Saw IV (2007)

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.

Director:

Darren Lynn Bousman

Writers:

Patrick Melton (screenplay), Marcus Dunstan (screenplay)

Stars:

Tobin Bell, Scott Patterson, Louis Ferreira

2 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tobin Bell	...	Jigsaw / John Kramer
Costas Mandylor	...	Lt. Mark Hoffman
Scott Patterson	...	Agent Peter Strahm
Betsy Russell	...	Jill Tuck
Lyriq Bent	...	Lt. Daniel Rigg
Athena Karkanis	...	Agent Lindsey Perez
Louis Ferreira	...	Art Blank (as Justin Louis)
Simon Reynolds	...	Lamanna
Donnie Wahlberg	...	Eric Matthews
Angus Macfadyen	...	Jeff Denlon
Shawnee Smith	...	Amanda Young (archive footage)
Bahar Soomekh	...	Lynn Denlon
Dina Meyer	...	Detective Allison Kerry
Mike Realba	...	Detective Fisk
Marty Adams	...	Ivan Landsness

Storyline

Jigsaw and his apprentice Amanda are dead. Now, upon the news of Detective Kerry's murder, two seasoned FBI profilers, Agent Strahm and Agent Perez, arrive in the terrified community to assist the veteran Detective Hoffman in sifting through Jigsaw's latest grisly remains and piecing together the puzzle. However, when SWAT Commander Rigg is abducted and thrust into a game, the last officer untouched by Jigsaw has but ninety minutes to overcome a series of demented traps and save an old friend or face the deadly consequences.

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Plot Keywords:

serial rapist | ex wife | tied to a chair | bound and gagged | brutality | 

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Taglines:

You think it is over...but the games have just begun

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Though producers wanted Donnie Wahlberg to reprise his role, his schedule made him unavailable and his character was not included in the original script. However, after shooting began, his schedule freed up, and the script was re-written to include his character.

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Goofs

(at around 46 mins) During the flashback in which Jill is attacked by Cecil Adams, as she is leaving the clinic, she has to unlock the door at knife-point even though she never re-locks it when retrieving the jacket. The door's lock is a deadbolt type and no knob is present, so it wouldn't lock itself automatically.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Pathologist: Subject's name is John Kramer. 52 year old male; Caucasian. He's seen better days.

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Alternate Versions

The German theatrical version, although rated "Not under 18", was cut by 55 seconds (it is based on the US R-rated version). Since there are different rating standards for theatrical and home video releases this rating was denied for the DVD release. The cut theatrical version was therefore released on DVD with a SPIO/JK approval. Additionally an even more cut version (ca. 8 minutes) with a "Not under 18" rating was released as well for sell-through. As with Saw III the US unrated version was released as well but only in Austria, therefore avoiding probable legal problems with German judiciary (resulting in intended high imports to Germany).

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Connections

Referenced in Cinemassacre's Monster Madness: Saw (2015)

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Soundtracks

I.V.
Written by Yoshiki
Performed by Yoshiki (as X Japan)

User Reviews

Nothing that we haven't already seen

So I went to see Saw IV yesterday night. What do we actually gain from this movie? Basically it shows nothing new, it's like a reprise of Saw III. And the question is, do we prefer Saw III or Saw? Saw started with only two guys, chained in a bathroom, wondering where they are and what's this all actually about, and those questions are typical for existentialism. The point of this movie reminded me a lot of "No Exit", written by Jean-Paul Sartre.

Both Saw II and Saw III distinguish from the first Saw but Saw IV doesn't bring anything new. It sticks to its prequel. We get to see the same scenes (flashbacks), the same places and again we face those Jigsaw traps that never seem to end. I think that we all know by now what Jigsaw really wants and how we are supposed to play. But the detectives and agents seem to lack intelligence and don't listen to his rules. That's how we face again the catastrophe of this spectacle. We also get to see a bit of John's past and his ex-wife, Jill. I thought she was there to reveal something new about John but she never does.

Actually, Saw IV offers quite a lot, many traps, many people who got into them, many stories and also a lot of blood and violence. The truth is, I don't want to see those things anymore. I have already seen all of that in Saw III. It's like the creators of the movie are falling with every sequel deeper and deeper into meaninglessness. They have forgotten a long time ago about the meaning of this whole thing and rather decided to focus on blood and violence. Too bad the team Leigh Whannell and James Wan, the founders of Saw, does not any longer exist. Nothing can save Saw anymore.

But the director Darren Lynn Bousman keeps on trying, which is actually a big plus. He really can create the atmosphere that fits best to the movie.

I have also nothing against the new actors that appear in Saw IV, p.e. Costas Mandylor and Scott Patterson, who played really professionally for those two roles that they got.

I guess I still hope that they will save Saw, because I'm a big fan, although I already assume that the situation is hopeless. They have sunk too deep.

Good luck with the next sequel. You will definitely need it.

7/10

Details

Official Sites:

Metropolitan Films [France] Official Fan Club

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 October 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Saw IV

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$31,756,764, 28 October 2007

Gross USA:

$63,300,095

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$139,352,633

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twisted Pictures, Ontario Production Services Tax Credit (OPSTC), Canadian Film or Video Production Services Tax Credit (PSTC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min 96 min (unrated director's cut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS DTS DTS (Dolby 5.1)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1