Saw III (C or 2/4 stars)
Jigsaw is back in this, the 3rd installment (and possibly, not the last) of the Saw series of films; it is directed by Darren Lynn Bousman. Methodically, Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) says, "I want to play a game". Eww, just hearing those words makes me cringe. Unbelievably, his 'games' are getting more twisted and gorier! Why is he even playing these games? Because he is fed up with how humans ruin their lives because of past circumstance. With the help of his new assistant, Amanda (an annoying Shawnee Smith), Jigsaw, who's succumbing to his brain tumor, will attempt to ruin the lives of more innocent people and concoct crazier ways to torture, mutilate, & kill. It is rare that I wake-up and realize that I liked a film 'less' than the day before, but this has happened to me today. You either love or hate this type of film. I will 'try' to be objective and take a middle ground, but it will be difficult.
Detective Eric Matthews (Donnie Wahlberg) is still missing. But he is last year's story. This time 'round, it is Dr. Lynn Denlon (Bahar Soomekh) who is captured by psycho Amanda and tied-into Jigsaw's new puzzle. As long as she keeps him alive (including an amazing surgical procedure on his brain), she will remain alive. However, there is another piece to this puzzle. Lynn needs to keep Jigsaw alive for as long as it takes Jeff (Angus McFadden), the father of a boy killed in a car accident, to get through a series of deadly contraptions and puzzles of his own. The film does a good job of bouncing back & forth btwn. the incredible gore & the back stories of all of the characters, how they are linked, and why they are where they are.
We find out more about Jigsaw; why and when he takes Amanda under his wing; what's at stake for Lynn and Jeff, etc. The acting and dialogue is, overall, much better than the previous two films. I am actually impressed by the back stories (almost going into a prequel mode) and how it all ties together presently. It's extremely rare when a horror flick actually has some substance! The mind games being played between our villains and our victims are intriguing. That said, it's still NOT as clever or original as Saw 1, and while the climax has another twist (possibly leaving an opening for a Saw 4), it isn't quite as good as Saw 2s 'twist'.
What more can I say? The deathtraps are insane (which makes you think how a dying Jigsaw and/or druggy Amanda could whip up these mechanisms on a whim). The way in which these victims are tortured is horrifying to behold. If I never see another deathtrap, bone splintering, skin ripping, finger nail snapping, guts spilling, it will probably be all too soon. I don't want to spend 10 minutes of a film I paid $10 for, only to grimace and look away from the screen.
The first film scared me, grossed me out, & made me fall in love with the concept of the Jigsaw killer. The second movie was mainly filler. And this movie, without ANY fright, but all exhibitionist gore, really makes me wish for more of what was included in the initial film. Yes, Tobin Bell is great as our Jigsaw. And yes, there are twists and neat concepts. I love the horror genre, and I don't mind some blood and guts. But I long for the days when I went to a movie and it was dumb & scared the Hell out of me; enough with the disgusting gore.
Detective Eric Matthews (Donnie Wahlberg) is still missing. But he is last year's story. This time 'round, it is Dr. Lynn Denlon (Bahar Soomekh) who is captured by psycho Amanda and tied-into Jigsaw's new puzzle. As long as she keeps him alive (including an amazing surgical procedure on his brain), she will remain alive. However, there is another piece to this puzzle. Lynn needs to keep Jigsaw alive for as long as it takes Jeff (Angus McFadden), the father of a boy killed in a car accident, to get through a series of deadly contraptions and puzzles of his own. The film does a good job of bouncing back & forth btwn. the incredible gore & the back stories of all of the characters, how they are linked, and why they are where they are.
We find out more about Jigsaw; why and when he takes Amanda under his wing; what's at stake for Lynn and Jeff, etc. The acting and dialogue is, overall, much better than the previous two films. I am actually impressed by the back stories (almost going into a prequel mode) and how it all ties together presently. It's extremely rare when a horror flick actually has some substance! The mind games being played between our villains and our victims are intriguing. That said, it's still NOT as clever or original as Saw 1, and while the climax has another twist (possibly leaving an opening for a Saw 4), it isn't quite as good as Saw 2s 'twist'.
What more can I say? The deathtraps are insane (which makes you think how a dying Jigsaw and/or druggy Amanda could whip up these mechanisms on a whim). The way in which these victims are tortured is horrifying to behold. If I never see another deathtrap, bone splintering, skin ripping, finger nail snapping, guts spilling, it will probably be all too soon. I don't want to spend 10 minutes of a film I paid $10 for, only to grimace and look away from the screen.
The first film scared me, grossed me out, & made me fall in love with the concept of the Jigsaw killer. The second movie was mainly filler. And this movie, without ANY fright, but all exhibitionist gore, really makes me wish for more of what was included in the initial film. Yes, Tobin Bell is great as our Jigsaw. And yes, there are twists and neat concepts. I love the horror genre, and I don't mind some blood and guts. But I long for the days when I went to a movie and it was dumb & scared the Hell out of me; enough with the disgusting gore.