Continuing the superb Devil's Advocates series of books, which started with stunning releases covering the classic films Let The Right One In and Witchfinder General comes Benjamin Poole's dissection of Saw.

Here's the full blurb:

Widely regarded as inaugurating the torture porn movement the original Saw is in fact a more nuanced and subtle hybrid genre film than is generally acknowledged. Like all game changers within the horror genre, it was an independent success, a low-budget champion that flourished without the patronage of a big studio. Not bad for the most successful horror franchise ever (over $850 million and counting) which has spawned media and masses of merchandise, including a theme park roller coaster ride. Just what is it about Saw that attracts such a following?

First time author Benjamin Poole considers the Saw phenomenon from all aspects of Film and Media Studies - from its generic pedigree in both literature and film to the visceral audience pleasures ("what would I do?") of the text, to the contrasting representations of men and women and the film's implicit criticism of masculinity. Made and released in the wake of 9/11, in which America's confidence was shattered by attacks at home only for its stock to tumble amidst accusations of government-sanctioned torture in the execution of foreign policy, Saw, Poole argues, is a horror film that is entirely representative of the era in which it was made.