Spiral (3021)

It was such a dreary day outside,  as the rain came down almost all day.  Unfortunately,  there are no signs of it letting up for a few days.  All was not lost though,  as I was able to get a few more tubs sorted in the toy area and watch a few entertaining movies.  Some were new and others I haven't watched in some time,  like the 2021 entry Spiral.

Plot: A criminal mastermind unleashes a twisted form of justice in Spiral, the terrifying new chapter from the book of Saw.

I am a huge fan of the Saw franchise and I unapologetically love every installment,  including this one. With that in mind, this was not my favorite installment. There were some very good moments in this one although it was pretty predictable. The characters were interesting, the idea of a new storyline branching off from the mythos was a nice change, and the nods to the orhiginals speinkled im a solid touch. Unfortunately, i felt the film was a touch flat, with uneven acting, a predictable twist, and an overall feeling that there was more there to be developed. In the end, I'm sure this will be (or was) a polarizing flick with opinions all over the place. I am biased and I loved it, but I also needed some Saw in my life. Not the best, but not the worst of the franchise, I'd say it sits in the middle. 

Saw VI (2009)

After being disappointed by both Annabelle and Clowntergeist, I decided that it was time to finish what I started last week and write my last review from the Saw franchise. With that plan in place, here is the review of Saw VI from 2009.

Plot/ Agent Strahm is dead, and FBI agent Erickson draws nearer to Hoffman. Meanwhile, a pair of insurance executives finds themselves in another game set by Jigsaw.

I remember originally watching and now after watching it again, how much better this installment was than Saw V. This movie definitely channeled some of the power of the initial installments and created a movie that brought everything back to where it should have been. This one did make some needed changes to the formula and those were for the better. The performances were solid, the pacing felt perfect, the storyline featured a nice mixture of flashbacks and modern musings, and as usual, the traps were awesome. Yes, there were some uneven moments and the ending did not have quite the effect that the twist endings usually had, but those flaws are minor in comparison to some of the other flaws in the series. In the end, this entry was one of the better installments in the series and a film that must be seen by horror fans and those of the Saw franchise.

Saw V (2008)

Last night I took a break from the computer to go watch Jolene in her advanced theater production of The Elevator Family. With that now over, I figured it was time to get back to my trip into the mind of Jigsaw with Saw V from 2008.

Plot/ Following Jigsaw's grisly demise, Mark Hoffman is commended as a hero, but Agent Strahm is suspicious and delves into Hoffman's past. Meanwhile, another group is put through a series of gruesome tests.

It is funny how much things change, as you grow older, and this movie kind of fits in with that ideology. Up until re-watching the Saw franchise last week, I held this entry in higher regard, but now I have a completely different viewpoint. For me, this one lacked the tremendous plot twist and tension that made the other earlier installments memorable, and most of all not having Jigsaw as a true primary character on screen was quite depressing. While the idea was solid and the storyline had potential to deliver something amazing, this was the first time in the series that everything felt rushed. Sure, the effects were decent, the traps intriguing, and there was enough blood, but even those elements could not make up for the lack of the Jigsaw. On top of that, the performances were uneven and the atmosphere was rather flat. In the end, this entry had a chance to build upon the solid foundation that was left by the earlier entries but failed to hit the mark. More of a thriller than true horror film, this one did not deliver and was rather predictable. If you haven’t seen it, you aren’t missing much.

Saw IV (2007)

I was rather shocked when I discovered that I had never reviewed the entire Saw franchise, as it is one of my favorite series to watch. Of course, that also gave me an excuse to re-watch them for review purposes. Next up for review is 2007s Saw IV.

Plot/ Despite Jigsaw's death, and in order to save the lives of two of his colleagues, Lieutenant Rigg is forced to take part in a new game, which promises to test him to the limit.

I remember wondering after watching Saw III how the series would continue and went into this one with some trepidation. What I found when watching this one was a layered and complex storyline that took the Jigsaw storyline to a new level and darker depths. As a fan of the series, the twist that the end was perfect, and was something that seemed to almost transport us back to the original ending. The storyline is interesting especially as they dove back into Jigsaw’s history and take you through his journey, the special effects and traps are awesome, and the performances are solid. However, it is the way they overlapped time and stories that really made this one stand out for me. Yes, there are some moments where things seem too coincidental or random and there are a few times, where it almost feels predictable, but those are only minor flaws in the overall production and don’t really impact the quality of the film. In the end, while it did lack some suspense, it made up for that with a quality storyline that is extremely memorable. This is definitely one of my favorites in the series and an entry that must be seen.

Saw 2 (2005)

After spending last night at the Edgar Allan Poe reenactment, I decided that I wanted some violent horror for my Halloween night. Thinking back over the past month, I couldn’t believe that I had never reviewed half of the Saw franchise and figured that I would start that undertaking by revisiting Saw 2 from 2005.

Plot/ A detective and his team must rescue eight people trapped in a factory by the twisted serial killer known as Jigsaw.

The original Saw was one of the best horror/thrillers I had seen. It was atmospheric, dark, and the storyline was tremendous. Creating a sequel to a movie such as that is almost an impossible task. Yet, now after revisiting Saw 2, it is clear that Darren Lynn Bousman did just that with a tightly woven storyline that differs from the original but captures the essence of the classic perfectly. I remember when this one first came out and the clear differences between the two made it an uneven watch for me. However, today, that feeling is completely different. The change with having multiple players in Jigsaws game was the perfect step for the franchise and added layers to the legend of Jigsaw that would pay many dividends throughout the rest of the series. The cast is tremendous, the performances are solid, the dialog, scripting, and storyline were fantastic (the twists made it even more worthwhile), and the gore, traps, and special effects were amazing. Sure, the pit of needles was blah (and honestly still a letdown) and some of the arguments and decisions made by the participants were annoying, but those are only minor flaws. In the end, I am glad that I decided to revisit this one tonight on Halloween; it was so much better than I remembered and a movie that fans like me could have easily overlooked as it was sandwiched between the two best movies made in the franchise (and possibly the genre). If you haven’t seen it or revisited it in a while, I think you should. This is an outstanding movie and one that is perfect for the Halloween season.

Jigsaw (2017)

The weather outside today is absolutely miserable and I have until tomorrow for my trip to Haunted Hills Estates. While I could have sat and watched some type of horror flick, instead, I decided to head out to the theater to see the next entry in the Saw franchise, 2017s Jigsaw.

Plot/ Bodies are turning up around the city, each having met a uniquely gruesome demise. As the investigation proceeds, evidence points to one suspect: John Kramer, the man known as Jigsaw, who has been dead for ten years.

I was fun being back in the theater for one of my favorite franchises. For me, it has been too long, with the last time being for the Halloween re-release of the original a few years ago. While this one did not quite reach the level of the originals, there were many facets that left me again wanting more. The pacing was perfect, with the layered storyline continually moving forward instead of wavering during the non-action sequences, the storyline was interesting and tied into the series in a perfect way, the characters again were diverse and amazing, and the way the layers of the storyline worked together to create a subtle mystery was again refreshing. In fact, for me, those layered aspects of the story have always been one of the strong points of the series and often go unnoticed or are underappreciated by those that are watching the series. While all of those aspects worked, the performances were a touch uneven with the delivery of some of the well-placed humor in the script falling short, the graphic elements that made many entries of the original series were lacking by comparison, and the overall tension seemed a bit flat (which again falls on the uneven performances). In the end, while this one does not rise to the original Saw or Saw 3, it does do a great job at bringing the storyline back to life and hopefully, allow for more entries in this series. Is it perfect? No, but it was much better than many of the recent horror flicks I have seen over the past few years and a great way to bring some blood back to the Halloween season. Plus, it wasn’t PG-13, a fact alone that should make horror fans happy.

Shame the Devil (2013)

Although I have had some entertaining moments over the past couple days, I was definitely busy between high school football games, middle school soccer, softball and band performances. When you throw in some Diablo III, it is easy to see how I did not get to the blog. Of course, it would also be because I am trying to finish Fringe as well. Next up for review is the 2013 British entry Shame the Devil.

Plot/ A London detective tracking a serial killer finds the killers "truth or die" methods take him to New York to solve the case.

While I had no real expectations for this one, I was still left with an empty disappointing feeling after watching it. In fact, if you have seen any movies in the Saw franchise, you have already seen better versions of this one. From the outset, the cliché moments and clear duplication of the Saw model are abundant. From there, it cascades into more of the same, without the class of the Saw franchise. The scripting is uneven, the dialog is subpar, the acting rough, and the is nothing to draw you into the movie. In the end, this was a hard movie to watch and offers nothing new (not even any blood or gore). Honestly, re-watch one of installments from the Saw franchise, you would have a more enjoyable time.

Saw III (2006)

After picking up a couple of Saw posters at Steel City Con, I was in the mood to revisit Jigsaw. This series, while a touch controversial in some circles, demonstrated that there was still originality inside the horror genre. In fact, this series is still what drives me to write, as I know that something original can be made. My next review is possibly the best of the series, Saw III.

Plot/ Jigsaw kidnaps a doctor to keep him alive while he watches his new apprentice put an unlucky citizen through a brutal test.

I will admit, I am a sucker for this franchise. Honestly, Twisted Pictures and the Saw series rejuvenated my love of horror, especially this one, Saw III, which may be my favorite of all the films. This movie had everything that a horror film should have, a non-linear storyline, solid overall acting, blood, guts, and gore. Truly, this had everything that a horror fan should be searching for in a horror flick. Yes, there were some confusion within the story and some of it did seem predictable, but those are easily overlooked. In the end, this is one of the more entertaining films in the series, and was a perfect rebound from Saw II, which was a touch slow in comparison to the original. If you have not seen it, check it out! This one is definitely worth watching.

Saw (2004)

 

 

Yesterday at Monster Fest, I was able to pick up some posters for the man cave. Of the four I grabbed, two came from my favorite horror franchise, Saw. To me, the Saw franchise was exactly what the 2000s needed, especially in an era dedicated to watered down PG-13 crap horror. The Saw franchise pushed the limits in darkness, and should be appreciated.

 

 

Plot/ With a dead body laying between them, two men wake up in the secure lair of a serial killer who's been nicknamed "Jigsaw". The men must follow various rules and objectives if they wish to survive and win the deadly game set for them.

 

 

Honestly, I may be a bit lenient on this one, as Saw is one of my favorite horror movies of all time. To me, there are so many influences in the genre today that come from this no-budget indie flick, that it should be listed in the credits. A great combination of thriller and horror, there was so much to like about this one. The acting was solid, the characters thought out, there was some blood, guts and gore, and the atmosphere was tremendous. More importantly, the story was new, interesting and tightly wound into a dark labyrinth with one of the best endings out there. Sure, some may not like the way it jumped around, but that is minor flaw. In the end, this groundbreaking movie is original and unique, and is one of the best that the genre has to offer. If you have not seen it, check it out!

 

 

Necromentia (2009)

As a Steelers fan, I tried to watch end enjoy the Super Bowl, I just could not do it. It honestly felt like I was taking a trip into Hell, just miserable. With that feeling already permeating my mind, I decided to take a trip into the depths as well with my movie selection for the evening. I mean, how could I go wrong with a flick that says it is a trip into Hell complete with blood, guts, murder, necrophilia, and an OUIJA Board? Got me there… The movie I chose instead of the Super Bowl is Necromentia from 2009.

Plot/ A off-world look at the superstitious repercussions of tattooing an Ouija Board on your body. Hagen, who has a dead wife believes that he can revive her from the dead. Travis, a man who lost his brother and wants to join him in the after life. Morbius, a bartender who is betrayed by those he loves comes back from the dead to take revenge. And a strange man only known as Mr. Skinny protects the secrets of the Ouija Board and how the stories weave and affect each other.

As a horror fan, I already know that being drawn in by the writings on a DVD cover can be dangerous, but when I saw the words Hellraiser Meets Saw, count me as one that had his interests perked. What I found when I sat down was something I never expected, something dark and melodic with a similar feel to the Clive Barker masterpiece it was compared to. This anthology-based flick is definitely all horror, complete with solid effects, decent acting, disturbing surreal imagery and an in-depth plot that really makes one think (plus some great torturous and bloody images). Yes, there are flaws like the abrupt ending that leaves you somewhat unsatisfied, some cliché characterization and uneven pacing. However, those are easily overlooked within this semi-original trip into the depths of this netherworld revisionist Hell.  In the end, this is a great movie for fans of deep and dark horror, yes it has enough gore for gorehounds, but it is the disturbing story that takes the starring role, not just the blood and guts. Check this one out!

Saw 3D: The Final Chapter (2010)

I will admit that next to Jason and the Friday the 13th franchise, Jigsaw and the Saw come in a close second. Honestly, in some ways, they are even better. After all, they do provide inspirational quotes and positive thoughts to everyone involved. I ask you, what is the main theme? To live or die, the choice is yours, is what always comes to mind when I think of the movies. How could you get more positive than that? With those thoughts in mind, I decided to start my Saw reviews with the last installment tonight Saw 3D: The Final Chapter.

Plot/ As a deadly battle rages over Jigsaw's brutal legacy, a group of Jigsaw survivors gathers to seek the support of self-help guru and fellow survivor Bobby Dagen, a man whose own dark secrets unleash a new wave of terror.

I remember the uproar when this came out about how it wasn’t close to what it could have (should have) been, and I agree that the film definitely feels rushed. However, the pacing, gore and even storyline work well within these confines and produces an entertaining little flick. The acting is uneven, and even some of the traps become laughable or over-played, but that does not ruin the flick. Honestly, I was saddened to see the franchise come to an end, but that end was well overdue. This groundbreaking franchise opened a lot of eyes, and created such a stir that it deserved a better ending. While far from the best sequel in the series, I did not find it the worst and actually enjoyed quite a bit of it. In the end, I think Saw fans should watch it just to see how some of the storyline comes together, it may not be the perfect send-off, but there are some interesting elements that answered a lot of questions.  

The Best Birthday Cakes!

As another year passes and I have to celebrate another birthday because my daughters will not let me forget how old I am, at least my lovely wife Brenda pays homage to my likes and my horror fetish by creating themed cakes...

2010 - The Blob

2009 - Friday the 13th

2008 - Saw