SAW IV

"You think its over, but the games have just began" announces Jigsaw at the start of this fourth entry in the continuing gruesome terror-of-torture series. Its very hard as a reviewer to divulge the details of the plot of these continuing sequels to James Wan's highly successful original, as you don't want to disturb the careful mousetrap mechanism that appears to be in place. These films (by now quite intentionally) interconnect like pieces of an elaborate puzzle, bringing up questions of longevity. Exactly how many installments of the Saw films are/have been planned is anyone's guess, (Obsessed has reported that at least two more installments are currently in the works). Are they planning on succeeding Police Academy sequel proportions perhaps? (which produced seven films in less than 10 years), and how many pieces of the puzzle have already been preconceived? In the grand tradition of the previous annually released entries, Saw IV picks up, seemingly indirectly, where the original left off. Thus its no great revelation to disclose that both Jigsaw and his would-be-accomplice Amanda are now dead and that Detective Kerry (who appeared in both Saw II & III) has also been 'murdered' (though Jigsaw would correct me here). This leaves two new FBI agents, Agent Strahm and Agent Perez, to attempt to unravel the case and aid Forensic detective Hoffman (who also appeared in SawIII) in his investigations. SWAT commander Rigg, another previous bit-part player from Saw II & III, has a pivotal role here when after he is abducted and forced to play one of Jigsaw's time-ticking elaborate games. "I want you to see what I see" "To feel as I feel" is the message Jigsaw leaves from the dead. Confusion is what I finally felt after attempting to remember and recall all the character's faces, names and motivations that stream from previous entries. And it doesn't help when the majority of the pivotal main characters look alike - mostly due to being shrouded in gloomy darkness - along with relentless flashbacks (which are their presumably to aid us in our recollect) that distract us from the present dilemmas at play. I must admit I have been a firm follower of the series and that I have been won over by the cliffhanger twist denouncements that cunningly restore some faith at the end of the rather shaky sequels. However this time I wasn't so easily persuaded when it came to tell-all-time. The original had one of those fiendishly good manipulative endings that sent chills down my spine and was almost on par with cinematic experiences felt by The Sixth Sense, The Others and yes even The Usual Suspects. Saw mark-one was also a bloody good yarn that had one of those hauntingly simplistic scenarios where by two characters are mysteriously locked in a room together, with seemingly no way of getting out, while the time ticks away to imitate destruction, (though I still feel the flashbacks that were in place then also distractingly diverted from the main predicament somewhat). But the terrifying mystic established in the first film has progressively been eroded away by every passing installment, in the franchises' relentless attempts to give us greater insight into our ailing antagonist's grand scheme. And, though theres some pleasure to be had in the revelation that various minute details of the mise-en-scene in previous incarnations have now greater significance than at first mustered, theres still a nagging feeling of deja Vu that hinders the carefully worked out plot. On the strictly violent front however, the series still has the power to deliver grandiose death traps that appear brilliantly grisly in their intervention: a hair twisting torture contraption results in a seriously ghastly scalp-peeling moment that I would never wish upon my worst enemy, while theres a clever play on hide and go seek that is pretty damn tortuous indulgance test. And then theres good old Tobin Bell as the cleverly non-serial killer, killer. An actor who has risen through the ranks (merely appearing as a corpse in the original Saw) and one who has developed a character that now surely must rank against such celebrated bogeymen as Freddy Kruger, Michael Myers and Hannibal Lecter to fully emerge as arguably one of cinemas all time great macabre character creations. Although he's 'not in it' this time round his overbearing 'presence' just about holds the piece together, though it must be mentioned he does fleetingly appear in several elongated flashbacks, scenes which thrive on his infamous husky-voiced dialogue delivery that give him, well a haunting charm. I like the man, even though he's (thats Jigsaw the character not Tobin the actor) a bloody deranged vigilante lunatic, that probably bears too much of a grudge on human failings. His heart is in the right place and he has lived a bloody depressing life. I don't know how the series can survive without him, though presumably his distinctive tones will always be ever present on handy minature playback cassette.

rating: 2

So to round up: Don't go to see this film if you haven't viewed all the predecessors and don't expect any satisfactory revelations. Do go if you want some sort of conclusion to the third part and are still yearning for a tortuous time...but remember apparently "The games have only just begun"!