Movie Review: “Saw VI”

Seen on: October 23, 2009

The players: Director: Kevin Greutert, Writers: Marcus Dunstan, Patrick Melton, Cast: Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Mark Rolston, Betsy Russell, Shawnee Smith

Facts of interest: None.

The plot: When the FBI draws closer to Hoffman, he is forced to set a game into motion, and Jigsaw's grand scheme is finally understood.

Our thoughts: Kevin Greutert’s “Saw VI” definitely fails to revitalize the popular big-screen horror series, but as far as I’m concerned, it’s not as bad an installment as its two most recent predecessors. One thing is for certain though: this sixth film is still bloody and gives cinemagoers a better insight into Jigsaw’s entire scheme.

Much like every other “Saw” sequel, this one is filled with flashbacks that help explain who Jigsaw really was and why he started causing mayhem by kidnapping people and torturing them in the most gruesome ways. His victims this time around are folks working at greedy banks and for ruthless health insurance companies.

Most of what we get to see in this film is directly tied to something that happened in Jigsaw’s life, however, and that’s what made this installment more interesting to me than others. The film begins immediately where the last one ended, with Detective Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) prepping Jigsaw’s latest game.

This sequel also brings back Jigsaw’s wife Jill (Betsy Russell), who a couple of films ago received a mysterious box after her husband passed away. Now we finally get to see what’s inside, and no, don’t worry, I won’t tell you here. Additionally, the FBI is still on the hunt for the one who is continuing Jigsaw’s infamous work.

That pretty much sets up “Saw VI,” a film that begins with an extremely brutal scene but then goes a littler easier on the violence. Sure, the traps are still bloody and all, but I feel we’ve seen more terrifying ones in previous films. Not much has changed here though, so what we get to see in the end is more of the same, basically.

All I can say about this is that I’m still tired of it. I was hoping to see something new this time around, and while the story involving Jigsaw’s wife is definitely not the worst, it just doesn’t inject the franchise with an innovative enough quality to get excited about. You know, all I want is for this series to head into a new direction.

I know such a move may piss of diehard fans of the “Saw” franchise, but then again, we are after all at the sixth film already. Is it really that hard to come up with new ideas and twists? I agree the filmmakers have done a good job so far at connecting most films, but in the end, we still get to watch the same thing over and over again.

But enough complaining about that. Kevin Greutert edited previous films and came on board to direct this one, and he’s done a decent job. The script is a bit messy and too chaotic, but it does boost the plot a bit. “Saw VI” is not a boring sequel, and that’s definitely a good thing. Let’s just say it’s as forgettable as the rest of them.

Freaky quote: "Once you see death up close, then you know what the value of life is." - Tobin Bell

The final word: Believe it or not, but I find it quite hard to review “Saw” films, especially because I can’t say much without revealing too much. Also, because the films all follow the exact same formula, I cannot help but to say the same things over and over again. “Saw VI” is not the worst in the series, but it could’ve been better.

Article by Franck Tabouring