Horror
Synopsis
Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) emerges as the next heir to Jigsaw's twisted legacy, but as the FBI closes in, he sets in motion a game that is designed to reveal Jigsaw's grand scheme.
Cast: Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Betsy Russell, Mark Rolston, Peter Outerbridge, Shawnee Smith, Athena Karkanis, Samantha Lemole, Caroline Cave, George Newbern, Darius McCrary, Shauna MacDonald, Devon Bostwick, Tanedra Howard
Producer(s): Twisted Pictures
Crew: Director - Kevin Greutert, Screenwriter - Patrick Melton, Screenwriter - Marcus Dunstan, Producer - Gregg Hoffman, Producer - Mark Burg, Producer - Oren Koules, Executive Producer - Daniel Heffner, Executive Producer - Peter Block, Executive Producer - Jason Constantine, Executive Producer - James Wan, Executive Producer - Leigh Whannell, Executive Producer - Stacey Testro, Cinematographer - David Armstrong, Production Design - Tony Ianni, Costume Designer - Alex Kavanagh, Film Editor - Andrew Coutts, Casting - Stephanie Gorin, Original Music - Charlie Clouser, Art Director - Elis Lam, Set Decoration - Liesl Deslauriers
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Release Date: 10/23/2009
Running Time: 91 minutes
OFFICIAL SITE
Production Notes:
- Notes provided by Lionsgate Films. -
Special Agent Strahm is dead, and Detective Hoffman has emerged as the unchallenged successor to Jigsaw's legacy. However, when the FBI draws closer to Hoffman, he is forced to set a game into motion, and Jigsaw's grand scheme is finally understood.
SAW VI is a Lionsgate Release. Twisted Pictures Presents a Burg/Koules/Hoffman Production.
ABOUT THE SAW FRANCHISE
"What the fuck is going on? Where am I?"
Those words, uttered two minutes into 2004's SAW, express the primal emotions - the hopeless confusion, the awful sense of powerlessness and sheer, panic-stricken terror - that lie at the heart of Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures' SAW franchise; emotions that are a key to its phenomenal success. The SAW films follow the machinations of Jigsaw, a terminally ill cancer patient with an exacting moral agenda and a genius for gruesome games of survival, "played" with those he believes have ceased to value and appreciate the gift of life. Ratcheting up tension and invention with each successive film, the SAW franchise has touched a chord while jangling millions of nerves worldwide. It has picked up the baton from classic horror series such as HALLOWEEN and NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET to become a cultural touchstone, as well as the most profitable horror franchise, both theatrically and on DVD, in movie history. To date, the five SAW titles have taken in over $665 million in worldwide theatrical box office and DVD sales have exceeded 28 million units. The franchise has helped make Lionsgate the leading studio for horror today, with #1 rankings in box office and DVD consumer spending.
SAW made its world premiere at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival as part of the Festival's popular "Park City at Midnight" program. Festival Director Geoffrey Gilmore, who programs the annual event, recalls that he was impressed by the first-time filmmakers' command of both form and theme. "SAW grabbed the viewer from the first frame; it was bold, cleverly constructed and flat-out terrifying," he comments. "But what really set SAW apart was its moral seriousness. This movie didn't just want to scare you, it wanted to make you think about what you would do to stay alive. In today's world, that is not a trivial thing to contemplate -- either as an individual or as a member of society."
As the SAW series has continued, the films have tunneled further into Jigsaw's beliefs and worldview. Says Leigh Whannell, who created the original story with director James Wan and wrote or co-wrote the screenplays for SAW, SAW II and SAW III, "Jigsaw's cancer has led him to think very hard about what it means to be alive and how close we are to death at any given time. But he's not someone who stops with a simple 'carpe diem' and a trip to Europe. The concept of life's value becomes a springboard to look at other personal moral choices, like forgiveness versus retribution. Jigsaw keeps digging into these issues, which become grist for his games. And as twisted as the games are, his intention is to help people. Between his philosophical bent and his sick take on altruism, I like to think Jigsaw is somewhat unique in the horror universe."
The SAW franchise has been part of a wave of horror films that have drawn favorable comparisons to the independent horror cinema of the 1970s, a connection highlighted in a Summer 2007 series at New York's Museum of the Moving Image, entitled "It's Only a Movie: Horror Films from the 1970s and Today." The six-weekend retrospective drew a thru-line between films like Wes Craven's LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT (1972) and Tobe Hooper's TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (1974), which shocked audiences of their day with envelope-pushing gore and disturbing explorations of human behavior; and the films of the SAW age, including Darren Lynn Bousman's SAW II, which contain images and stories that have left today's viewers just as stunned and terrified -- and eager for more -- as the moviegoers of the 1970s. "It's Only a Movie" presented double features that paired films from each era, with SAW II sharing a bill with Stanley Kubrick's A CLOCKWORK ORANGE.
Announcing the series in June 2007, the Museum's Chief Curator, David Schwartz said, "These movies are of considerable aesthetic and cultural interest, clearly reflecting the fears of contemporary lives.... Of course we are aware that these films contain disturbing, often shocking images, but they are powerful precisely because they tap into our deepest anxieties."
Assistant Curator Livia Bloom also weighed in. "The filmmakers in this series use the horror genre as a commercial framework to make smart, often subversive films. Their work examines deep psychological concerns, and comments on social and political issues of the day." Bloom noted that in SAW's "startling scenes of torture," she found "reflections of a life during a time of war and turmoil."
The thematic and stylistic consistency of the SAW series owes much to the stewardship and participation of a core team, including SAW originators James Wan and Leigh Whannell; writer/director Darren Lynn Bousman, who joined the team with SAW II; producers Oren Koules, Mark Burg and the late Gregg Hoffman; and executive producers Stacey Testro, Peter Block and Jason Constantine. The key creative team has been with the series from the start, and includes director of photography David A. Armstrong; production designer David Hackl; editor and current director Kevin Greutert; and composer Charlie Clouser, a onetime member of the band Nine Inch Nails.
Another critical member of the SAW team is actor Tobin Bell, who has portrayed Jigsaw throughout the franchise. In his September 7, 2007 essay on contemporary horror movies in the L.A. Weekly, critic Luke Thomson wrote, "Tobin Bell's performance as Jigsaw is a wonder; he's the best 'real-world' horror antihero since Anthony Hopkins first played Hannibal Lecter."
As intricate as one of Jigsaw's games, the SAW films reveal their twisting plots gradually. The series itself resembles an even larger jigsaw puzzle, with each new film linking up in some way with its predecessor. With SAW VI arriving in theatres for Halloween 2009, let's take a look at the pieces thus far. To paraphrase Jigsaw's victims: where are we?
SAW
Director: James Wan
Screenwriter: Leigh Whannell
Story by James Wan and Leigh Whannell
SAW's opening scene immediately plunges the audience into the unknown, along with the two unfortunate men, Adam (Leigh Whannell) and Dr. Lawrence Gordon (Cary Elwes), who wake to find themselves chained up in a fetid subterranean bathroom. The captives are the most recent targets of a psychopathic genius known as Jigsaw, who constructs elaborate games that force his victims to make impossible choices between life and death. As Adam and Dr. Gordon struggle to unravel the elaborate puzzle of their fate, Detective Tapp (Danny Glover) and his colleague Kerry (Dina Meyer) work furiously to determine Jigsaw's identity before he can claim yet more victims. But Jigsaw has accomplices - whose willingness is not entirely clear - and his meticulous planning enables him to escape.
SAW opened nationwide on Friday, October 29, 2004. The film stunned industry observers by debuting at #3 with a weekend take of $18.3 million and it remained in the Top 10 for 4 weeks. Produced for just $1.2 million, SAW went on to worldwide box office earnings of over $103 million ($55.2M domestic, $47.7M international). It won the Audience Award for Best Feature at the 2004 San Sebastián Horror and Fantasy Film Festival; the Special Jury Prize and Youth Jury Prize (both to James Wan) at the 2005 Gérardmer (France) Film Festival (a/k/a Festival de Gérardmer - Fantastic Arts); and the Pegasus Audience Award (also to James Wan) at the 2005 Brussels International Festival of Fantasy Film. SAW was released on DVD/home video on February 15, 2005; it debuted at #1 on the home entertainment charts and sold 2.2 million units in its first week. It was the top-selling horror DVD of 2005.
SAW II
Director: Darren Lynn Bousman
Screenplay: Leigh Whannell and Darren Lynn Bousman
SAW II finds Jigsaw playing two games simultaneously: one involving eight victims who wake up in a crumbling house and must solve their mastermind's riddle before their insides are destroyed by poison; and the other with Detective Eric Matthews (Donnie Wahlberg), whose rebellious son is among the eight captives. Also among the abducted is Amanda (Shawnee Smith), who was introduced in SAW as the only victim to have survived Jigsaw's tests. Desperate to save his son, Detective Matthews resorts, not for the first time, to brutality and trickery. It's a decision that leads him right into a trap designed by Jigsaw in collaboration with his new apprentice: Amanda.
SAW II opened nationwide on Friday, October 28, 2005. The film's opening day gross of $12.1 million was Lionsgate's biggest Friday gross to that point (this would be surpassed by SAW III). It was the weekend's #1 film with a box office tally of $31.7 million, outperforming SAW's opening weekend by $12 million, an increase of approximately 60%. The debut marked the widest release and the biggest opening weekend in Lionsgate box office history. SAW II spent 7 weeks in the U.S. Top Ten, and was the top grossing horror film of 2005, with domestic theatrical box office receipts of $87 million. Internationally, SAW II opened at #1 in Australia, Brazil, Germany and Austria; its combined international box office was $65.9 million. The film's UK opening was Lionsgate's biggest international opening weekend for a film to date, and the opening weekend box office in Japan more than doubled from the release of SAW. SAW II was released on DVD/home video on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2006; it debuted at #1 on the home entertainment charts, selling 2.8 million units on its first day and 3.3 million units in its first week. The title was the fastest-selling theatrical DVD in company history. It was nominated for the 2006 Saturn Award for Best Horror Film by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA; star Tobin Bell was nominated for the 2006 MTV Movie Award nomination for Best Villain.
SAW III
Director: Darren Lynn Bousman
Screenplay: Leigh Whannell
Story: Leigh Whannell and James Wan
As SAW III begins, Jigsaw's health is failing and he is preparing his adoring acolyte, Amanda, to carry on his work. Amanda has designed numerous games herself, building various horrendous contraptions to test the survival instincts of her victims. A very important game involves a brain surgeon, Lynn (Bahar Soomekh), who is forced to operate on the dying man. Meanwhile, in another section of Jigsaw's lair, a grieving father, Jeff (Angus Macfadyen) is given the barbed opportunity to fulfill his dreams of revenge. Like so many before him, Jeff lives down to Jigsaw's expectations ... with dire consequences for the people he loves.
SAW III opened nationwide on Friday, October 27, 2006. It was the weekend's #1 film with a box office tally of $33.6 million, the biggest opening in Lionsgate history, surpassing that of SAW II by 5.94%. Its Friday opening of $14.4M marked the highest single-day box office gross to date in company history. The film was the widest release in Lionsgate history, besting its predecessor SAW II. It spent 4 weeks in the U.S. Top Ten, and was the top grossing theatrical horror film of 2006, with domestic theatrical box office receipts of $80.2 million. SAW III's international box office receipts totaled $82 million, and it marked the first Lionsgate film to open at #1 in Great Britain, where it took in $4.9 million in its first weekend. SAW III was released on DVD/home video on January 23, 2007, debuting at #1 on the charts, selling 2.9 million units in the U.S. its first day. It was the best-selling horror DVD of 2007, having sold 4.1 million units. SAW III was nominated for the 2007 Saturn Award for Best Horror Film by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA; star Tobin Bell was nominated for the 2007 MTV Movie Award for Best Villain; Bell and Shawnee Smith received a joint Spike TV Scream Award nomination for Most Vile Villain.
SAW IV
Director: Darren Lynn Bousman
Screenplay: Patrick Melton & Marcus Dunstan
Story by Patrick Melton & Marcus Dunstan and Thomas Fenton
Jigsaw and his apprentice Amanda are dead, and Detective Kerry has been murdered. Two seasoned FBI profilers, Agent Strahm (Scott Patterson) and Agent Perez (Athena Karkanis), arrive at the depleted police precinct and help veteran Detective Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) sift through Jigsaw's latest grizzly game of victims and piece together the puzzle. But then SWAT Commander Rigg (Lyriq Bent), the last officer untouched by Jigsaw (Tobin Bell), is suddenly abducted. Thrust into the madman's harrowing game, the officer has but ninety minutes to overcome a series of interconnected traps...or face the deadly consequences.
Rigg's citywide pursuit leaves a wake of dead bodies, and Detective Hoffman and the FBI uncover long-hidden clues that lead them back to Jigsaw's ex-wife Jill (Betsy Russell). The genesis of Jigsaw's evil is unveiled, exposing the puppet master's true intentions and the sinister plan for his past, present and future victims.
SAW IV opened nationwide on October 26, 2007. It was the weekend's #1 film with a box office tally of $31.8 million. It has since earned total domestic theatrical box office receipts of $63.3 million; the film's international box office receipts have totaled over $73.5 million. SAW IV was released on DVD/home video on January 22, 2008, debuting at #2 on the charts and selling 2.6 million units in the U.S. and Canada. It is one of the top two best-selling horror DVDs of 2008. SAW IV was nominated for three 2008 Spike TV Scream Awards (Best Sequel, Best Villain, Most Memorable Mutilation), handed out October 18, 2008.
SAW V
Director: David Hackl
Screenplay: Patrick Melton & Marcus Dunstan
In the fifth installment of the SAW franchise, Hoffman is seemingly the last person alive to carry on the Jigsaw legacy. But when his secret is threatened, Hoffman must go on the hunt to eliminate all loose ends.
SAW V opened nationwide on October 24, 2008, and was the #2 film that weekend with a box office tally of $30 million. Its domestic theatrical box office receipts totaled over $56.7 million; the film's international box office receipts have totaled over $55.2 million. SAW V was released on DVD/home video on January 20, 2009, debuting at #2 on the charts; it has sold 1.6 million units to date. The film's iconic Pendulum trap was nominated in the Most Memorable Mutilation category at Spike TV's Scream Awards 2009, to be handed out on October 17, 2009.
SAW VI
Director: Kevin Greutert
Screenplay: Patrick Melton & Marcus Dunstan
Special Agent Strahm is dead, and Detective Hoffman has emerged as the unchallenged successor to Jigsaw's legacy. However, when the FBI draws closer to Hoffman, he is forced to set a game into motion, and Jigsaw's grand scheme is finally understood.
Making his feature film directorial debut is longtime SAW franchise editor Kevin Greutert. Says Greutert, "Coming on board for the first time as director, I really wanted SAW VI to be one man's journey, and I thought the best approach to that end would be to introduce a new character into the series. I love all of our other characters but we know their stories intimately. Plus it's hard to surprise the audience at this point. They are a savvy bunch. So what I want is for the film to be an emotional journey that the audience will be compelled to follow independently as a story rather than 'what's the next trap going to be?' And I think when SAW works best: when it's about a person going through a series of life challenges. That's absolutely William's story...with Jigsaw playing a number of mind games. He was saving the best for last."
GIVING TIL IT HURTS: THE ANNUAL SAW BLOOD DRIVE
The SAW franchise is not only about big-screen blood; it also about the blood that saves lives. With the release of the first SAW in 2004, Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures embarked on a cutting-edge promotion tailored specifically to the franchise's profile: a nationwide SAW blood drive that exhorts fans to "Give Til It Hurts" to benefit the Red Cross. The SAW "Give Til It Hurts" Blood Drive has become a key element of the SAW franchise, as much a part of its annual rituals as the Halloween premiere date. Each year brings a new ad campaign photographed by Tim Palen, Lionsgate Co-President of Theatrical Marketing and fine art photographer, and featuring the SAW nurses, seductive angels of questionable mercy and considerable visual impact. In the five years since the blood drive began, SAW filmgoers have donated nearly 119,452 pints of blood to help save as many as 358,354 lives.
In the first three years of the drive, collection totals doubled year over year: from 4,200 pints in the 2004 inaugural year, to 10,000 pints in 2005, and 23,493 pints in 2006.
For the 2007 drive, the SAW "Give Til It Hurts" Blood Drive acquired two important new partners, the American Red Cross and Yahoo!, to help make the campaign bigger, better and more bloodily ambitious than ever. Lionsgate and the American Red Cross entered into their first formal partnership to administer the SAW IV Blood Drive on a nationwide basis. The national organization teamed with local Red Cross chapters to set up donation centers, a commitment that more than quadrupled the number of centers, from 250 to 1200. SAW star Tobin Bell was featured in several PSA's advertising the event. Meanwhile, Yahoo! provided massive online support for the SAW IV Blood Drive as Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures' key online partner. In addition to providing hundreds of millions of impressions across Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Mail, and Yahoo Movies, Yahoo! also hosted the Blood Drive website. By searching for "Saw Blood Drive" on Yahoo!, users were able to access the SAW IV Blood Drive website, which featured a branded, interactive Yahoo! Map that allowed users to find the closest Blood Drive to their geographic location. In addition to the interactive map, users could watch the Blood Drive PSA with Tobin Bell, grab branded downloads, and tell a friend about the Blood Drive.
The new partners and ever-increasing awareness make the SAW IV blood drive a resounding success: that year's total - 41,784 pints gathered - was over 3000 pints more than the previous three years combined, saving approximately 125,350 lives.
In 2008, a new partner joined the roster alongside Red Cross and Yahoo!: MTVu, MTV Networks' dedicated college station, the only one to broadcast 24 hours a day. During the SAW V blood drive, 39,975 pints were collected, saving approximately 121,004 lives.
The American Red Cross, Yahoo! and MTVu will again join Lionsgate for the SAW VI blood drive, which is taking place at college campuses and other locations across the country. Field drives began the week of XX and Red Cross blood drives began the week of XX. The SAW VI Blood Drive will continue through the first week of the film's release.
ABOUT THE CAST
Whether you know him as 'Jigsaw' in the wildly successful SAW movies, 'Nordic' in THE FIRM or even 'Ted Kaczynski' in UNABOMBER --THE REAL STORY, TOBIN BELL (Jigsaw) has displayed an uncanny - and occasionally chilling - ability to burrow deep into a character's psyche. Tobin's longevity and chameleon-like ability to assume any role has placed him in the upper echelon of consummate professional actors. His success as the star of the SAW movies is a fitting reward for almost 30 years spent appearing in movies and television shows, mainly in character roles.
Starting with the role of FBI agent 'Ernest Stokes' in MISSISSIPPI BURNING (1988), Tobin Bell has played a long line of interesting characters on both sides of the law: JFK conspirator 'David Ferrie' in RUBY; 'Mendoza' in IN THE LINE OF FIRE; the riveting 'Nordic' in THE FIRM; gunfighter 'Dog Kelly' in THE QUICK AND THE DEAD; 'Lucian Morano' in SERIAL KILLER; a parole officer in GOODFELLAS; the voice of 'Zaragosa' in DreamWorks's ROAD TO EL DORADO; as well as roles in OVERNIGHT DELIVERY, HBO's THE FOURTH FLOOR, GOOD NEIGHBOR, BLACK MASK 2, LOOSE CANNONS, MALICE and POWERPLAY.
Tobin is a familiar face to viewers of TV movies and dramas (though comedy fans will recognize him as 'Ron' from "Seinfeld"). Tobin has been a prominent guest star on some of the most critically acclaimed and popular dramas of the last decade: as attorney 'Nathan Volk' on the NBC drama "Revelations," with Bill Pullman, Natasha McElone and John Rhys-Davies; as 'Peter Kingsley' in five episodes of "24;" as 'Agent Dreyer' on "Alias;" and as 'Karl Storm' in one of the fans' favorite episodes of "Walker: Texas Ranger." Tobin has also appeared on "The West Wing," "The Guardian," "The Sopranos," "Charmed," "Once and Again," "X-Files," "Stargate," "Silk Stalkings," "ER," "La Femme Nikita," "NYPD Blue," "Murder One," and "Chicago Hope." His resume also includes the television movies-of-the-week ONE HOT SUMMER NIGHT, BABYSITTER'S SEDUCTION, MORTAL FEAR and DEEP RED.
Tobin comes by some of his acting skill naturally; his mother is the British actress Eileen Bell. But Tobin also learned from the best, studying with Lee Strasberg and Ellen Burstyn at the New York's Actor Studio and with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse. On the New York stage Tobin has appeared at the New York Shakespeare Festival, the New York Public Theater, Ensemble Studio Theater, and Playwright's Horizons.
Tobin was born in New York City and raised in Weymouth, Mass. As befits the star of "thinking men's horror movies," Tobin is a graduate of Boston University, with a master's degree in Environmental Education from Montclair State College. Hobbies include playing the guitar, taking wildlife photographs and making frequent climbing trips to the Presidential Range of New Hampshire's White Mountains. Also a writer, Tobin has completed several screenplays and stage plays. He is married, with two children, and splits his time between homes in New York and Los Angeles.
COSTAS MANDYLOR (Hoffman), born in Melbourne, Australia of Greek ancestry, began his career as a soccer star in Greece and Australia. When his professional soccer career was cut short following stress fractures to his shins, he packed up and moved to Hollywood. He has since become an acclaimed actor in the States.
He became an "overnight" success when cast in THE TRIUMPH OF THE SPIRIT, a Holocaust drama filmed in Auschwitz. Oliver Stone gave him a small role in 1991's THE DOORS, but it was MOBSTERS, from the same year, that gave him his first starring role.
Costas had a very successful and well-known television career as 'Kenny Lacos,' the impulsive and lovable Deputy in the David E. Kelley drama "Picket Fences" and next put his Mediterranean good looks to good use as 'Alphonse Royo' in the Dick Wolf drama series "Players." Costas has been described as one of the most "beautiful" people in the world (People Magazine 1991) and "one of the most exotic faces on television today." Other notable small screen appearances include "Sex and the City," "Andromeda," "Charmed," "7th Heaven" and "Fastlane."
After "Players" in 1997 came a number of television films and larger projects. He had a small role in Sean Penn's THE PLEDGE and ABOVE AND BEYOND with Alexandra Paul. He more recently lent his voice to the role of 'Hondshew' in 2007's BEOWULF starring Angelina Jolie. He continues acting on television, including the Hallmark Channel's JUST DESSERTS opposite Lauren Holly and in numerous independent movies and a starring role in David E. Kelley's short-lived show, "Wedding Bells." His next widely recognized role came as Detective Hoffman in the SAW horror franchise.
BETSY RUSSELL (Jill) was born and raised in San Diego and gravitated toward acting at a young age. By sixteen, Betsy could be seen in a national Pepsi commercial. The day after graduating high school, she moved to Los Angeles.
Betsy quickly began her television career appearing in hits such as "The A-Team," "T.J Hooker" and "Family Ties." Her first starring role was opposite Phoebe Cates in the seminal teen feature PRIVATE SCHOOL. Betsy continued to work steadily until she took on her most important roll: mother to her two sons, Duke and Vinny.
Currently, Betsy can be seen as 'Jill Tuck,' the wife of Jigsaw, the infamous killer from the popular SAW franchise. She also recently completed a master's program in spiritual psychology from USM University in Santa Monica.
MARK ROLSTON (Erickson) has been a working actor since 1979, when he finished training as a classical actor at the Drama Centre, London.
Mark then moved to New York where he was cast as 'Richard II,' and toured the United States for a year with the National Shakespeare Company.
Mark returned to London and worked in various mediums, including radio, stage, television and film, when he was cast in the sci-fi classic ALIENS. This was Mark's springboard into Hollywood and within ten days of the ALIENS premiere, he was cast in a little known indie, SURVIVAL QUEST, starring Lance Henrikson, Dermot Mulroney, Catherine Keener and Paul Provenza.
Soon after that, Mark was cast as 'Dave the Flasher' with Nick Nolte in WEEDS, followed by numerous television and feature films, including RUSH HOUR (as Agent Warren Russ), LETHAL WEAPON II (as Hans), THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION (Bogs Diamond) and THE DEPARTED (Delahaunt).
Mark is a committed actor and writer. He lives in Valley Glen, CA with his wife and family.
PETER OUTERBRIDGE (William) was born and raised in Toronto. He studied theatre for four years at the University of Victoria, receiving his BFA in 1988. He then co-founded the "fringe" theatre company "Way Off Broadway" and toured the various festivals across Canada for several years before crossing over to film and television.
With over 40 credits to his name, Outerbridge's list of film and television work is impressive. His recent credits include starring roles in the TV movie MY NAME IS SARAH for Showcase in Canada and Lifetime in the U.S.; the CTV drama series "Whistler"; and the feature film BURNING MUSSOLINI, a feature film, currently in post-production, written and directed by his "ReGenesis" co-star Conrad Pla. Other film credits include THE BAY OF LOVE AND SORROWS, based on the novel by Giller Prize winner David Adams Richards; MEN WITH BROOMS, starring Paul Gross and Leslie Nielson; MARINE LIFE, starring Cybill Shepherd; and BETTER THAN CHOCOLATE with Wendy Crewson, both of which were directed by one of Canada's premiere directors, Anne Wheeler. One of his first feature films was KISSED, with Molly Parker, which earned him his first Genie nomination for his role as 'Matt.' Award-winning director Jerry Ciccoritti cast Outerbridge in his first starring role in the feature film PARIS, FRANCE with Leslie Hope.
His television credits include: the lead role as 'Detective William Murdoch' in three "Detective Murdoch Mysteries": "Except the Dying," "Poor Tom Is Cold" and "Under the Dragon's Tail," produced by Shaftesbury Films.; two CHASING CAIN movies, again under the direction of Jerry Ciccoritti, who also directed Outerbridge in the ambitious mini-series "Trudeau"; and Sturla Gunnerson's "100 Days in the Jungle." Outerbridge also appeared in the television mini-series "10:5 Apocalypse," and recently finished shooting SyFy Channel's highly anticipated series, "Sanctuary," and CBC's "Heartland." Outerbridge is also featured in the upcoming ABC series, "Happy Town."
Some of his other television guest appearances include the critically-acclaimed series "24," starring Kiefer Sutherland; the new drama series "The D.A." for ABC; "The Outer Limits"; and the internationally successful "Road to Avonlea."
Outerbridge has received three Gemini nominations for his portrayal of 'David Sandström' in "ReGenesis," and a nomination for his role as 'Detective Murdoch' in "Murder 19C: Detective Murdoch Mysteries."
Peter lives in Toronto with his wife, actor Tammy Isbell and their two boys.
SHAWNEE SMITH (Amanda) made her film debut at the age of 12 as a dancer in the musical ANNIE. Just three years later, the South Carolina-born Smith received accolades for her performance in the TV movie CRIME OF INNONCENCE starring Andy Griffith. She also began appearing on regional stages, and co-starred with Richard Dreyfus at the Huntington Hartford Theatre.
Not too long after she moved to Los Angeles and began an immensely successful career in film and TV. She is most well-known for her performances in the SAW franchise. Also a gifted comedian, she has consistently booked a comedy television pilot and is known for her regular role on the CBS Television series, "Becker."
Smith has won supporting roles in feature films like IRON EAGLE, SUMMER SCHOOL, THE BLOB, WHO'S HARRY CRUMB?, THE DESPERATE HOURS, and LEAVING LAS VEGAS. Smith's television roles include the miniseries "Lucky/Chances," "The Stand" and "The Shining" and recurring roles on "The Tom Show" in addition to her notable "Becker" role. Since appearing in the original SAW, Smith has also been seen in Michael Bay's THE ISLAND, THE GRUDGE series and the independent films UNDERCOVER, REPO, and NO MORE GAMES.
In 2008, TANEDRA HOWARD (Simone) appeared on the VH1 reality show "Scream Queens" where 10 unknown actresses competed for a breakout role in Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures' SAW franchise, the most successful horror franchise of all time. In the beginning, Tanedra was considered the underdog of the show, given she'd never had formal acting lessons and had only been cast in a couple of small stage productions. Nonetheless, she proved you can do whatever you put your mind to if you believe in yourself. In front of millions of viewers Tanedra was crowned the "Scream Queen" and earned a role in SAW VI.
Tanedra was born and raised in Los Angeles where she now resides.
ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS
KEVIN GREUTERT (Director) is a native of Pasadena, California. He received a production degree at USC F
