Movie Review: Saw V

SAW V
Main Players: Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Scott Patterson, et al.
Calling the shots: David Hackl
Running time: 92mins
What's it about? The fifth installment of the “Saw” franchise sees the handy works of Jigsaw continue, despite the fact that he’s been dead for the last two films. Nevertheless with only two agents left, who were connected to the original Jigsaw case, who is the next victim and who is continuing the legacy?

What did I think? Another year, another ‘Saw’ movie. It doesn’t feel all that long since two RMIT graduates introduced the world to ‘Saw’ but it has most definitely been five years now. And believe it or not, I'm a fan!

With the franchise having lost it’s “zang” since it’s first installment, the ‘Saw’ series has becomes more or less about seeing what kind of sadistic traps they’ll come up with this time and trying to pick the plot twists that always inevitably comes at the end. In that regard, the film doesn’t let you down.

It is a ‘Saw’ movie, and if you’ve seen the rest of them, you pretty much know what to expect. That’s also its problem. The formula has almost become like clockwork, so unless you’ve seen the rest of it or know about it, you’ll completely be lost in the plot. The movies doesn’t even try to win over new fans (okay, it sort of does with unnecessary flashbacks), but the plot leaves it up to the memories of the views to know what’s going on.

The series has also used pretty much no names since the first installment and that doesn’t change here. It’s full of those “oh-I-know-that-person-from-that-show” actors, but none that you’ll likely to remember. Which probably serves the movie well, given it’s pretty terrible script.

As with the others in the series, it’s not for the weak of heart. Well, in that case it’s not FOR anybody. But if you’re a fan of the series it is a must, because they are all connected and lets just say, it FINALLY feels like it’s going to end…though I’ve heard stories that they plan to make up to Saw VIII!

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