Saw 6

I want to play a game.

It's called how many films can you squeeze out of a franchise before it no longer means anything?

That seems to be the game Lionsgate Films are playing with the Saw films.

Now, I have to admit I loved the original Saw. I thought the whole premise of a guy punishing those who took their lives for granted such an eerie and perfect one. The whole set up, the way the story was told, the twist at the end which I still never see coming and that ending. That ending just blew me away.

Saw 2-5 I am up and down on. To be honest, watching all five in a row (followed by Six which I'll come to in a minute) the films make a lot more sense and the threads and loose ends are quite easily tied together. I do like the way they use the other films in each one to establish why certain things are happening, with some characters who you thought were just there for a second, suddenly become a major cog of the story. HOWEVER, the quality of the films do seem to diminish with each passing film. I think the reason is that the writers and producers are so eager to tie up the strings that they forget that this is supposed to be a horror film rather than what it has become which is more like a psychological who-done-it.

Which brings me to Saw Six

When you consider Jigsaw died at the end of Saw Three, he sure knows how to keep popping up. Obviously, if you have not seen any of the Saw films you best look away now, as it would be incredibly difficult to talk about this film without revealing some of the previous films' twists. Some may say this is a weak part of the film and in a way it is. Because we know that Detective Hoffman is Jigsaw's protégé, there is an odd feeling with this film that there is nothing else to see or learn and really if you haven't seen the last five films you may at times be utterly lost when watching this film.

Once again the Jigsaw killings are taking place under the guide of Hoffman who is trying to teach the man who refused Jigsaw life insurance a lesson. Of course this lesson is all about 'The Rules'. We have all seen it, someone gets declined life insurance because heart disease runs in the family and so if he does get afflicted with it later on in life he is not covered. It is heartless, but it's business. Or the house that's hit by lightning, but won't be covered under the 'act of God' clause in the contract. It's a loophole, it's horrible, but it's business.

The film follows three stories, the story of the Insurance Manager William Easton, of Jigsaw's ex-wife Jill Tuck and of the search for Agent Strahm who is now believed to be Jigsaw's accomplice. Because of this, I believe the creators tried to fit far too much in. Maybe they were under the impression that this would be the final film, though the ending clearly doesn't indicate this, and so maybe they thought they had to pull every rabbit out of the hat to cap it all off? Either way, it feels like a mess of a movie that doesn't have the slick storytelling of the original and can only rely on the traps to give it the edge. The traps, which are really what most people are watching the film for anyway, are as good as the last films with the opening one possibly the best one I have seen in the entire franchise.

The two commentaries seemed a little excessive with one by the Producers and a second by the Director and Writers. Both are interesting, but really this could have all been said in a documentary or a few interviews as to watch the film twice and focus on what they are actually saying is a little difficult and the fact there is no commentary subtitles doesn't help either. Also included is a number of featurettes. A profile on Jigsaw and Tobin's portrayal and how it has evolved which is pretty interesting.  Like the other films this includes a look at the traps and how they were made though this kind of spoils the magic and mystique of some of them.  A look at the Saw: Game Over attraction which is interesting though a little out of place and finally some music videos that if you enjoyed the death metal rock that was in Saw I'm sure you'll enjoy.

So is Saw Six a film worth watching? Yes and no. If you enjoyed the previous five (and to follow half of this film I would certainly recommend you watch at least the last two) there is still much to enjoy in the film. Sure it doesn't pack the same punch as the original, but it still leaves that nasty taste in the mouth that you expect from this type of film.