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Overall Rating : 8/10
Directed By : Darren Lynn Bousman
Donnie Wahlberg (Dreamcatcher)
Shawnee Smith (SAW)
Tobin Bell (SAW)
Beverley Mitchell (7th Heaven (TV) )
Supplied By : Lionsgate Films
Film Reviewed By : Rick L. Blalock
Date Reviewed : Feb. 6, 2006
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| PLOT While investigating the bloody aftermath of a grizzly murder, Detective Eric Mason has the feeling that it is the work of Jigsaw, the notorious killer who disappeared leaving a trail of bodies - and parts - behind. And Mason is right. Jigsaw is at work again. But instead of two people locked in a room with only one unthinkable way out, there are eight. Eight strangers unaware of their connection to each other -- forced to play out a game that challenges their wits and puts their lives in jeopardy. |
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| THE REVIEW Whoever came up with the assumption that a sequel cannot live up to an original, must have been completely nuts! With SAW II, it completely destroys that theory and sends it straight to hell. The following review may contain major spoilers, so with that said you may want to proceed with caution Different from the last SAW, instead of a victim waking up trapped, it begins with one of Jigsaw's clever games. A such game in which a victim of whom happens to be an informant, is trapped in a menacing looking head vice. The jigsaw puppet appears on a TV monitor and tells the man that the only way to get free of it is to unlock it....the only problem with this is, Jigsaw has implanted the key behind the man's eyeball! Unfortunately time has run out on him thus Jigsaw claims his first victim. This opens the story up as Det. Eric Matthews arrives at the scene to discover that the victim is a friend of his and his dead corpse bears a jigsaw shaped cut, this then tells Eric that it is the work of Jigsaw, a killer that he has heard stories about. Despite the frustrations of the investigation, Eric has had many personal problems, mostly regarding his estranged relationship which his son Daniel, who is frequently in trouble with the law himself. When further investigating and remembering a phrase written on the wall telling him to "look closer" Eric remembers a name of some kind of warehouse that was stamped on the trap that was on the first victim. Det Matthews and his Tactical squad head over to the warehouse where they find the weary Jigsaw. Not giving in Jigsaw points Eric in the direction of some display monitors, on the monitors he notices his son and several others trapped in some sort of secluded room, a room in which is being filled with a toxic gas. Inside the room the contestants if you will must play numerous games, much like the first in the series to survive, some of the obstacles are drastic in nature. While others swore to me that the breakthrough hit of last year SAW was so great, after seeing it I was rather let down. Although I was indeed impressed with it I thought the pace was entirely a bit too slow and it appeared to be lacking or missing something. But now a year later SAW II pops up and this time around I will tell you that I have not been this entertained nor impressed by such a movie in a long while. What the original did not have, its sequel has and then some. SAW II concentrates a bit more on the investigation while still not leaving those who are kidnapped in the dark, it is rather balanced more than the last one. In the original it concentrated more on Jigsaw's twisted games and sort of left the side story with Danny Glover's character which very little time left to be explained. The story here is also written better, a little bit more patience and confidence is shown, perhaps since they knew that SAW was such a big hit they felt that they could take more risks here is SAW II. It was great to see that all of the characters in this film were connected somehow. It is later learned that all of then have spent time in jail, and has a bonus it is also learned that they where all put away by the same man Det. Eric Matthews, making his son Daniel an instant target almost immediately to the others when found out. If they don't kill each other first the traps set by jigsaw in the house will. The traps in SAW II are much more elaborate; from a gas stove which houses a needle full of medicine to cure the gas poisoning, to wrist clamps and to a pool full of infectious needles, they are all a bit shocking as you probably wouldn't have ever fathomed them. Also in SAW II we learn more about Jigsaw, how and when he was diagnosed with his cancer and about a time when he tried to commit suicide by driving of a cliff and ultimately survived, It is upon his survival that his mind became altered and twisted. He decides that he must "test" people, people who do wrong to themselves and others, test them to see who much their life means to them, since his is ticking away. I really liked how they evolved him into a much more bitter person, he feels like he is doing people a favor here, and just like any killer in movies, he punishes the "bad people" For once I thought the acting in SAW II was great, as each actor gave it their all bringing a uniqueness to their characters. Returning is Shawnee Smith again as the once ill-fated Amanda, who must play once more. Beverley Mitchell, who ironically played on the TV show "7th Heaven" because she was about 3 inches away from hell in this one! She does a great job in a role I have never quite seen her play before. Ex New Kids On THe Block member Donnie Wahlberg, who often is outshined by his brother Mark, but after such performances in DREAMCATCHER and SAW II, he proves to be making quite a name for himself. In supporting roles are Frankie G(who happens to look promising but did start his career rather late) Veteran actor Glenn Plummer and Emmanuelle Vaugier who has been appearing in a number of Horror films including HOUSE OF THE DEAD 2. The direction is slick an also sometimes it gives you a sense of claustrophobia. The 2 SAW films have had a different director for each one, and while direction is similar for both i'd say that SAW II is executed more fluent, and stylish. Everything about SAW II is clever as it does almost everything right. Adding more hostages and more games just made the whole thing more multi-dimensional where as the original was at times flat and dull with just 2 hostages, leaving you with hardly anymore options left to take after the first 45 minutes. Everything from the original remains in tact but it is the newer elements that make this a winner....including a very brilliant ending! |
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| GORE
METER 7.5/10 Very well executed gore, better than the gore in the original in my opinion. |
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| MUSICAL
SCORE 5.5/10 Very intense score that seems to increase with the tension and suspense. |
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| OVERALL
IMPRESSION OF THE FILM This movie is very impressive on so many different levels, especially since I was merely satisfied with the first one. I think this film would suit well for fans of the CUBE series of films as it is sometimes reminiscent. I highly recommend that you see this and if you have to see it again! The DVD features a number of behind the scenes features that provide even more information on the film as well. The DVD is available February 14, 2006 |
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