Spindrift68's Film Blog: Issue 18 - November 10, 2009

------------------------------------------------***Note: this may contain spoilers...you've been warned***------------------------------------------------

Every October, the "Saw" franchise rears its murderous head. Like everyone else, I too let out a loud groan, though I don't know why. I like this series. While there's never been a truly phenomenal film, they've all been solid (apart from Part V). I haven't felt the need to rewatch them though, mainly in fear of finding plot inconsistancies.

Unless you've seen the other films, this synopsis won't mean much to you. But here we go. Detective Mark Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) has emerged as the Jigsaw killer's successor, and has been instructed to carry on Jigsaw's sick game of life and death. The FBI, lead by Dan Erickson (Mark Rolston) is drawing closer to discovering Hoffman's secret, something which Hoffman cannot risk. He sets the next stage of Jigsaw's game into motion, which involves a health insurance executive (Peter Outerbridge), who may or may not of been responsible for the death of John Kramer (Tobin Bell). He will be put through his own set of tests, requiring him to choose between the lives of his employees, using the corrupt rules set by his own business system.

For once in a very long time, my jaw actually dropped during this movie. I won't spoil what happens, but it's an IMPORTANT plot point involving Costas Mandylor that occurs about an hour into the film. I expected them to tease us for a while, but they don't. Just when you think "oh, they're not gonna...oh shit! They did."

The "Saw" films manage to tell two stories simotaniously. One in the past, the other in the present. While the main story progresses, the flashbacks tell a story of their own which always ties back into the current events. Unfortunately, none of these films (other than perhaps the first) stand on their own. You MUST watch them in sequence, in order to understand everything that's happening. Otherwise, you'll be completely lost.

The concept of a killer's reign of terror continuing after his death is very intriguing to me, even if implausible. You must be willing to accept the ridiculousness of this far-fetched concept in order to find any enjoyment in these films. Even more intriguing, is Tobin Bell's character of John Kramer. There's much more to him than your average movie psycho. As we discover John's past through flashbacks, we see how life (and the people around him) has fucked him over, again and again. His methods of payback may be a bit extreme, but he does manage to get the point across.

Tobin Bell adds weight and believability to his role. He has created a very tragic, and at times, sympathetic character, but you never lose grip of the fact that he's out of his mind. Costas Mandylor proves this time around that he's pretty much a badass on his own, although his character fails to think things out before he acts in his irrational ways. The smokin' hot Betsy Russell once again does a great job as John's wife, and I'm sure she'll have much more to do in the next film. I'm very much looking forward to seeing that.

Being that "Saw VI" has the same writers as before, I give credit to director Kevin Greutert for the intelligent crafting of this installment. It's pacing is flawless, and the film is actually lighted, to a degree where you don't have to strain your eyes to see what's going on. Sadly, Greutert will not be returning for "Saw VII". It will once again be directed by David Hackl, who directed the weakest and most pointless film in the series, "Saw V".

What really hurts these films is their marketing. They're advertised as nothing but "torture porn" (a term I personally hate), when in fact, they're much deeper and involving. The only moments I honestly don't enjoy watching are the actual torture sequences themselves. It's gotten to a point where they're required to make them gorier and more gruesome, just to satisfy the masses that want nothing but graphic depictions of human suffering. Why is it that people crave senseless violence? I'll never know.

-Spindrift68