Following the success of last October’s overrated independent horror hit Saw, Lions Gate Films and Twisted Pictures immediately began scampering around like chickens with their heads cut off. What they sought was an already written screenplay to adapt into a Saw sequel. Luckily, they found Darren Lynn Bousman’s “The Departed”—a story that features eight people trapped in a house of torture.
Once the rights to Bousman’s script were acquired, returning screenwriter Leigh Whannell was instantly assigned to work with Bousman in morphing his premise into what would be Saw II. While the duo’s product does preserve the same dark, gritty texture of Saw—equipped with another revelation ending, this time – with a new writer/director – Saw II features a tighter plot, improved acting, and more crimson-colored liquid.
When Jigsaw (Tobin Hall) is captured by the authorities, the police believe that his games have ceased. However, upon uncovering Jigsaw’s lair, detective Eric Matthews (Donnie Wahlberg) also unveils a series of monitors, which display a video-feed of eight people trapped in an unidentifiable house. Among these eight people are Eric’s son (Eric Knudsen) and a previous survivor of one of Jigsaw’s tests named Amanda (Shawnee Smith). Eric is told that his son and the seven others will die in two hours due to a nerve agent that poisons each player with each breath. Considering there is a tremendous lack of leadership within the group of eight, Eric and his one-time partner Kerry (Dina Meyer) must figure out the location of the house and not forget that at all times they are subjected to Jigsaw’s rules.
Even though N.K.O.T.B.’s Donnie Wahlberg and “Becker”’s Shawnee Smith aren’t exactly the cream-of-the-crop off of Hollywood's shelf, they still dole out better acting than the original’s Cary Elwes, Leigh Whannell, and Danny Glover combined. In addition, Tobin Hall takes center-stage and leads the cast with his sadistic portrayal of Jigsaw. His dialogue with Donnie Wahlberg’s character – explaining his motives – is the film’s highlight in terms of spoken word.
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