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Was 'The Collector' the Disaster So Many Critics Claimed?

Initially written as a proposed prequel to the Saw franchise, The Collector hit theaters in 2009. Producers obviously weren’t keen on pitching a Saw prequel, and the film went on to be shot as a standalone feature. A technical mishap in terms of pure financial draw, the film won many over, but earned much heated backlash from a multitude of critics for a number of reasons. The most glaring issues were the obvious Saw milarities (at the time many were oblivious to the original intent of the script) and just a few too many plot holes to mply disregard without a second thought.

What plot holes you ask? Well, primarily the fact that one man was capable of manufacturing countless torture contraptions in a matter of hours (based on the film’s timeline, I’d guess somewhere between x and eight hours). Along with this conspicuous weakness comes the fact that the “collector’s” motives feel a bit strange: He’s said to collect human beings, but who exactly is this pesky exterminator collecting? He traps individuals in commercial zed safes, but these prisoners are referred to as “bait”: so, where is the real object of dered posseson, and the logical payoff?

http://youtu.be/EE1sL7QWL5c

These are unquestionable flaws in the film, however, as obvious as these imperfections are, the film is still a highly enjoyable and very stylized slasher flick with some disconcerting gore, a couple really polished performances (where the hell has Josh Stewart been??), and a new serial killer who just so happens to rock a highly disturbing mask in order to conceal his identity. Did I mention those eyes of his are eerie as shit?

Despite the general perception of The Collector, the film functions on tenon and claustrophobia more than anything (particularly the "torture porn" element of the flick, which so much emphas was hoisted upon during it's initial release). And as it just so happens, had a few holes been filled, I think this could have actually been a stellar Saw prequel. However, that was not meant to be, and with a sequel tapped for release next year, it’s probably a good thing this picture wasn’t tied into the Saw series. “The Collection” should afford

Marcus Dunstan the chance to answer a lot of the questions birthed in the first feature, which could go a long way to making the original more endearing to fans, as well as launching a quality new franchise that's powered by logical actions, no matter how maniacal or sadistic (I'm treading oxymoron territory here).

We spend so much time discusng Leslie Vernon, Victor Crowley and Chromeskull it seems we’ve forgotten the Collector. It’s about time we pay proper respect to what could blossom into another contemporary icon!

I would love to see what happens in the sequel. I can't wait. If it's a guarantee, I am there. I think his eyes are spider like. That must be a reason why he was so kind to the spiders shown in the movie, and there was a lot of them! Is there a reason for the spiders? This weird guy can't even talk, and obviously you know there is something wrong with his face because when the guy pulls the mask off, and they don't show it's face, you get the man's reaction, and his face said it all.

it almost feels like they rushed to get a general plot so they could focus on setting up the traps and getting that shock factor in; if they had just spent a little more time on the plot and dotting the i's and crosng the t's the collector would be a go to slasher instead of just a who? i'm definitely looking forward to the sequel with fingers crossed for a more coheve plot!

Very good post Matt! I feel The Collection will most likely cover up most of the "plot holes" and make perfect sense later. As for another slasher icon? Uhhh HELL YEAH! The Collector would fit in perfectly with with the clasc slashers we know and love today!

By the way, one thing I loved about The Collector is the fact that he uses insects especially when he uses insects to a fresh wound! Thats the kind of twisted sh*t I like to see!

I dug the alternate ending where he just flips the bird and runs off, leavign the girl to The Collector. That was good stuff. Should've kept it IMHO.

I dug the alternate ending where he just flips the bird and runs off, leavign the girl to The Collector. That was good stuff. Should've kept it IMHO.

yeah, that was savage as fuck lmao - wow @ how grim that ending would have been had they opted to use it.

Arkin rules, and he wouldn't have lost a point either way in my book

I thought it was done really well! I was always on the edge of my seat from the suspense!