~*SPOILER ALERT*~
The Saw Franchise is horror film series that has been a bit of a controversy. Some say it's a psychological masterpiece and others claim it's just gory torture porn; however, I'd have to say that I actually like it. Of course, blood and gore has never bothered me, on the contrary, I find it very entertaining if done properly.... What does that say about me?????
So, I decided to have the Saw Franchise be my main series for the Halloween Challenge this year! One of my roommates is quite obsessed with the series, haha, and she owns them so it was perfect. The 1st movie I had seen several times before so it nothing was much of a surprise. I really quite liked this original film and would have to say it's easily my favorite of them all. It had clean story-telling, intense plot twists, and lots of fun and mind-boggling traps and surprises. In the end when John gets up off the bathroom floor??? Ugh... So great... Honestly, if they had ended the series right there I would have been happy, but of course there had to be more. (-u-) Rating: 9/10
Saw II~
And so, after the original was such a success, the Saw Franchise continued to release a new movie every October for the next 6years. 9 times out of 10 a sequel is a vast disappointment compared to the original, but that wasn't the case for this one. The traps only got better, there was lots of character development, and vastly more clever twists and turns, reveals, and drama throughout the film. Before sitting and actually "watching-watching" this movie, I had remembered seeing bits and pieces, and anyone who knows even the least bit about the Saw movies knows about Amanda. I love her character development throughout the series and her reveal in this movie! And even more-so, I love that we got to see a bit of John Kramer's, aka "Jigsaw's," backstory. John's reasoning for creating traps and for putting these people through death trials is slightly revealed: he wants to spend the rest of his remaining life testing others, putting them through these experiences so that they will appreciate their lives more. The twist at the end of this one, though!! Poor Detective Eric Matthews! If he had only listened and played the game!!! (>-<) Rating: 8/10
Saw III~
I love how more complex the story is becoming, along with the traps and games themselves, but this is also when things start to get slightly confusing... Our main game player, Jeff, has an actually sad backstory with having lost his son and all those in the traps had some part to play in his death. And so, on one hand you have the choice of forgiving these people or to take your revenge for your child... Which would you choose??? Several times I wondered that myself, and that's exactly the point of these movies. Jeff wasn't as interesting as his backstory was, though. He was just too predictable and kind of annoying because of it- he makes it to the trap, sees who it is, decides to let them die only to attempt to save them last minute and basically fails... dumb... especially when he does it every time... The worst part of the movie?? The ending. When both John AND Amanda DIE!! They were my favorite characters! (I knew that John died somewhere in the series but I didn't know Amanda had as well, so that sucked). And so the plot thickens! Jigsaw and his murderous protege are dead! Or are they?? Will the games continue?? Of course they will, after all there are more movies, but what exactly does that mean??? Guess I have to watch the next one to find out! Rating: 7/10
Saw IV~
Although this movie had some of the craziest traps it was definitely my least favorite of the movies. Things are getting more and more twisted and complicated, which means it's more confusing and kind of hard to follow at times. And, surprise, John has a widow! We meet Jill Tuck and learn more about Jigsaw's past and how became who he is/ was. Part of what makes this film (as well as the whole series) confusing is the addition of multiple characters within John Kramer's puzzle, meaning the audience has the keep track of EVERYONE that has come in and out of the story since the 1st film. As for this particular movie; however, the main problem was the timeline. You begin at John's autopsy, but in the end it's revealed that that scene actually takes place after the movie and that the 4th and 3rd movie (chronologically) are happening at the same time. FBI Agent Peter Strahm who has been investigating the Jigsaw murders throughout the movie happens upon the sickroom. Here he finds Jeff, the player from the last movie, and shoots him. In the other part of the story we lose 2 characters from the past movies- Eric Matthews (Saw II) who was revealed to be alive, and SWAT Lieutenant Daniel Riggs (Saw III) who is the main player in this film. And, of course, Jigsaw's apprentice is revealed to be Detective Mark Hoffman who was playing as a victim this whole film. And so, Jigsaw's legacy will carry on! So, ya. My least favorite of all the Saw films. There was a lot of story development and plot twists, but I feel that it was a bit too jumbled together to really comprehend in one sitting. It took me watching the following movies and a long talk with my roommate about the storyline to really understand what was happening... Rating: 6/7
Saw V~
This 5th installment was nice to have follow the 4th mainly because it helped clear a lot of the muddle and confusion that the last movie caused. As is the norm of the Saw franchise, we have multiple games playing at once on different plains. The main story's game involves a group playing in a sort of deathly obstacle course dungeon- in order to beat the game they must complete each room's task, and although it seems like only 1 person can survive, it is eventually revealed that the point was to work together. Since they practically killed themselves off. In the other half of the story, it's a battle between Hoffman (the new Jigsaw) and Strahm (FBI Agent from Saw IV). In the beginning of this film, Strahm ignores his audiocassette and is abducted and put in a trap. To Hoffman's surprise (he had claimed to the police that he was the only survivor), Strahm beat his trap and taken to the hospital. By this point, Hoffman is suspected as a Jigsaw accomplice and is taken off the case, and Strahm determinedly investigates on his own. Throughout this movie we find out how and why Hoffman was taken as John Kramer's apprentice and the parts he played in all of the previous traps. In the end, Strahm confronts Hoffman and sets off his own death trap. Hoffman successfully turned the investigation to focus on Strahm, kills him to hide his identity, and escapes to carry on Jigsaw's legacy. Rating: 6/7
Saw VI~
I feel that this film kind of brought back some of that excitement and great story-telling that came with the original Saw. It was a lot more clean and not jumbled up or confusing like the previous 2. The traps were also more elaborate with multiple dimensions, thrilling and still mind-boggling. Took me back to thinking, "What would I do?" William Easton, head of a health insurance company, Umbrella Health, was our main game player and a really great character. Unlike most of the players in the past, Easton actually tried desperately to save the people in the traps and felt remorse when someone died. Now that is how a real live person would most likely be if this would happen to them. I loved him. In the end it is revealed that, although he went throughout this whole game, it wasn't really about him. As the executive of Umbrella Health, he made the decisions on who to cover and who not to cover. That's why he was there in the 1st place (he rejected John's plan for an experimental procedure). Throughout the years he chose who lived and who died, including the husband and father of Pamela and Brent who had been observing his game. In the end, they were to choose whether William should live or die and Brent chose the latter. But, wait, there's more! While all this is happening, Hoffman is aiding in the Jigsaw case against Strahm. FBI Agent Dan Erickson is leading the investigation alongside Agent Lindsay Perez (from Saw IV), who was presumed dead. Jill, last film, was also given a box in John's will. In the box are envelopes with the last few targets to be tested. Hoffman runs the games while Jill keeps quiet. In flashbacks, we learn of Amanda's involvement of Jill's miscarriage (also revealed in the previous film), Hoffman had known and used this knowledge to blackmail Amanda. THIS was why she failed her test waaaay back in the 3rd movie... So that was annoying since she was one of my favorite characters! Damn you, Hoffman. In the end, we see that Jill had kept an envelope for herself with John's final wish- for Jill to test Hoffman. She ambushes him, places him in a new bear trap and leaves him to die; however, we see that he releases himself... Damn, Hoffman is a badass... No matter how much I don't like him, I can't deny it, haha..! Hoffman is alive and he's after Jill! Who's stronger?? The ex-wife of Jigsaw with nothing to lose or the new calculating and homicidal game master in a psychotic break ??? Rating: 7/10
Saw 3D: The Final Chapter~
The last movie! The final chapter! The 7th installment of the Saw Franchise! Which means everything has to tie up nicely! I had high expectations and it actually wasn't bad..! This film takes place after the 6th movie- Hoffman is hunting Jill for his revenge and she seeks help from Matt Gibson an internal affairs officer. Jill tells Gibson of Hoffman's involvement in the Jigsaw case and agrees to cooperate with their investigation in exchange for their protection. Meanwhile, Bobby Dagen, a man who falsely claims to be a Jigsaw Survivor writes a book about his "enlightenment" thanks to Jigsaw and becomes a celebrity. He is soon abducted and put in a real jigsaw game where he must save his wife, Joyce. Dagen tries desperately to save his friends from their traps but fails- he eventually reaches his wife where he is forced to reenact the trap he had falsified for fame: he must put hook through his pectoral muscles and hoist himself up to deactivate her trap. Dagen comes very close to saving them both but in the last second his body gives out and Joyce is burned alive. While Dagen's game is in-play, Hoffman is sending Gibson clues and tips- he wants to help him find the game in exchange for Jill. While Gibson is killed in pursuit of Hoffman, and his SWAT Team is killed within the game-site, Hoffman infiltrates the police station. He murders everyone in his path, hunts down Jill, and subdues. Hoffman pulls out the original reverse bear trap from the 1st film and connects it to Jill. Jill comes-to just in time for the trap to activate and kill her. (Goddamn! I am so happy we finally got to see the reverse bear trap in action!!!) In the end, Hoffman returns to his workstation and burns it down. He is walking out, the building ablaze behind him, when he is ambushed by a trio wearing pig masks. The group leader reveals himself to be Dr. Gordon. The original game player! The 1st movie's protagonist! He was thought to be dead- surprise! We see early on in this film that he survived his game and has been living quietly, keeping to himself. And guess what- After John nursed him back to health, Gordon chose to assist in the traps in secret. He was instructed to watch over Jill and to act if anything were to happen to her. Dr. Gordon takes Hoffman to the bathroom, chains him up, throws the saw out, and leaves him to die. "Game Over."
My only main complaint would be Jill's character. Rather than continue to develop as she had these past two films, she seemed to backtrack. Before she was against John and the things he believed and all that he'd done, and now she was all for it?? The best part of this final film is how everything ties up in a nice little bow and how we get to go full circle. From bringing back Dr. Gordon, finally activating the reverse bear trap, and closing out in the 1st trap- the bathroom. Very well done and very much appreciated by this audience member. Rating: 8/10
Saw~ The Reverse Beartrap~ This is one trap I feel like could have possibly actually won... The whole 60seconds thing would have gotten my, maybe, but I would have fucking tried my hardest. I liked how simple it was of a trap, more about the psychological weight of having to kill the other person in the room. I'm glad Amanda survived!
Saw II~ Eric's Test~ Thankfully, Wiki considers the test to be a trap, which it totally is, so I choose this one! Mainly because I didn't like any of the others! (-__-) They were all very intense and none of which I honestly think I would have been able to survive. Eric's Test, however, was simple (although I failed) and gave us a really great and dramatic reveal!
Saw III~ The Angel~ If this trap was actually able to be won, I would have been able to do it. Sticking my hand in that fucking acid would have been awful, but I would have done it! It sucks that Amanda killed Allison Kerry, even though she had won, but the trap was really pretty...?????
I do have to do a shoutout to The Rack, though. It was the craziest of the movie, I think, the most intense and twisted(ha) of them all. Doubt I would have survived... (-u-)
Saw IV~ The Ice Block Trap~ Duh, is that even a question? This trap was really elaborate (as most of them in this film), and looked really great. And Detective Mathew's death in the end was crazy awesome! (Sorry not sorry). What sucks about it, though, is the fact that you can't survive it, you can only hope that Officer Rigg doesn't come in before the timer ends and ruin your only chance of survival..! Oh, wait... (-_-;)
Saw V~ The Jars~ For the simple fact that I could easily survive this one. Someone bash the fucking jars, we'll look for the keys, and everyone pile into the tunnel- easy! A lot of the traps in this film were nicely set up and I liked to watch them be put into action.
A shoutout is definitely necessary for The Cube Trap. I absolutely KNOW I would have died. Said so while I even watched... this trap was simple in design and beautifully filmed. And kudos to Strahm for fucking being clever enough to survive it! Talk about thinking outside the box... ha... But I couldn't do it. I never would have thought about doing a tracheotomy on myself. Nope. I would have died.
Saw VI~ The Oxygen Crusher~ Another one chosen plainly because it's one I know I could have survived. I know I could hold my breath a long time already, and since my "opponent" would have been a smoker- yep, I would have survived..!
However, The Boiler Maze and The Carousel Room are definitely my favorites for design. The setup was elaborate and fantastic and the scenes intense- I really liked them both.
Saw 3D~ "Speak No Evil"~ Ok, I don't know if it's actually called that, but it was my favorite. Also, the scene was funny. I was right there with Dagen, if she would have just stayed quiet! I'm pretty positive that I would have been able to survive it! I also loved the concept of the traps representing the Three Wise Monkeys!
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