[Saw VI]
Plot:Special Agent Strahm is dead, and Detective Hoffman has emerged as the unchallenged successor to Jigsaw's legacy. However, when the FBI draws closer to Hoffman, he is forced to set a game into motion, and Jigsaw's grand scheme is finally understood.
Cast:Tobin Bell,
Tenedra Howard,
Shawnee Smith,
James Van Patten,
Costas Mandylor,
Mark Rolston,
Betsy Russell,
Peter Outerbridge,
Shauna MacDonald,
Devon Bostick,
Marty Moreau,
Shawn Mathieson,
Melanie Scrofano,
James Gilbert,
Shawn Ahmed,
Janelle Hutchison,
Gerry Mendicino,
Caroline Cave,
Ginger Busch,
Karen Cliche.
My Thoughts:Big improvement.
Review:After "Saw V", which most people didn't really like all that much, but I personally felt was a pretty decent sequel...Kevin Greutert gets his first shot at helming a film in the franchise, "Saw VI", the sixth installment of the series. Yes, we're at number 6 already, can you believe it? It seems like only yesterday Adam and Dr. Gordon were trapped in that dingy old bathroom, and Jigsaw stood up, and told Adam..."GAME OVER". But yep, we're already at the six chapter mark of the series.
This film picks right up where five left off, as Hoffman has seemingly eliminated any and all threats to his successorship of Jigsaw's "rehabilitation methods"....aka..."The Game". But a game Jigsaw set in motion a long time ago is at the forefront of this film, and Hoffman is watching over the game and how it progresses. But Hoffman has his own problems to deal with. Erickson and a face from the not-too-distant past, are closing in on revealing him as Jigsaw's accomplice. And to add to Hoffman's troubles, Jill Tuck, the proverbial wildcard, has six envelopes that John gave her before he died. What do the envelopes reveal, and what are their connections, if any to Hoffman?
Hoffman doesn't like to be kept in the dark as we all know by now, so he hits the streets to retrieve the envelopes and warn Jill that he's basically "running things" from now on. But has Hoffman in doing so, sealed his own fate? "Saw VI" gets off to a really intense start, and if you thought part 5's opening scene with Seth Baxter and the pedulum trap was gory, wait till you see how this installment opens up. It's a real impactful beginning. One thing "Saw" fans will like about six is it's a lot easier to follow, and a lot less complicated storywise when compared to part 5.
Part five, most of the complaints I hear, jumped around too much and kind of ended up twisting itself into a pretzel so to speak. Part six however still has the obligatory flashbacks and flashy editing that this series has come to be known for, but the story is kept straight, tight, and easy to follow as long as you pay attention close enough. The story for this installment is truly genius, and oddly enough, it ties into a major debate this country is having right now as we speak in real life. This film also introduces what could be called...Eric Matthews II.
Much like Eric Matthews, who was introduced in part 2 was the guy everyone loved to hate, for his methods of upholding the law by breaking it, in part six, we get another guy who's along those lines. Only he heads an insurance company, and viewers should find it really easy to hate this guy. Especially after his connections to all of the people involved in the latest round of traps, is revealed. But this film gives us two people to hate. The insurance guy, and of course Hoffman, who has become more of a prick and a major villain since part 5.
He's really on the warpath this time, and is willing to go to some extreme lengths to protect his secret. However, there are some gaps in the Hoffman-Amanda-Jigsaw triangle which weren't yet filled in, but are filled in in this sequel. And boy, they are major-league revelations. Revelations which send the film into some very exciting, intriguing, and interesting moments. The way this movie unfolds, and reveals key pieces of new information, you can just feel that the conclusion is going to be shocking, thrilling, and intense. Like I said, this sequel has the most solid story structure since parts 1-3.
Four was a bit wobbly, and five like I said, was somewhat maze-like. In case you're wondering about the traps, blood, gore, etc...and I know you are. This film brings more gore than five did...tons more. Tons more blood, and graphic violence as well. As for the traps, they are indeed a dastardly set of mechanisms and devices. We get a nasty skin trap at the beginning, and everything from acid, to a devious merry-go-round like device, and a steam room which is certainly not "gym friendly", all make an appearance as well.
There are also other traps which should make die-hard fans of this series cringe, shudder, and squirm in their seats at their devastatingly painful reprecussions. The movies conclusion is very fast-paced and intense, but not as triple-edged as part 5's ending. This movie ends on a more straight-forward note, and some unfinished business between two major players in the franchise gets settled...but is it once and for all? We'll just have to wait until 2010 to find out I guess, which is when "Saw 7" should storm into cinemas. "Saw VI" puts the series back on track, after some slight wobbles in parts 4 and 5. It's definitely a sequel worth seeing at the multiplex.
Positives:Terrific traps, tons of blood, gore, and human carnage. A solid and strong story which unfolds beautifully, good performances, nice tieing up of some vital loose story-ends, great directing, nice scoring, and a really intense and satisfying conclusion.
Negatives:One character escapes a trap by the skin of their teeth. A very unhappy moment for me.
Overall:Four out of four stars.
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