Directed by Darren Lynn Bousman
Jigsaw lovers can breathe a sigh of relief. Saw IV is a perfectly serviceable sequel to a series that, for all intents and purposes, should’ve gone to outer space by now. You could argue that this whole thing should’ve stayed a trilogy, but it’s also fun to see prolific horror that hearkens back to crazed Eighties franchises like Friday the 13th. And while this installment won’t win over any new fans, Saw lovers will get plenty more of what they crave — creative traps, ample doses of gore, and more insane plot twists than a season of 24.
The screen runs red straight from the opening scene where we witness the uber-graphic autopsy of Jigsaw. In true Saw fashion, the coroner pulls a tape from the contents of the old man’s stomach that starts a whole new game in motion. From there, all the bit characters from the series (i.e., the only ones left alive) find themselves as mice in the latest round of Jigsaw’s twisted moral experiments. A word of advice for aspiring actors: Become an extra in Saw V. By the time Saw X or XI rolls around, you’ll be a leading man.
This is the first installment that doesn’t feature the original creative team, but it hardly matters. Feast writers Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan have taken over, replacing series scribe Leigh Whannell, and their twisted minds make for a darker, leaner script with welcomed moments of black humor. Add director Darren Lynn Bousman back at the helm, and you have a sequel that doesn’t skip a beat from its predecessors.
And then there’s Jigsaw, who remains one of the most fascinating villains in the horror genre. Tobin Bell, appearing through many flashbacks, has truly made this character his own, and all the best moments still belong to him. Sequels have always reduced their villains through overexposure, but the Saw franchise has had the exact opposite effect. As long as we keep discovering new things about him, there will always be an interesting element to these movies.
Another year, another Saw. If you’re a fan, you’ll love this film. If not, then you probably don’t even care at this point. It’s really that simple. But as long as Jigsaw is still around and the traps are fresh, chances are people will keep coming back for more.
Until next Halloween …
3 1/2 out of 5