http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/10/29/SAW-IV-Not-The-Best-Saw-Weve-Seen.aspx I love horror movies.  Always will. But I realize that originality is hard to come by in the genre.  As such, I applauded the first SAW movie when it hit theaters for being different, while recognizing then that the plot of the film was basically just a half-assed set-up for the sadistic, visceral (and admittedly cool) moments that populate the franchise. Anyways, who would go see a SAW movie looking for a serious crime drama?  It seemed that Lionsgate understood that when they chose to make a very different film for the sequel, trapping a bunch of strangers in a house and offing them one by one. And though I preferred the first one, I respected the choice to make the “tests” the center-piece of SAW in a more genuine way.  But at some point, this pulpy “torture porn” series started taking itself way too seriously. SAW III broke all its own rules while simultaneously beating us over the head with Jigsaw’s mantra: cherish your life. And, like all the films, the fourth installment picks up right on the heels of the previous film. SAW IV is abysmal. That’s the best way I can put it without cussing. It’s the worst yet. And I know that it won the weekend and plenty of people will disagree with me, but the movie really sucks. Allow me to recount the first five minutes of the SAW IV. Trust me, there are no spoilers because the film is thematically identical to the previous three movies.  Oh right – except now the villains are dead. So the film opens with the autopsy of Jigsaw AKA John (played here by a nude Tobin Bell). Yes, if you ever asked yourself, “Hm, I wonder what that raspy guy from SAW’s penis looks like,” well then you’re in for a treat. I’ll never say that too much gore is a bad thing, but as the coroner delves through Jigsaw’s innards, the scene is blandly gratuitous.  Eventually he gets to the killer’s stomach and makes a startling discovery.  By flashback, we learn that before Jigsaw died he covered one of his signature tapes in wax and swallowed it. That’s the kind of storytelling that defines the entire film.  See, the SAW films are purposefully riddled with plot holes because they don’t know how many sequels the future holds, effectively gimping every story in the interest of producing a future hobbled story. And even as this film ties off some loose ends that I didn’t know existed, it’s obvious that the writers are completely unaware of the future of the franchise. I wish that was their only problem. en-US Critics Rant info@criticsrant.com Subtext Version 1.9.4.0 http://www.criticsrant.com/images/default_gravatar_bullhorn.png http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/10/29/SAW-IV-Not-The-Best-Saw-Weve-Seen.aspx 77 60 http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/10/29/SAW-IV-Not-The-Best-Saw-Weve-Seen.aspx#1953 saws is so good love them all tinkluvspan http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/10/29/SAW-IV-Not-The-Best-Saw-Weve-Seen.aspx#1953 Thu, 01 Nov 2007 11:11:26 GMT http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/10/29/SAW-IV-Not-The-Best-Saw-Weve-Seen.aspx#1970 I HAVE NEVER GOT IN TO SAW I SEE IT AS TOO MUCH BLOOD AND MURDER,AND THEY WONDER WHERE KIDS GET THE URGE TO KILL OTHERS dorothy fugate http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/10/29/SAW-IV-Not-The-Best-Saw-Weve-Seen.aspx#1970 Fri, 02 Nov 2007 02:21:23 GMT http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/10/29/SAW-IV-Not-The-Best-Saw-Weve-Seen.aspx#2453 why do we need another saw. they are all sick WAVELYN http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/10/29/SAW-IV-Not-The-Best-Saw-Weve-Seen.aspx#2453 Fri, 07 Dec 2007 20:20:55 GMT