Fans of the SAW films have seen the series change from one where we were presented with a puzzle of our own to solve (why were these two men chained in a small room and who was doing it?) into a series of ghastlier deaths involving torture devices. Face it, the main reason people go to see the SAW series is no longer the story line but to see the death sequences. We watch with some strange, sick interests feeling guilty about it all the way…but we watch anyway.
The original film was a treat with enough back story to keep your interest and try to figure out what was going on. Each progressive episode in the series changed to the torture devices. But there was something more, something that takes up less screen time perhaps, but that does exists between the gory spectacles.
There is the story of a man, John/Jigsaw (Tobin Bell), who has placed these people in harms way. But not without reason, at least in his mind. Each person has done something wrong in their life and John now gives them the opportunity to atone for their sins, to start fresh and to hopefully learn their lesson. So rather than a simple uncaring murderer at the heart of the series, we instead have a murderer who tracks down and does harm to people who have harmed others. Talk about an anti-hero.
Sadly that seems to be the case with so many horror icons these days. Freddy Krueger changed from a child molester into a joke spewing stand up comedian killing teens. Jason Voorhees changed twice, from the mother who was the killer initially into the deformed boy mass murderer and later into a somewhat sympathetic killer who did so because of how he was treated. Jigsaw is just the latest to transform.
This time around we are still seeing John/Jigsaw at the helm although he died several films back. But John wasn’t short sighted, planning things in advance and putting into play others who would see to it that his plans were carried out. With his assistant Amanda (Shawnee Smith) out of the picture, it falls on to Det. Mark Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) to continue as he did in the last film.
Unfortunately the players involved on the receiving end have filtered down to those with the most distant connection to deserving punishment. Well that and we get the chance to attack the insurance industry at an opportune time with all the talk of health care at this time in history.
It seems (as we find discover while the film plays out) that John was denied coverage of an experimental treatment for his cancer. The man in charge whose formula decided who did and did not receive treatment is now the main subject in the game of car and mousetrap. William (Peter Outerbridge) is the corporate insurance man whose decisions have affected many. Now he begins the arduous task of going through various traps set by the new Jigsaw in payment for allowing the original to perish.
As he moves from one trap to the next, involving self mutilation to save his life, his puzzles involve people close to him. In each case he has to choose which ones live and which ones die, some innocent and others guilty of their own sins. Not quite how the series began. Each trap does reveal something about those involved in the game. Some choose to help those trapped as well while others attempt to short circuit the game to save only themselves. As he moves through, William learns his lesson and sets aside his own body to save others.
While he makes his way through the traps we have two other threads moving along as well. A woman and her son are in a cell of their own with a vat of acid and a switch that reads live or die on it. Knowing William has a family one can only assume this is his wife and son. Or are they? Keep in mind, this is SAW and often people aren’t who we think they are. But then again, sometimes they are.
In another cell is a young reporter who was trying to reach William. She is in a cell much like that of the mother and son. How is she connected to it all?
The second thread involves the new Jigsaw. Hoffman is revealed to have put in play motives of his own. Having been required by all of those whose lives touched John to face his own demons, Hoffman escaped that trap. But he changed the game in several ways. And as the detectives investigating the truth behind Jigsaw come closer and closer to finding the real killer, Hoffman must not only stay in control of the game in play but insure that the investigators don’t discover who he is.
So, with all that said, is SAW 6 a good or a bad movie? On the whole I’d have to say it’s a good one in the series. The stories meld together to form a cohesive plot that makes sense. Toss in John’s wife into the mix with more plans from John and many of the loose threads from the entire series are explained. While the insurance angle seems a bit contrived and while the opportunities to redeem one self seem lessened, the main idea remains intact.
For fans of the gore the movie offers plenty. For fans of the story, we get some closure along the way. But yes, as with all good franchises, the ending leaves an opening that promises there will be another. Word has it they’re already planning the next one in 3-D. So now rather than simply spilling guts, perhaps they’ll spill into the laps of the audience.
One thing is certain. If the next film doesn’t off as much story as the rest and instead relies on gore and effects, the franchise will die. But if it takes on the story as much as this one does, we’ll see not only SAW 7 but SAW 8 as well.
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