The Grand Guignol Finale is More Torture than Porn

Saw 3D sews it up, or does it?
by Morgan P Salvo


 So the saga of Jigsaw comes full circle and the Saw franchise comes to an end. Or does it? Seriously folks, can we really trust horror movie franchises to end? Just take a gander at Jason, Freddy Kruger and Michael Myers…they no die. Maybe not right way, but I predict in the very foreseeable future there will be more Saws…lots of them.
But let’s just go with the assumption that Saw 3D is really the end-all episode. Well, it patches all the right holes and has a relentless pace but is it completely satisfying? Yes and no. Saw 3D is the series’ seventh chapter, helmed by Saw VI director Kevin Greutert. Marcus Dunstan and Patrick Melton are also back to pen the script, which details the never ending exploits of long-dead serial killer Jigsaw and the people who continue to suffer from his gruesome morality lessons. Stylistically and thematically following the series’ pattern, three sub plots are set up immediately to intertwine throughout.

Taking on racism and love triangles, the flick’s main focus is on Bobby Dragen (Sean Patrick Flanery), who has written a best selling book about outwitting the demented serial killer. He also runs support groups for former Jigsaw survivors, despite the fact that his own tale is fictional. Therein lies the rub, and Dragen is the next to fall prey to the cat and mouse game of Jigsaw’s “live or die” traps of twisted morality. He is sent on the traditional race against time, trying to save a series of people from diabolical flesh-rendering machines by inflicting pain on himself, and he is pretty lame at it.
Meanwhile Jigsaw's evil accomplice Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) continues the warped genius' legacy, pursuing personal vendettas against Jigsaw's widow (Betsy Russell) and apparently most of the police department. While still paying off with tons o’ gore, most of the previous installments featured a diverse set of victims; here Saw 3D concentrates on Dragen's efforts to save his wife with the grisly games threatening only his unfortunate associates. The most intriguing part is that Cary Elwes as Dr. Gordon is back from the first Saw, bringing to mind the proposition of coming full circle.
Saw 3D is heavy handed to the hilt, non-stop and relentless, the ever present music creeping up around every corner. The success of the Saw franchise always rests on its Grand Guignol-inspired traps, and they don’t skimp on the gore. Despite a scene right out of A Man Called Horse (a grueling hanging by hooks through the pectoral muscles) and taking a huge page from Italian Giallo master Lucio Fulci (The Beyond, Zombie & Cat in the Brain), the 3D lacks spunk. Sure some of it is supreme gross-out material, but when a three prong eye/mouth-gouger comes at you, it should make you squirm even more and the death scene should not be done in a side angle. Personally I needed more spewing blood, grisly guts and bone matter hurled at my head.
But the main stratagem has always been the ethics behind the tortures. In this version we lose some of its moralist values to a pure evil serial killer (Hoffman). Saw must save on acting bills because it never features an A-list star, and thankfully that works in its favor. Of course Tobin Bell (Jigsaw) returns in a flashback to steal all the acting accolades this flick could receive. The charismatic Bell supplies more electricity in a few minutes of friendly yet intense conversation than all of the ghastly occurrences combined. Ever since his character died in Saw 3, he's been reduced to appearing in brief flashbacks that only remind us what we're missing. It seems a weird move that the creators killed off their evil mastermind villain so early in the series. Mandylor's Hoffman, almost redeemable with a scar on his face, is still an extremely bland stand-in.
Overall, this well-paced and edited installment brings everything to a satisfying climatic crescendo thanks to Greutert’s savvy and longtime composer Charlie Clouser’s ominous music gurgling in the background swirling up to assault our eardrums while the viscera hits our 3D glasses. Despite the fact that some loose ends are left hanging, leaving room to ponder, this essentially could be the last one. Make your choice. Saw…live or die?

SAW 3D
Starring Tobin Bell, Betsy Russell, Costas Mandylor, Carey Elwes, Sean Patrick Flanery
Directed by Kevin Greutert
Rated R
3 stars