Grade: C-
It just wouldn't be Halloween without another Saw movie. And guess what? The popular horror franchise is back and worse than ever.
Although the original movie quickly jumped to cult status, it seems the filmmakers are running out of ideas, exemplified in the latest installment.
For those who have yet to see a Saw movie, the basic concept is easy to grasp: the antagonist is a serial killer named Jigsaw (Tobin Bell, Saw IV) who sets up elaborate torture devices to slay his prey.
Jigsaw believes he's not a murderer, as he does not actually kill anyone with his own hands. Rather, he presents his victims with do-or-die choices that generally involve self-mutilation or murdering someone else in order to save their own lives.
A significant twist in the films is that Jigsaw isn't slaying people arbitrarily. Rather, he believes he is "rehabilitating" his victims, as they are all either criminals or are, in someway, morally devolved.
The latest film in the Saw series is much of the same. The only difference this time is that Jigsaw has been dead since Saw III and a new predecessor is now carrying out his evil schemes.
What one generally expects out of one of these movies is a lot of blood and gore. But since Jigsaw died, it seems the films have become far less gruesome and much more predictable.
Though there are a few disturbing scenes in the film, they lack the imagination of Jigsaw's own work. Excluding the brief moments in "disturbia," the newest villain in the series pales in comparison to his teacher in terms of creepiness.
The main torture sequence in Saw V consists of five people who have been thrown in a room together and are instructed to go against their initial instincts in order to survive.
Like every other Saw movie, the acting in the latest film is virtually non-existent. However it isn't about the acting, but rather the violence and shock value. Still, the lack of fear in the characters translates to the audience's own reception of the film.
Though the pendulum device in the opening sequence delivers plenty of blood and torture, the same cannot be said for the remainder of the film. Audiences will find themselves waiting for more of this; but unfortunately the rest of the scenes will disappoint.
The predictable end of the film suggests another Saw is yet to come, and it has been confirmed that there will indeed be a Saw VI. As long as the Saw series continues to make money (the fifth installment made $30 million its first weekend) it seems they will milk it out despite a lack of fresh ideas.
So are you ready to play a game? Again?
