Movie Review: Saw II

A sequel to the sadistic smash of 2004 was inevitable. The question is, would it work as a film? Could they craft a story that would be worthy of committing to film? In the end questions like that matter not. Throw enough depravity on the screen and the kids will come. I know, because I went.

The thing that it offers the horror fan is a film that delivers the blood. They say it right in the trailers and commercials, "Oh yes... there will be blood." It is said as if to reassure the gorehounds that you will be treated to a film that contains carnage. All too often films get billed as horror, get released in a PG-13 cut, and end up a disappointment. That isn't to say that those bloodless films aren't horror, or that they aren't any good, although that seems to be the overriding result.

I liked the first Saw. It was no classic, although it could still attain that notoriety. It provided a twisted tale filled with blood and twisted traps. Saw also introduced us to Jigsaw, a killer set free by the onset of terminal cancer. A status which has freed him to do his work without fear. That film was not without its problems, but this is neither the time, nor the place.

Saw II exists solely to string together scenes of bloodletting and torture. There is nothing wrong with that, but it would have been nice to have a strong story to back up the sadistic scenes. My biggest problem with the movie, and the original too for that matter, is that there are seeds throughout that could have led to a stronger story. The reasons for our killer to be so fervent in his work is his desire to have proof that they want to live. The thought of a killer targeting those who he perceives as not deserving their lives is intriguing. That thought could be used to spawn a psychological thriller that also delivers the blood. Instead, that concept is just the window dressing for the twisted traps and bloody games which take center stage and make up the meat of the movie.

Saw II opens with the scene that has played, partially, in the trailers. It is the death mask trap, which is a variation on the reverse bear trap that started the first. It's job is to show that the sickness is still intact and set the stage for the gore to come.

There are two primary locations for the conflict. The first is in Jigsaw's lair, where he has been tracked by the police. It is also where disgraced detective, Eric Mason, must deal with our cancer ridden psycho. On the other side of the room is a glimpse of our other primary location. Shift over to the house, this is where our 8 participants are trying to deal with the situation, which continually worsens, and each other.

Article Author: Chris Beaumont

Christopher Beaumont spends much of his time writing about music and movies when he isn't indulging in them. He is always ready to talk about his favorite form of entertainment and offer up recommendations. Follow: Twitter and Tumblr. Visit: Critical Outcast. …

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