Saw (2004)

C – 103m
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 – Widescreen
Cary Elwes, Danny Glover, Ken Leung, Makenzie Vega, Monica Potter, Ned Bellamy and Tobin Bell.

Two strangers awake in a room with no recollection of how they got there and soon discover they are pawns in a deadly game perpetrated by a notorious serial killer. Made on a shoestring budget this grisly horror film was cutting edge, if you’ll pardon the pun, when it was released. Very well done but at the end of the day it started a formula series that fluctuates in likability as the series continues. Fine acting and interesting touches here, though they are admittedly used to cover the lack of shots acquired with the actors due to the limited budget.

Note: At one point there were two cuts of this film – Theatrical Cut & Director’s Cut (running 98m), however the latter cut has been discontinued.

Rated: [R] – Strong Grisly Violence & Language
[UNRATED] – More Of The Same
Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy

Saw II (2005)

C – 93m (Theatrical Cut) / 95m (Unrated Cut)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 – Widescreen
Starring: Tobin Bell, Shawnee Smith, Donnie Wahlberg, Franky G, Glenn Plummer, Emmanuelle Vaugier and Cary Elwes.

A detective and his team must rescue 8 people trapped in a factory by the twisted serial killer known only as Jigsaw. Well–done and obviously grisly sequel. This reviewer must admit to the personal skeeve of the needle pit scene.

Trivia: Five alternant endings were shot. It took four days for four people to replace all the needle tips with fiver tips for the needle pit scene. In total around 120,000 syringes were used in the scene. The film was shot in 25 days.

Rated: [R] – Grisly Violence And Gore, Terror, Language & Drug Content
[UNRATED] – More Of The Same
Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy

Saw III (2006)

C – 108m (Theatrical Cut) / 114m (Unrated Cut) / 121m (Director’s Cut)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 – Widescreen
Starring: Tobin Bell, Shawnee Smith, Donnie Wahlberg and Franky G.

Jigsaw kidnaps a doctor to keep him alive while he watches his new apprentice put an unlucky guy named Jeff through a brutal test. Brutal and disturbing like the rest but another well–done sequel.

Trivia: The scene where Jigsaw has brain surgery while being awake was left untouched by the MPAA Board. The filmmakers had argued that it was no different than anything that people could catch in a medical documentary on television. It is reported by producer Daniel J. Heffner the MPAA Board saw this film seven times before it received the: [R] rating. It was given a: [NC–17] prior times to the desired rating on the 7th try. For several weeks before filming, Tobin Bell and Shawnee Smith spent time getting to know each other so that their relationship on screen would be more believable. This was shot in 32 days.

Note: There are three cuts of this film. The Director’s Cut is the preferred cut.
Rated: [R] – Strong Grisly Violence And Gore, Sequences Of Terror And Torture, Nudity & Language
[UNATED] – More Of The Same
Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy

Saw IV (2007)

C – 93m (Theatrical Cut) / 96m (Unrated Director’s Cut)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 – Widescreen
Starring: Tobin Bell, Costas Manylor, Scott Patterson, Donnie Wahlberg, Shawnee Smith, James Van Patten and Emmanuelle Vaugier.

Despite Jigsaw’s death, Lt. Rigg is forced to take part in a new game. Smart but lesser continuation of the gruesome series. This entry becomes a bit improbable but is still entertaining.

Trivia: The Tobin Bell body cast used in the autopsy scene took two weeks to be constructed. The autopsy scene was left untouched by the MPAA Board. A coroner was onset at all times during the autopsy scene. The sets were built so that the camera shifting from one scene to another would be practical rather than digital in the editing process. This film was filmed in 32 days.

Rated: [R] – Sequences Of Grisly Bloody Violence And Torture Throughout & Language
[UNRATED] – More Of The Same
Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy

Saw V (2008)

C – 92m (Theatrical Cut) / 95m (Unrated Director’s Cut)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 – Widescreen
Starring: Tobin Bell, Costas Manylor, Scott Patterson, Donnie Wahlberg, Danny Glover and Shawnee Smith.

A suspicious agent checks into the background of someone recently hailed as a hero, while a group of strangers are put through another Jigsaw inspired game. Contrived and frankly boring entry in the grisly series… It is only with watching because it is part of the series. There is one spot of genus with one of the traps noted in the trivia blow.

Trivia: Seth’s trap is inspired by Edger Allen Poe’s, The Pit And The Pendulum.

Rated: [R] – Sequences Of Grisly Bloody Violence And Torture, Language & Brief Nudity
[UNRATED] – More Of The Same
Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy

Saw VI (2009)

C – 90m (Theatrical Cut) / 92m (Unrated Director’s Cut)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 – Widescreen
Starring: Tobin Bell, Costas Manylor, Shawnee Smith, James Van Patten and Scott Patterson.

The FBI draws closer to a suspect and some insurance agents are put through a game. By far THE BEST of the series. The social commentary on insurance companies catapults this far beyond the rest of the series. It should be noted that this came about around the time of Obamacare. There is no political commentary meant behind that point by this reviewer. It is merely an observation on the timing of the making of and release of the film.

Trivia: This film was banned in Thailand.
Rated: [R] – Sequences Of Grisly Bloody Violence And Torture, & Language
[UNRATED] – More Of The Same
Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy

Saw VII: The Final Chapter (2010)

C – 90m
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 – Widescreen
AKA: Saw VII 3D: The Final Chapter, Saw 3D: The Final Chapter, Jigsaw Puzzle 3D, Saw 3D, Saw VII
Starring: Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Cary Elwes, James Van Patten, Michael Emerson and Franky G.

Jigsaw’s legacy is the subject of a battle and former victims unwisely seek help and hearing from a self–help guru with dark secrets. Fun but routine entry in the series… It would be seven years until the next film.

Trivia: In a Massachusetts branch of Showcase Cinemas this film was accidentally screened instead of the 3D animated film Megaminde (2010), traumatizing the young audience. The MPAA Board gave this film a: [NC–17], rating five times before it finally received it’s: [R], rating.

Rated: [R] – Sequences Of Grisly Bloody Violence And Torture, & Language
Available in 3D and 2D on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy

Jigsaw (2017) Film Review

C. – 91m.
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 – Widescreen

A.K.A.: Saw VIII: Jigsaw, Saw: Legacy, Saw VIII, Saw 8

Starring: Tobin Bell.

Dead bodies are showing up around the city and the evidence points to John Kramer / Jigsaw (Tobin Bell), the man who was behind other ghastly murders and has been dead for ten years. Intricate and contrived as always… Not for the squeamish obviously but the fans should like it.

Trivia: This is the first Saw movie to not have been released in the annual saga of the earlier pictures. It was also the in the series with two directors. Further still it is the first entry in the franchise to use Tobin Bell’s character’s name in the title. It also happens to be the second one shot on digital technology. The First was Saw VII: Saw 3D – The Final Chapter (2010). This is the first film in the series since the first film to not have a death trap in the opening. It also does not feature footage from previous entries.

Rated: [R] – Sequences Of Grisly Bloody Violence And Torture & Language.

Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy.