Saw VI: Review By Lord McLovin of MovieWeb

Being that Movieweb usually has no stories over the weekend, except for a coincidental three articles about shirtless Superman, Olivia Munn in a bikini, and photos of a topless Marion Cotillard; I figured I would take the time to write a review for Saw VI.

At the end of Saw V, we find out that FBI Special Agent Strahm is dead, and Detective Hoffman has emerged as the unchallenged successor to Jigsaw's legacy. Soon, the FBI draws closer to Hoffman, who set's up yet another game, and Jigsaw's grand scheme is finally understood...

After Saw V director and formal set production designer, Mark Hackl did a horrible job when making the film, Saw editor alumni Kevin Greutert stepped up into the spotlight to take on the next Saw film. Kevin Greutert, who has been the editor for the last five films, knew what fans wanted, and knew how to handle a Saw movie. Oh, and do you wanna know what happened to Mr. Hackl? they kicked him off set as production designer and hired a new one! I just thought it was funny when the producers and writers mentioned that for the movies commentary joking around with how bad of a job he did that they fired the poor guy. Back again to write the story were the two dudes who wrote the script for Saw IV and Saw V, Marcus Dunstan and Patrick Melton (the both also wrote the script for The Collector, which uses some elements from Saw). It was the year 2009 and Saw decided to go political.

So political in which the story-line was about a guy who owned a health insurance company that mistreated his customers, not to mention, he mistreated John Kramer when he was diagnosed with an inoperable frontal lobe tumor, who would soon become known as Jigsaw.

I think that is what made this entry a fresher, and more interesting Saw film. The story wasn't dated, and it wasn't the same re-hash like the previous Saw movies all had their problems with. The main signature theme of Saw was always be a puzzle-thinker, and psychological thriller. Saw VI brought the franchise back to it's roots and re-invigorated the "running on it's own fumes" series with adding new batteries to it's rusty blade. This film had me on the edge of my seat, with it's heart pounding suspense and gory thrills. When it came to the traps, they were pretty imaginative: one trap included not breathing or else two cement blocks would close in onto your lungs every time you released your breath. That scene was more terrifying in the fact that it was not bloody, and it was silent, and full of suspense.

Another interesting thing that made this Saw differentiate from the others was that all of Jigsaw's introduction tapes to his victims were not presented on screen by Billy the puppet, but in fact Jigsaw himself. That's what made this more personal to the victim, which I loved. Saw VI had me guessing until the end. And when the end came, I flat out had the biggest smile on my face, and felt as if Saw VI had redeemed itself after it's last installment. Even though Saw V left a bad taste in my mouth and made me think of not seeing the sixth one because I thought it would be just as bad, if not worse, I lowered my expectations, and was really surprised when I left the theater. With that said, I think it's safe to say, that in order to enjoy Saw V, you have to watch Saw VI after it; since it feels more like a "Saw V Part 2: Hoffman's Revenge". It makes more sense in knowing how it continues on Saw V's story the smoothest since it picks up directly after Strahm is crushed by the walls.

It would be a crime itself to think up of anything terrible about Saw VI; unless if you don't understand what the hell is going on due to a person not seeing the last 5 films. (god damn, I sound like a parrot saying this over and over again: "watch the movies in sequential order, DO NOT skip a movie by the time you get to Saw IV or V because you will NOT understand it and find it confusing as hell!) Saw has become like a television soap opera story, a bloody one, if that.

Are returning cast from the last three movies are Costas Mandylor, who's back as the ever so evil Detective Hoffman, who gives his best performance yet. Even with his small cameo from Saw III no one knew his role would become a key piece to the puzzle. Costas Mandylor slowly got better as the susp*cious Detective in Saw IV, but than he was borderline psychopath and heroic cop in the fifth film. In Saw VI, he finally accepts his role and becomes the most lethal killer in the franchise. Unlike Jigsaw's other apprentice, Amanda Young, (Shawnee Smith comes back to film one emotional scene that makes you understand why her character is like that in the earlier films) Hoffman is a loose canon who nobody can trust. Tobin Bell is back, as always and provides the flashback scenes for Saw III with his character teaching Hoffman the rules of the game. You can always assure that Tobin knows what he is doing. Betsy Russel makes a comeback of playing Jill Tuck once again, who know takes center stage in showing that we want to trust her, but we know she is in on something more dangerous than before. That one question that was given to us in Saw V has been answered: Inside the box contains six envelopes, think of it as Jigsaw's last will. Jill Tuck must carry out those last requests of her dead ex-husband, and Betsy Russel shows the tough restraint in if it's good or bad to commit these horrific acts.

With all that being said and done, Saw VI proves to us once again, that sometimes it helps to pay your health insurance, and director Kevin Greutert does an amazing job as the replacement for Mark Hackl. Saw VI brings back the franchise to it's roots, full of suspense, terror, psychological mind games and an exciting twist ending that is 100% satisfying. The actors are improving, but their is some minor mistakes, which don't distract us from the greatness that is Saw VI. My final review in the Saw franchise is almost here, so hang on tight as we finish with the conclusion which will be ready to read by Monday night.

-McLovin