Saw IV

As the commercial tag line rings in the ears of television watchers, "If it's Halloween, it must be 'Saw'." This time around it's the fourth installment of the series we have to look forward to. This one is just a bit different. 'Jigsaw' (Tobin Bell) is finally dead. Yes kids, he's on the slab in the morgue. My one worry about the series was: 'Jigsaw' was going to be turned into some supernatural killing machine aka Jason and Michael Myers. It's nice to find 'Jigsaw' is indeed human after all.

Going back to the first and original film, in a nutshell what struck me was: for the first time in a long time maybe going back the 'Silence Of The Lambs' a horror film (though I don't consider 'Silence' a horror film, I prefer psychological thriller) left me speechless at the end of the film. I couldn't believe I had actually been fooled and never saw (pardon the pun) the ending coming. You could hear a pin drop in the theater and the look on people's faces was priceless - completely dumfounded. In my opinion that's what makes the difference between a good film and a bad film. Of course after the second viewing I couldn't believe I had missed all the evidence right in front of my face. Like a good magic act, I was too busy watching the right hand instead of the left, where all the tricks are.

'Jigsaw' throughout the series was in essence a deranged, maniacal, brilliant teacher. His lesson is simple: How precious is your life to you? The idea of life in general really. How far would you really go to sustain your own survival? Through his 'tests' that's the question he poses to his victims. 'What are you willing to do to save your own precious life?' I mean seriously, no one wants to die. No one wants to discuss or think about the concept of mortality and what is inevitable. So, we've got some nut to help us along. Or if you're really lucky you're not one of the chosen ones at all. Come to find out in this installment he may not be a 'nut' at all.

In "Saw IV," Jigsaw, and his apprentice Amanda are dead. Yes, she was one of his tests in the previous films. A drug addict he 'saved' from her own life. But the games have not stopped. There are more students and lessons to learn from the teacher. Ah, don't you just love Hollywood sequels? If they're well done and thought out, they can be a great deal of fun. Of course the higher the films go in numbers in regards to subsequent sequels the further the line is pushed to see how much they can get away with in haunting our dreams and making us turn our heads away from the screen. The 'Saw,' series as the 'Hostel,' series are not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach. This is gore to the max and it doesn't let up an inch. Although surprisingly I thought 'Saw 3,' scored higher on the 'gore meter.' The autopsy scene which opens the film (spoiler alert) is one of the most graphic sequences I can remember unless like myself you watch "C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation," or the Discovery Channel on television. I have to admit it was pretty cool.

The essential storyline for 'Saw IV,' revolves around the fact that Jigsaw is dead yet in death he still has more games to play. Only this time around it's the detectives themselves that have become the pawns. They set out to find other unknown potential victims only to find themselves caught in his maze. Detective Rigg -the S.W.A.T. commander (Lyriq Bent) is hell bent on saving one of his missing colleagues (Donnie Wahlberg - who starred in 'Saw 2.' and appeared in flashbacks in 'Saw 3.') Jigsaw's kidnapping of the detective and finding him is at the core of this story. Rigg's himself becomes an unwitting participant in Jigsaw's game and is placed in a series of torturous scenarios. He is also being taught a lesson and has now become a student as Jigsaw gives him the opportunity to see things the way 'he sees them'. Let the bloodletting begin. A handful of other detectives and FBI agents are introduced into the story as the story unfolds. There is also another little problem: there is a possibility what Jigsaw and Amanda did not work as solely as a duo. Could there be someone else involved? For the first time we are introduced to Jigsaw's ex-wife, Jill (Betsy Russell) and the human element of a man who breaks at the edge of sanity is told. We are now invited in and made to understand that all the victims and killings are not necessarily so random. There is a method to the madness and strangely the original point that he was trying to get across hits us over the head again and again. No, there's no hammer involved in the film but quite a few other interesting instruments of torture are introduced, and quite effectively I might add. It is not by coincidence you may actually be cheering for a number of the player's demise. There are some rather unsavory folks that just may deserve the punishment they are intended to receive; a child abuser, a serial rapist, a lawyer, you get the idea. As the old saying goes, "Payback is a bitch," or even better 'You reap what you sew.'

Director Darren Lynn Bousman has made a film that is dark and foreboding. His style of short cuts and choppy editing at certain times does leave its mark but gets a bit dreary and monotonous after a while. Of course during the most intense scenes I suppose it's easier to apply this method of filmmaking rather than have all the blood and guts and other body parts on display hitting you over the head. I suppose that would be overkill. However in these types of films I'm sure that's the last thing the writers and directors are concerned about. On the flip side, you don't want to completely turn off your audience and have them looking for the nearest exit. If you're not into that sort of thing, stay far away from this film. The great thing about the 'Saw,' films is that they are not 'slasher' films as we know them. There is a message here if you're willing to dig deep enough into the subject matter and flesh to find it. The storylines have been solid throughout the series. Tobin Bell is excellent as Jigsaw and does lend some credence to the 'average guy turned serial killer mastermind' plot line. Hannibal Lecter also had a method to his madness. He didn't like rude people. They were usually the ones cooking in his sauté pan. Spoiler alert - there just may be a 'Saw 5,' by next Halloween. I'm sure that's one spoiler that doesn't surprise anyone especially since "Saw IV," opened up at number one at the box office.