Saw V (2008)

Following Jigsaw's grisly demise, Mark Hoffman, the final apprentice to the serial killer is deigned a hero. Meanwhile, Agent Strahm continues to track Hoffman while another group of strangers are put through a series of gruesome traps.

Director:

David Hackl

Writers:

Patrick Melton (screenplay), Marcus Dunstan (screenplay)

Stars:

Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Scott Patterson

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tobin Bell	...	Jigsaw / John
Costas Mandylor	...	Mark Hoffman
Scott Patterson	...	Agent Strahm
Betsy Russell	...	Jill
Julie Benz	...	Brit
Meagan Good	...	Luba
Mark Rolston	...	Dan Erickson
Carlo Rota	...	Charles
Greg Bryk	...	Mallick
Laura Gordon	...	Ashley
Joris Jarsky	...	Seth
Mike Butters	...	Paul
Al Sapienza	...	Chief of Police
Mike Realba	...	Detective Fisk
Jeff Pustil	...	Bernie

Storyline

Jigsaw and his young apprentice, Amanda, are dead. But the grisly games continue. 5 supposed strangers find themselves in the midst of the big game, and believe they are in a survival of the fittest competition. Via his now infamous video linked doll, Jigsaw conveys the message that they should ignore there instincts, and ignore his advice at their peril. Meanwhile, agent Strahm wants to prove that Hoffman is an apprentice to Jigsaw, and pursues him as he continues his twisted games. What Strahm does not realize is that Hoffman is testing him all along, and must pass his test in order to stay alive.

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Plot Keywords:

jigsaw | serial killer | head butt | cell phone | blood spatter | 

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Taglines:

In the end all the pieces will fit together

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Genres:

Crime | Horror | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sequences of grisly bloody violence and torture, language and brief nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Lionsgate [United States] Metropolitan Films [France]

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 October 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

El juego del miedo V

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$10,800,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£953,397 (UK) (31 October 2008)

Gross:

$56,729,973 (USA) (5 December 2008)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twisted Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min 95 min (unrated director's cut)

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital DTS DTS (Dolby 5.1)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Seth's trap is inspired by the Edgar Allan Poe short story "The Pit and the Pendulum."

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Goofs

In the scene when Jill (Betsy Russell) is talking to the FBI Agent in the Office, a huge boom shadow can be clearly seen above their heads

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Quotes

Mark Hoffman: So this is blackmail?
Jigsaw: No, no, no, no, no. This is redemption. Just giving you an option. That's all. Now, you can arrest me, but doing so, your life ends as you know it. Or, you could explore the method of rehabilitation that'll permit you to sleep at night.

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Crazy Credits

Dust Busters - Stephen Brown, Trevor Pickard, Alison Schouten.

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Connections

References Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)

User Reviews

Probably the least interesting Saw movie as of yet.

Yes, the Saw-franchise is beginning to get a bit tiresome. I'm still a fan of it thought but it needs some new fresh ideas fast.

Of course in essence all Saw movies are more or less the same. However all previous movies still knew to keep me interested and guessing throughout the entire movie. It still featured some surprising and interesting elements, while "Saw V" really doesn't feature any. No big surprises or twists here, not even at the ending, which in my opinion was a bit weak and disappointing. Normally the end of a Saw movie provides a big twists that will leave you shocked and stunned in your chair, for a few minutes after the movie has ended. I missed this in "Saw V".

The movie is also the least interesting Saw movie as of yet because it features some lazy writing. Normally Saw scripts are airtight ones but not this one sadly. It often takes the obvious paths.

Like always it is also featuring lots of different plot-lines and characters again, although in this case not all are connected well enough to each other. Seriously, what have all those people going to the Jigsaw-trails have to do with the rest of the movie its plot? It just seems to be there because its a Saw movie and it needs to feature all these sick and twisted games. The story lines don't ever really get together well enough. The movie again is also featuring lots of flashbacks, which shows events that happened in the previous movies, often seen from a different side this time but some of these flashbacks however are quite pointless for the movie once you start thinking about it.

I also blame Hoffman for it that this movie doesn't work out as good and interesting as any of the other sequels. He's the new Jigsaw and as of yet he also is the least interesting one. It probably also has to do with the fact that he is featured a lot in the movie, while Jigsaw normally always remain on the background. Also the reasons why he became the new Jigsaw, as gets shown in this movie, are a bit shaky and not exactly believable.

The movie itself is perhaps also lacking in one clear good main hero and character.

It still is a superior genre movie of course. It's concept alone is already good and interesting enough to please the genre fans and provides the potential for an infinitive amount of Saw-sequels. All Saw movies have a great look and atmosphere over them, though this one works out as the least effective one when it comes down to its atmosphere and horror/thriller elements because of the reason that this movie features very little new elements.

The Jigsaw games themselves also seem less innovative and clever. It's still gruesome and lots of bloods and guts can be seen flying around but it's just less surprising and shocking all.

Lets hope "Saw VI" will have some fresh new good ideas and a better script with some better- and more interesting characters in it.

7/10

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