The Role of Film Critics

Their eyes were firmly glued to the screen.

And for Kevin, that was already enough. If a movie could keep audiences watching instead of walking out, that alone proved it was not a terrible film.

As for Jigsaw's appeal, Kevin knew that once they had watched the final stretch, they would forever imprint Jigsaw, this classic figure in film history, in their minds.

Time flew during the screening. Everyone followed the protagonist Adam's desperate struggle and became immersed in the film.

The movie ended quickly.

The critics began writing in the little notebooks they held.

Roger Ebert, however, had nothing in his hands. He seemed to scan the room, spotted director Kevin, and slowly walked over.

"You must be the genius director Steve Kevin. I'm Roger Ebert."

"Thank you for the compliment. I'm Steve Kevin."

Roger Ebert looked at Kevin with great interest and raised his question.

"How did you come up with a character like Jigsaw?"

Kevin had long prepared himself for questions like that.

So he answered naturally.

"I grew up in an orphanage. During my childhood, I saw many elderly people die before my eyes."

"Most of them suffered terribly from illness."

"At the same time, I watched many of my classmates show no respect for life. They indulged in sex and marijuana."

"They squandered their lives recklessly, only to regret it when illness finally came for them."

"That was why I created a homicidal maniac like Jigsaw in this film. He did not kill people at random."

"His purpose was to teach people to cherish their own lives. And in the movie, even Adam and the others, who did not value life, were not denied opportunities."

"They simply failed to seize them."

"."

Kevin spoke eloquently, while Roger Ebert beside him nodded again and again.

Judging from the concept behind the character alone, Saw already stood far above ordinary films.

It had ideas of its own.

While making people feel terrified, it also carried the underlying message of urging them to cherish life. Without a doubt, it was a rare masterpiece.

After obtaining enough material from Kevin, Roger Ebert decided that once he returned, he would write Saw a proper review.

A work this good naturally deserved to be seen by more people.

Dean, watching them converse so pleasantly, was somewhat stunned. Roger Ebert was famously impossible to sway.

The only thing film companies could do was pay him to keep quiet.

As for making him praise a movie, Roger Ebert had to genuinely love it himself.

That stubborn old man, who would not even take money when it was offered to him, was actually having such a pleasant conversation with Kevin.

"Haha, Director Kevin, you truly are a genius."

Roger Ebert praised Kevin once more before turning and leaving.

Dean shuffled over to him and said,

"Are you Roger Ebert's son?"

Kevin's face darkened. What did he mean, his son? Did the man even know how to talk?

"Don't misunderstand me. I haven't seen Roger Ebert treat anyone this well in a long time. You saw it yourself—he isn't exactly someone who fits in with the other critics."

"But his reviews always uncover unexpected things. His influence on a film's reputation is still quite substantial."

Dean explained.

Kevin nodded. He had heard Roger Ebert's name in his previous life too, though he had only known that he was a famous film critic.

Of course, in this era, film critics held enormous influence.

Unless necessary, he had better not offend such people.

After answering those questions for him, Dean finally pulled Kevin away to find Shaye and discuss the upcoming premiere.

As for the critics and print media reporters, others would naturally receive them. Having accepted New Line Cinema's money, they would not talk nonsense. They still had that much professional integrity.

Seeing Kevin and Dean arrive, Shaye hurriedly waved them over.

On the table before him lay items called release schedule sheets, detailing films that had already opened and those that would be opening soon.

Terminator 2, The Silence of the Lambs...

These were all films that had been in theaters for several months already. Kevin could not help feeling fortunate that during the North American box-office lull of October and even November, there were no particularly tough competitors.

And Halloween was just around the corner.

Based on the usual release schedule, they could easily wait until Halloween.

Every Halloween was an excellent time for horror films to open.

But they would not be the only ones releasing films for Halloween. Other film companies naturally would not miss the opportunity either. Choosing Halloween meant competing head-on against other movies.

There were only so many theaters. The more screens you got, the fewer everyone else had.

It was a life-or-death relationship.

Was Shaye seeking his opinion?

Kevin guessed.

"The films currently in release aren't much to worry about, but with Halloween coming up, competition is extremely fierce. It's the top release window for horror movies."

"Kevin, I need you to promote the film at major colleges..."

Shaye said directly.

"No problem."

Kevin agreed without hesitation.

Of course he would not refuse promotion that would benefit the film's box office.

Once he agreed, what followed was a series of discussions about the details.

The promotional event was scheduled for the day before Christmas, and the first stop would be a cinema beside Kevin's alma mater, the University of Southern California.

Before that, naturally, they would need to build hype.

The next day, Kevin got up, bought a newspaper at the hotel entrance, and returned to his room to read the critics' reviews.

"A genius work from a genius director. This Halloween, you absolutely cannot miss this superb film. In it, you will see how Jigsaw punishes those who do not cherish life in God's name..."

"The most worthwhile horror film of the year. I guarantee in my own name that this will be an even more classic horror film than The Silence of the Lambs, which was released this February. You will definitely regret missing it."

Kevin smiled faintly. The Silence of the Lambs had an investment of around one million dollars, which was not even as high as Saw's.

Its marketing and distribution expenses, however, were probably about the same as his.

Some people always believed that a good movie would definitely make money at the box office. In Kevin's view, that was bullshit.

The Shawshank Redemption was a classic, wasn't it? With a twenty-five-million-dollar investment, it had only barely brought in sixteen million dollars. In the end, it barely turned things around through word of mouth and slowly recovered its costs in the DVD market.