It's already at least three films too long, and now Saw VI looks set to arrive in British screens on October 23rd to distinctly tepid reviews: the film-makers seemingl unperturbed by the embarrassing fact that the franchise can boast to include a theme-park ride that significantly outclasses the majority of its actual filmic instalments- at least it holds some actual thrills. But for one glimmering moment, I was taken in by this gloriously clever little poster... And then the sense that had deserted me came flooding back when I watched this attached teaser trailer- heavy on poor quality CGI, at least it doesnt give away as much plot detail as the first trailers did for anyone with even half a detective gene in them. Saw 6 Teaser I cant help but be a little suspicious of the tagline, and indeed of the official blurb I received claiming that Jigsaw's grand scheme will finally be explained- surely there have been ample opportunities (and actual attempts) to explain Jigsaw's Game, and the fifth instalment all but made a mockery of the idea that the Game was continuing in the same vein that John had originally intended. The authenticity was abandoned when it became obvious that there was no opportunity for all of the victims to save themselves- a problem repeated with the whole "Six ride the carousel, but only two can get off". Aside from continuity errors and the infuriating perpetual Dr Gordon rumours, the sixth episode in the series is going to be a predictable failure- it's all been done before, and the fetishised pleasure that any resolute stragglers were getting from the trap deaths has surely waned after the inadequacies of its predecessor. But the major problem, which a franchise can never ever hope to really survive is the death of its only recognisable draw- trying to replace Tobin Bell's excellent Jigsaw with Costas Mandylor's granite jawed shitehawk is just not cricket, and it isnt helped by the latter's inability to act his way out of a brown paper bag. I can only hope they've learned from Saw V and relied heavily on flashback footage. At least then there'll be some charisma in amongst all the Z-list wannabe actorss and the mother of all no-hitters in Mandylor. But if history is anything to go by, Saw VI will be the worst so far. And it probably wont be the last...