Best horror film scenes

For horror aficionados, Halloween has become synonymous with “torture porn.” Blame it on Jigsaw, the Saw franchise’s advocate of evil. “Torture porn” refers to feature-length films devoted to graphic depictions of torture. No innocent trick-or-treaters here.

The phrase started with the first Saw movie back in 2005, followed by an annual Saw flick every October. Even now, Saw V draws crowds to the ‘plex. But don’t be fooled by the Roman numerals. These are not dignified, classical excursions.

What follows is a splattering of flicks with sharp horror edges — some honorable, some not. But each has an individual scene or an overall style that goes for your throat.

Saw V (2008) boasts an opening that focuses on a sharp pendulum and its graphic after-effects. The first Saw (2004) displayed a character with a “reverse bear trap” attached to her head. Saw II (2005) set a new low in artillery. A baseball bat filled with sharp nails was aimed directly at the victim’s face. As for Saw III (2006), it gleefully depicted brain surgery performed with a power drill, accompanied by the titular saw. Last year’s Saw IV’s highlights included the scalping of a woman, pony-tail first.

Some people insist that these macabre cavalcades of carnage provide an outlet for our darker instincts. A healthier alternative might be therapy or even just a jaunty jog around the block.

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