The upcoming final installment in the SAW horror movie franchise had to be re-edited six times to remove gory scenes before producers gained an acceptable age rating for the film.
Saw 3D, the seventh in the longrunning series starring Tobin Bell, is due for release later this year (10) but studio bosses were unhappy when the bloody new picture was slapped with a restrictive adults-only R rating by executives at the Motion Picture Association of America.
Producers had to omit several violent sequences and the film was re-edited and resubmitted six times before they were finally granted a NC-17 rating, which means children under the age of 17 can see the movie if they are accompanied by an adult.
Producer Oren Koules tells USA Today, "I'm surprised we got it. It's more violent than any of them. But it's in 3D, it answers all the questions, it comes full circle. We have the goods on this one."
He also confirmed the franchise will definitely end after the seventh film, adding, "It's time to stop. We have told the story we wanted to tell, and this is going to be a great farewell."
Saw 3D will be released on 29 October (10) to coincide with Halloween (31Oct10).