One of 'history's most gruesome torture methods' used in Britain was shown in terrifying Saw movie scene
Even horror fans with the strongest of stomachs have wondered where on earth the creators behind the Saw franchise came up with the sick ideas for the films.
Although filmmakers James Wan and Leigh Whannel never intended to make a 'torture porn' film, there's no denying that the pain inflicted on the characters is the central part of the plot.
As the franchise has continued to advance since the first instalment dropped all the way back in 2004, so have the torture methods.
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For example, last year's Saw X featured a sinister seesaw-like trap which waterboarded two captives with blood, which was masterminded by production designer Anthony Stabley.
According to producer Mark Burg, who has worked on every Saw film, the team wanted to 'push the envelope' with traps for the tenth edition.
He told reporters that Stabley had incredibly 'came up with, built and executed' a number of torture devices for the movie, while adding: "I think he did a brilliant job."
But although the torture methods in the flicks might have got a bit more sophisticated and modern in recent years, it turns out that ancient history is just as inspiring for the people designing them.
In Saw 3D, which was released back in 2010, there was one sinister contraption which took influence from something used in approximately 600-560 BCE.
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Film fans might remember that this was the sixth and final feat following a series of tests, which saw the victim become entrapped in some kind of giant oven if they didn't escape in time.
Fire would then erupt from all sides of its exterior, with the victim getting slowly roasted alive - but it wasn't the Saw creative team that came up with this.
In fact, it was the ancient Greeks.
And it turns out we Brits have had a hand in terrifying cinemagoers around the globe too, as a mediaeval torture device infamously used in the UK inspired a trap in 2006's Saw III.
Known as 'The Rack', this was the third test that the captives had to try and complete.
Essentially, the victims were strapped into an almost crucifix-like contraption with their head and limbs secured between metal plates.
Once the game began, each area of the machinery would begin to turn - slowly twisting the victims limbs one by one, causing their bones to brutally shatter.
The only way to escape was with the help of another person...but those who experienced this horrific torture method in Britain back in the day weren't granted the same grace.
The Rack was reportedly introduced in about 1420 by the Duke of Exeter and the device was made up of a table that had a couple of rollers at either end.
The poor bugger who was in it would then have their arms and legs tied down to the rollers, just like in Saw III, before these would be rotated so that they are pulled further and further away.
Expect some pretty gruesome sounds, as The Rack would rip your limbs out of their joints, rupture your muscles and leave you in excruciating pain.
In extreme cases, your bones would break under the pressure.
Chillingly, the person operating The Rack would make sure the subject stayed awake for as long as possible to experience it all.
While The Rack originates from a long, long time ago, it maintained popularity throughout the ages and continued to be used in mediaeval times.
Guy Fawkes is thought to have been tortured with this method before his execution, while in 1628, a man who assassinated a noble was threatened with being put upon the rack before judges declared that using the torture device was illegal.
Olivia Burke