Carrying on the grand tradition of horror sequels, Jigsaw, the torture-obsessed villain of lionsgate's uber-successful Saw franchise, returns from the dead to terrorize a new set of victims in Saw IV. While slasher flicks are notorious for resurrecting dead characters, they're certainly not the only ones guilty of this dubious practice. Here's our list of some of the more egregious violators of the laws of nature (and good screenwriting).
8. Agent Smith, The Matrix Reloaded
How he died: In the climax of The Matrix, a newly emboldened Neo (Keanu Reeves), realizing for the first time that he is indeed The One, dispatches Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving) with a stunning display of superhuman Kung-Fu mastery.
How they brought him back: One of the most compelling sci-fi villains to come along in years, Agent Smith simply had to return for the Matrix follow-ups, but the explanation given for his resurrection -- that he'd simply "escaped" deletion by the Matrix -- seemed as if it had been pulled out of the Wachowski brothers' collective asses. It was all downhill from there for the once-promising franchise, which limped to the finish line with 2003's bloated The Matrix Revolutions.
7. Elektra, Elektra
How she died: In the final moments of 2003's Daredevil, Elektra (Jennifer Garner) is presumed dead after suffering a thorough beatdown at the hands of Bullseye (Colin Farrell).
How they brought her back: Garner was in her Alias heyday at the time, making an Elektra spin-off all but guaranteed despite the epic disappointment that was Daredevil. In the opening moments of Elektra, Garner's character is resurrected via an obscure ninja ritual performed by General Zod (aka Terence Stamp), who sends her off to fight for justice in a red nylon bustier. Classy!
6. Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Empire Strikes Back
How he died: In a fitting demonstration of Jedi altruism, Obi-Wan sacrifices himself during a lightsabre duel with Darth Vader in Star Wars.
How they brought him back: Obi-Wan first returns in the film as a voice in Luke Skywalker's head -- which Luke heeds without hesitation, never bothering to ask why the hell some dead hermit is suddenly bossing him around telepathically -- and subsequently as a ghost in Empire. For some reason, Obi-Wan surfaces to aid the rebel cause only when it's convenient to the film's narrative, prompting one to wonder where he is the rest of the time. He's a ghost, for chrissakes; it's not like he has anywhere to go.
5. Captain Spock, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
How he died: Invoking the utilitarian credo, "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few (or the one)," Spock gives himself up in order to save the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise from certain destruction in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. A genuinely shocking -- and incredibly ballsy -- plot twist, it's one of the primary reasons why Khan still reigns as the greatest of the Star Trek flicks.
How they brought him back: In the first act of Star Trek III, the crew discovers that Dr. McCoy is somehow carrying Spock's spirit -- known to the Vulcans as the "Kattra" -- thus paving the way for the search referenced in the movie's title, as well as several crappy Star Trek follow-ups (and one potentially crappy prequel).
4. The Dinosaurs, Jurassic Park 2: The Lost World
How they died: In Jurassic Park's final scene, the park's last human survivors are evacuated via airlift, leaving the island's all-female population of cloned dinosaurs to presumably enjoy some hot girl-on-girl dino-action before eventually dying off.
How they brought them back: Turns out there was another island they forgot to mention in the first flick, appropriately dubbed "Site B," which was used to breed the park's dinosaurs before they were transferred to the main island. Left unmonitored, Site B gives birth to a thriving population of dinosaurs -- and one lame sequel.
The Lost World's ingenious bit of sequel script hackery left the door open for a virtually infinite number of follow-ups. Producers of potential Jurassic sequels are now limited only by the letters of the alphabet and earth's supply of isolated land masses (In Jurassic Park 17, the ferocious prehistoric predators of Site Q are unleashed!)
UPDATE: A number of astute readers have pointed out that the female dinosaurs of Jurassic Park were imbued with some sort of frog DNA that enabled them to actually change their sex -- a fact that actually renders the whole "Site B" explanation all the more lame. Oh, and please substitute "tranny" for "girl-on-girl" in the first paragraph. Thanks!
3. Curly, City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold
How he died: In the 1991 comedy blockbuster City Slickers, Curly (Jack Palance), the ornery old cowboy tasked with leading Billy Crystal's gang of middle-aged urbanites on their first cattle drive, dies peacefully in his sleep.
How they brought him back: Having killed off their most likeable character -- and the only source of real comedic tension -- in the first film, City Slickers II's apparently desperate producers employed a time-tested contrivance borrowed from the world of daytime soap operas: They introduced Duke, Curly's heretofore unmentioned twin brother. Arguably one of Hollywood's first "green" films, City Slickers II also recycled its predecessor's plot as well as most of its jokes.
2. Ellen Ripley, Alien: Resurrection
How She Died: In the waning moments of Alien3, Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), carrying a fast-developing alien queen embryo inside her, opts to kill herself rather than aid in the Weyland-Yutani Corporation's effort to create an alien-based biological weapon.
How they brought her back: Employing the sci-fi version of the aforementioned "twin" premise, the producers of Alien: Resurrection resucitated Ripley as a clone. 200 years after the events of Alien3 and 11 years after the last decent Alien flick, 1986's Aliens, Ripley returned as a butch, badass human/alien hybrid, with the role of eye candy handed down to franchise newcomer Winona Ryder. Unfortunately, neither could save the once-proud franchise from an ignominious end.
1. Jake Blues, Blues Brothers 2000
How he died: After original Blues Brother John Belushi died tragically in 1982, leaving the lesser-talented Dan Aykroyd as the duo's sole remaining member, one would have thought that hopes for a Blues Brothers sequel would have perished as well. Oh, if only that were the case.
How they brought him back: In 1998, a full ten years after he'd ceased to be funny, Aykroyd returned with the inexplicably titled Blues Brothers 2000, with amiable John Goodman attempting to fill in for the departed Belushi -- a difficult task rendered altogether impossible by a wretched script. Despite his best efforts, poor Goodman never had a chance. Nor did this dreadfully ill-advised sequel.
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