04/2009 17:25

lots of young adults do go to theme parks.

They should make an adults only park. Just imagine

tearinghairout · 03/04/2009 17:34

I'm with you on this. It sounds as if they are desperately trying to appeal to the lowest common denomenator. Rather like the films. No thanks. Let's have a South Bank Show ride where pictures of obscure film directors jump out at you and Melvin Bragg challenges you to guess their genre.

pointydog · 03/04/2009 17:48

A 'no country for old men' ride. Now that would be terrifying

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