Five times worst than the first
“Saw V,” the second-to-last (hopefully) film in the series, following the death of Jigsaw, focuses on Detective Mark Hoffman (Costas Mandylor, “Beowulf”), who is immediately identified as an accomplice to the previous Jigsaw, destroying any possible element of mystery. Narrowly escaping a trap set up by Jigsaw himself, Agent Peter Strahm (Scott Patterson, “Saw IV”) becomes the assumed tragic hero of this “Saw” film. As in every “Saw” movie, early foreshadowing ensures that the supposed hero of the film will die at the end. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that Patterson follows in the footsteps of Lyriq Bent, Donnie Wahlberg and other “Saw” protagonists in meeting an expected demise.
Keeping with the expected route of storytelling, “Saw V” relies heavily on flashbacks with a side story proceeding in real time. But unlike the last couple of films, the movie does not end in the same scene as its predecessor, but instead focuses on the real time story with a completely predictable ending. The “big twist” at the end is not quite as surprising as director David Hackl wished it was. Instead, the audience will be sad to see an ending they could have guessed within the first 20 minutes of the movie.
Everything about this film just screams “waste of time.” From the increasingly predictable storylines to the fact that this movie is the fifth in the series and given the horrible production that is “Saw IV,” there just should not be a reason for viewers to want to see this new movie. But alas, curiosity has and will undoubtedly lead many to wonder: “What are some ways for people to die that I have never seen before on film?”
This is the driving force behind the “Saw” audience. “Saw” gave them a grotesque, psychological thriller. “Saw II” and “Saw III” contributed two memorable gorefests, toning down the psychological freak-out factor of the original. “Saw V” fails to prevail over the horrid “Saw IV,” but instead finds someway to lose all of the attraction that any of the originals had. This movie cannot even deliver in terms of blood and guts. To be frank, “Saw V” is mostly just sad and pathetic.
A waste of movie theater space, audience time and production money, “Saw V” is an ultimate failure. This Halloween, if you really need to see a scary movie, hit up “High School Musical 3”… on acid. That should be much more horrifying and a hundred times more satisfying.
‘Saw V‘
Release Date: Oct. 24
Director: David Hackl
Starring: Costas Mandylor, Scott Patterson and Meagan Good
Genre: Thriller, Horror
Rating: R for sequences of grisly bloody violence and torture, language and brief nudity.
Grade: F
Julian Rhodes can be reached at julianrhodes@nevadasagebrush.com
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on Tuesday, October 28th, 2008 at 12:10 am and is filed under Arts & Entertainment, Film Reviews, Vibe.
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