Review for 'Saw 3D'

The Saw franchise has been gripping to life more then it’s once great serial killer Jigsaw, but now as we come to the final chapter of the series; ‘Saw 3D’ leaves a bitter taste in our mouths worse then any trap the producers could have thought up. The Saw franchise has become such an endurance test that it’s amazing they could string out such a ridicules story this far.

This final time round Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) is targeting survivor turned author Bobby Dagen (Sean Patrick Flanery) as he cashes in on his so called ‘experience’. Before long we realise that he has fabricated his test and is cashing in on it. So it is no surprise to him or the audience when he wakes up in some elaborate trap and has to rescue his team of liars as he attempts to also save his two dimensional wife. The story also pulls together loose ends especially with Dr Gordon’s character (Cary Elwes) who makes and appearance as well as the on going feud with Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) and Jigsaw’s widowed wife Jill (Betsy Russell) with a conclusion which tries to but fail to redeem the lost franchise.

This movie separate it’s self from the rest of the series, with not only 3D but how it is only gratuitous violence. Not to say that the other instalments where any less gratuitous however the producers used the extra dimension as an excuse to show appalling murders. There is nothing smart or sophisticated about this movie which the first few had along with their charm. It appears that director and creator of ‘Saw’, James Wong jumped off the sinking boat as the editor of the franchise Kevin Greutert returns to direct after working on equally bad Saw VI.

The acting is possibly some of the worst I have seen as it looks like a low budget American TV drama. None of the characters have any depth as their characters bios couldn’t last more then one line sentence. Part of the theory of horror cinema is that you need to establish likable characters which engage with the audience in a way that when they are in threat the audience feels the same dread, which is why the final girl archetype works as a good template to horror movies. This theory is completely lost in ‘Saw 3D’ as all the characters are selfish and boring cardboard cut outs.

This movie might entertain people who are fans of the series but if you are stuck thinking what to watch at the cinema you should definitely skim past this one. The 3D is barely there and used in a pathetic way to grab what little money the producers think they need. The only saving grace is possibly the last five minutes as they string together the last threads of a once entertaining series. Fans of the series will be let down, and those who aren’t will be left sickened by the over the top violence as bit of humans come ‘flying’ out of the screen.

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