"Not merely another torture porn horror series, 'Saw 6' is brilliant." – DVD Review.

Tweet By Sean Patrick Kernan

Since the series debuted in 2004 I have been trying to convince people of the insidious brilliance of the “Saw” movies. Not merely another torture porn horror series, the “Saw” movies have a theory behind them. The lead character Jigsaw, aka John Kramer, played by Tobin Bell, believes that he can teach those who have taken their lives for granted to appreciate the gift of life.



His 'tests' are designed not merely to put these people in life and death situations but to reveal their true selves, their inherent nature, morality and character. Each is given a chance to reveal who they are through the choices they make and in doing so save their life or doom them.

The latest in the series, “Saw 6,” takes this theory of death, this dark experiment and teams it with a ripped from the headlines plot that gives the series a new juice. Jigsaw is dead but his game continues with the help of his minion, Detective Hoffman (Costas Mandylor). Why Detective Hoffman turned from good guy cop to willing accomplice of Jigsaw is woven through the past four “Saw” movies.

In this game, Detective Hoffman captures an insurance guy named William (Peter Outerbridge). William's job for years has been finding ways to keep his company from paying claims. With his team that he calls 'the dog pit' William figures he can find some way to deny just about any claim.



What he has failed to understand, or care about, is the fact that his decisions, delivered in phone calls and form letters, are really death sentences. Jigsaw aims to show William how a life and death decision is really made in a series of disturbing, horrifying challenges.

Meanwhile, Detective Hoffman has a surprise in store as the FBI closes in and a face from the past he thought was gone reemerges. Then there is Jigsaw's wife Jill (Betsy Russell) looming in the background with her own set of Jigsaw instructions that are guaranteed to pay off at some point.

Kevin Greutert moves from the editing bay, where he cut each of the first 5 films in this series, to the director's chair and the move is as seamless as a good edit. His insider knowledge of the other films allows him to fold the plot back and weave it into the history that devotees are so enamored with.

It helps to have long time “Saw” writers Marcus Dunstan and Patrick Melton to keep the story symmetry in place while crafting new and more horrifying situations that build on the darkly ingenious contraptions and plots of the past films. Credit all three men for giving this series new life by ripping from the headlines a timely plot that vilifies both bankers and insurance companies in ways even Michael Moore couldn’t imagine. Movie series aren't supposed to be this good when they get this far. In fact, most series are long out to pasture by the sixth movie. Through devilish ingenuity and malevolent imagination, the team behind “Saw” keeps finding new and unique ways to keep Jigsaw's work fresh and intriguing.

A horror film with a human center amidst its dark, twisted soul, “Saw 6” doesn't merely keep the series going; it shows that this idea has yet to lose steam. Even if this were the last film in the series, the core is still stunningly strong and could sustain even more of Jigsaw's game.

Count me in for “Saw 7.”

BYLINE:

Sean Patrick Kernan is a film critic. Check him out at: http://www.myspace.com/number1ramjamfan. Email Sean at sean@zoiksonline.com.

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