To make you feel a little old: this year marks 20 years since Saw was released in theaters, a film that not only launched James Wan's directing career but also radically changed the life of Tobin Bell, who played the film’s killer. After all, Saw has become an ongoing franchise, and Bell has returned in almost every film as the Jigsaw Killer.
The actor recently gave an interview to the Los Angeles Times on the occasion of the 20th anniversary, where he revealed that he didn’t even like the horror genre when he was younger: 'It’s a visceral experience that you can’t control. It’s not just about sitting and passively watching something. Because all of a sudden... [at this point, the actor jumped out of his chair with a scared expression]. Some people enjoy that. Personally, not so much. As a kid, I didn’t like going to horror movies. When the scary parts came, I would hide behind my chair.
The actor also talked a bit about the Saw films, which radically changed his life, and the character he portrays, John Kramer: 'John feels that the world is ruled by mediocre people. He believes that everyone must face the consequences of their actions. And these people aren’t grateful for what they have.' During the interview, Bell also expressed that after 50 years of acting, he doesn't mind being typecast at all.
If being typecast allows me to gain a rich acting experience, and that's exactly why I became an actor, then by all means, typecast me! Every artist has the responsibility to create from what is given to them, and my job is to change the way people see me." Finally, he also mentioned a few words about the upcoming 11th installment: "I'm very excited to continue developing his character. John Kramer is not done yet. There’s still more to learn about him.