Saw V (C or 2/4 stars)
Forensics expert Mark Hoffman (Costas Mandylor, of Soapdish, haha) goes on the hunt in order to protect a sinister secret in 'Saw V' (directed by David Hackl). The secret? He is the newest person to carry on Jigsaw's legacy (Jigsaw being played in flashbacks by the awesome Tobin Bell). Meanwhile, Agent Strahm (Scott Patterson) is forced to put the pieces together in discovering who Jigsaw's new apprentice is. What can I say? I've seen 4 out of the 5 Saw's (missed the 3rd, I believe). The 1st one is excellent. Every film since has disappointed. Aside from great opening & closing scenes, Saw V was ... pretty darn dull.
The plot is simple. We pick up from the ending of Saw IV (where Jigsaw dies on the operating table). 2 things are at work, here: 1) Agent Strahm follows all the leads he can get off of Hoffman, including the brutal death of his sister & why he joins Jigsaw as his new apprentice. At the same time, a new group of victims are caught in the latest Jigsaw game (devised by Hoffman for the 1st time). The 5 victims are all connected, and will find out HOW by the end of it all. 2) We watch a plethora of flashbacks (cleverly staged) to see why certain victims were caught, how they were caught, & who was in on it all.
As mentioned, the opening scene is Saw V at its best (creepy, cringe-worthy, bloody). And it's blood-spurting, bone-crushing conclusion is fun, as well. But this franchise is starting to run on some fumes. The production values have decreased significantly. Much of the intelligence of the 1st film has drained away (with the blood). And the choice in actors (with subsequent wooden acting) is something you'd find on a Lifetime TV movie. And much as I liked the various flashbacks, it really shows how little of a new plot this film had. With all the re-treading/flashbacks, I had to ask myself, 'Do I really care about it all?'
I wish I did. I may even see the inevitable Saw VI the next time around. But it could be my last. What made the original Saw so enGROSSing was that it WAS gross, scary, smart, & it offered a great 'gotcha' ending. THIS film tries to create a union of 2 genres: psychological thriller & gore-fest. But it neither works individually nor as a union of the 2 genres. I mean, the method-to-the-madness of the traps/puzzles turns out to be pretty neat. But 'Saw' is tedious, now. It isn't even that scary anymore. Boo.
The plot is simple. We pick up from the ending of Saw IV (where Jigsaw dies on the operating table). 2 things are at work, here: 1) Agent Strahm follows all the leads he can get off of Hoffman, including the brutal death of his sister & why he joins Jigsaw as his new apprentice. At the same time, a new group of victims are caught in the latest Jigsaw game (devised by Hoffman for the 1st time). The 5 victims are all connected, and will find out HOW by the end of it all. 2) We watch a plethora of flashbacks (cleverly staged) to see why certain victims were caught, how they were caught, & who was in on it all.
As mentioned, the opening scene is Saw V at its best (creepy, cringe-worthy, bloody). And it's blood-spurting, bone-crushing conclusion is fun, as well. But this franchise is starting to run on some fumes. The production values have decreased significantly. Much of the intelligence of the 1st film has drained away (with the blood). And the choice in actors (with subsequent wooden acting) is something you'd find on a Lifetime TV movie. And much as I liked the various flashbacks, it really shows how little of a new plot this film had. With all the re-treading/flashbacks, I had to ask myself, 'Do I really care about it all?'
I wish I did. I may even see the inevitable Saw VI the next time around. But it could be my last. What made the original Saw so enGROSSing was that it WAS gross, scary, smart, & it offered a great 'gotcha' ending. THIS film tries to create a union of 2 genres: psychological thriller & gore-fest. But it neither works individually nor as a union of the 2 genres. I mean, the method-to-the-madness of the traps/puzzles turns out to be pretty neat. But 'Saw' is tedious, now. It isn't even that scary anymore. Boo.