Saw V

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Horrorphile - March 2009

Saw V

March 23rd 2009 23:49

Like the jaw-splitter device, Saw V (2008) did my head in. Perhaps it would’ve helped to have seen Saw III (2006) and Saw IV (2007)? It certainly didn’t help knowing there’s a Saw VI (2009) due later in the year. And even if Saw IV does have the tagline “Game Over”, I’m sure it won’t be the last we see of the legacy of the Jigsaw Killer aka John Kramer. There’ll be Son of Saw, or more likely a whole series of prequels. And then of course, in a few years time we’ll be subjected to a re-imagining of Saw. Now, that will really do my head in.

Saw (2004) was an okay horror movie with a novel twist in its bloody tail. Co-written by Australians James Wan and Leigh Whannell, directed by Wan, and starring Whannell. In a rather impressive coup they made a short, Saw (2003), and used it in pitch to Hollywood. They were given the green light to make a feature which used the premise of the short and expanded on it. The result is history with the Saw series becoming the most successful horror franchise ever.

Tobin Bell as Jigsaw

Saw V follows the same pattern of the earlier movies but moves sideways (backwards?) with more attention on characters and less focus on the horrific booby-traps, although there is still a substantial amount of blood shed in this movie, it also features probably one of the most gruesome set-pieces of the series (well, I’m making an assumption here since I haven’t seen II or IV, but suffice to say The Pendulum Trap is a gory doozy indeed (Dario Argento would be impressed I’m sure!)

Costas Mandylor as Detective Hoffman

The plot mechanics are convoluted, as per Saw usual, using flashbacks to the previous three movies, as well as flashbacks to early parts of the movie itself. Following Jigsaw's (Tobin Bell) grisly demise, Detective Mark Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) is deigned a hero. Meanwhile, Agent Strahm (Scott Patterson) is tested and puts the pieces together. While Strahm realises that Hoffman is the Jigsaw’s final apprentice, five seemingly unconnected people, imprisoned and desperate, face another series of horrific options.

Scott Patterson as Agent Strahm

Strahm follows all possible leads, including the death of Hoffman’s sister by her psycho boyfriend Seth (Joris Jarsky) and his subsequent murder. Hoffman and Strahm circle each other until the truth crushes together. Saw V’s screenplay is written by Patrick Melton and Mark Dunstan (who wrote IV), taking over the reigns from Whannell. There is the conceit that Saw V possibly/probably takes place between III and IV (or runs parallel), and there is an autopsy scene at the end of IV which can only have taken place after the events of Saw V. I’m confusing myself. Will all the pieces fit together finally in Saw VI? As I said, it’s doing my head in.

Saw V Julie Benz, Carlo Rota, Greg Bryk and Meagan Good

Prisoners of their own demise: Julie Benz, Carlo Rota, Greg Bryk and Meagan Good

Production values are solid, but the acting is wildly uneven; Julie Benz (prisoner Britt), Tobin Bell (Jigsaw/John) and Betsy Russell (Jigsaw’s ex-wife Jill) deliver the best performances. It is the ADD directing by David Hackl (taking over the duties from Darren Lynn Bousman who directed II, III & IV) that is really annoying, all speed-ramped editing, whiz-pans and repeated shots. It’s a case of stylistics killing whatever substance was left dangling.

Jigsaw's ex Jill (Betsy Russell) inherits a box ...

Saw V is too reliant on elements from the previous Saw movies to be watched as a single stand-alone movie, but for its set-pieces – The Pendulum Trap and the four individual rooms and their games – the movie is worth watching. However one which involves a (surprise, surprise) circular saw demands the viewer to suspend all belief in just much agony a person can endure without passing out. Very silly, but I felt the pain, so it worked. The Pendulum Trap was the best though, and almost worthy of the rental cost alone. There’s also a very realistic compound arm fracture that makes me wince just writing about it.

Seth (Joris Jarsky) about to feel some serious pain

Having seen Saw, Saw II and now Saw V I feel tempted (obliged?) to see Saw III and IV. Am I being a gluton for punishment? I thought Saw II was rubbish, even on a torture porn level it failed to achieve any memorable level of visceral intensity. Saw VI has a different director attached, so how will the end game play out? Do I care? The annoying thing is; I do. I wanna find out just how ridiculous the jigSaw puzzle can get, and how the movie can actually finish without another set-up. Saw V has an abrupt finish, “ties up” a few loose ends, but leaves everything wide open. Don’t watch with a sore head, it will only aggravate the ache.

Here's the trailer (consisting of The Pendulum Trap):

Saw V DVD (with bonus extras) is courtesy of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment who released the film on DVD and Blu-ray on March 11, many thanks!

First annual Halloween blood drive courtesy of the Saw franchise

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Posted By: Bryn - Category: movie reviews

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Comments

9 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Cibbuano

March 24th 2009 22:54

Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak

I dunno - your review made it seem like hard work to watch this film...

Comment by Bryn

March 24th 2009 23:55

Horrorphile

Cibby, well, yeah. Someone (with some time and commitment up their sleeves) should put a montage of all the gory set-pieces from all the Saw movies up on youtube for the horrorphiles, so we don't have to sit through all the crap inbetween.

Comment by cruise1978

March 25th 2009 23:32

The first Saw was amazing, just for the twist but the others fill in the gaps and do some explaining. It still did my head in trying to timeline everything, but guess thats part of the parcel. Plus we all watch them for the traps now anyhow

I'll get the box set after VI comes out and piece it all together then. I have a feeling Saw VI will be pretty darn good though. II and V are the weakest as stand alone films...oh and reviewing Saw V without seeing III and IV wasn't a great idea...Saw III and IV run along the same timeline (confusingly, but that was one of the twists).

Comment by cruise1978

March 25th 2009 23:35

Gotta love those blood drive posters though!! Wish we had those here in the UK!

Comment by Bryn

March 26th 2009 03:28

Horrorphile

cruise, yeah, I was reluctant, but the publicity person assured me it was a stand alone flick, so I had the wool pulled over my eyes there ... now I'm keen to see Iii and IV, oh the inhumanity!

Comment by cruise1978

March 27th 2009 09:39

If you just want traps then I guess they all are stand alone films, but watching all the previous ones helps with the story - it is still quite confusing though. Publicity dudes always say what you want to hear! Saw III has a really good twist at the end! I agree that the pendulum trap is one of the best ones, though im not sure if it would count in a toplist as it wasn't escapable. Do a run of I to V before VI arrives at Halloween, I think VI will explain a lot and have more twists that should be amazing. Shame the original writers aren't writing it though.

Comment by Bryn

March 27th 2009 11:45

Horrorphile

cruise, cheers for the tips! and agreed on your prognosis.

Comment by Damo

March 31st 2009 07:12

I saw the first SAW for the first time this year expecting to see something that was built up to be a monument. I may not have been tuned in at the time but I kept getting the feeling that I had seen it before.
At the end I was reminded of that song, "Then the pig got up and slowly walked away."

Also did you that You tube has removed your trailer. The mongrels.

What the Hell is the Blood Drive?

Comment by Bryn

April 1st 2009 00:04

Horrorphile

Damo, the trailer is still there as far as I can see ...
Blood Drive is a blood donating service in conjunction with the movie in America (no doubt Los Angeles)

[ Previous - SAW V DVD GIVEAWAY - COMPETITION CLOSED ]

[ Next - The Hills Have Eyes (2006) ]

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