Saw IV-VII - You Know What You're in for

A while ago, I wrote about how I was done with the Saw series after the third installment of the franchise. I don't think I mentioned it in when it came to discuss Spiral, but I'd actually returned to the series before coming back for the reboot/spin-off/prequel.

There's a certain itch that Saw movies scratch and, having lots of time in lockdown, I found myself feeling an urge to return to the franchise. After all, horror films are found to help manage stress, and lockdown was a stressful time. The over the top grindhouse of Saw guarantees a few squeamish moments - it's what the series is known for, after all.

The thing about Saw is that you find yourself leaning into it. Every criticism of the series is valid. Yes, it's entirely unrealistic for Jigsaw to set all of these traps. Yes, every twist ending is nonsensical. Yes, it's incredibly convoluted. Yes, the traps are torture porn and incredibly over the top. Yes, the editing choices are absurd.

And yet - that's also why they have such a fan following.

There are constants in the Saw franchise: the janky editing, green filters and rock music over the credits are just some that you grow to like. It builds the brand of the movies - they all feel cohesive, even if the plots are not.

I feel like people assume Saw fans love the violent traps, and they certainly are what the series is known for, but I also enjoy:

1. The ridiculous amount of John Kramer flashbacks, because they realised they killed him off too quickly.

2. Pretending John Kramer is younger in these flashbacks, via backwards baseball cap.

3. Tobin Bell never leaving the franchise - his performance is a delight every time.

4. That a third of each movie's runtime is dedicated to explaining how the twist from the last movie works.

5. Ending each movie on another absurd twist. (I can only imagine how it would feel to see these movies yearly, only half-remembering what happened the Halloween before.)

6. The many delightful entrances of Billy the puppet. (One of my favourites has to be the birdcage - it's so absurd.)

7. Returning to that disgusting bathroom to see Adam's corpse again. (And, sometimes, Lawrence Gordon's foot!)

8. Hearing the 'Hello, Zepp' theme starting up, and knowing it's all about to happen.

For me, the highlight of these movies are the bits in-between the traps; the melodrama of Kramer's life, the drama between disciples and the sheer ineptitude of the police/FBI. No, little about the practicality of these films is realistic, but if you suspend your disbelief, you'll probably have a bit of fun - especially if you're watching them back to back. The movies do tend to run into each other, but here are some quick notes on the rest of the series: (Don't worry, a separate Saw X review is to follow.)

Saw IV (2007): Probably the most coherent plot out of the rest of the films, with Rigg (Lyriq Bent) being a pretty competent protagonist. The twist shows the mind of the new Jigsaw killer: it's inevitable not because its fixed, but because of how Rigg would behave. The traps aren't as extreme as we see later, but still memorable in their own right. Truly boggling moments are the smash cut to make it look like a dead girl's being hit in the face with a door, and the idea that any FBI agent worth her salt would approach a suspicious, tape-playing puppet. (Sorry, Perez, but given what you know about Jigsaw, how is that a good move?)

Saw V (2008): I once spent a solid ten minutes googling the trap plotline of this film, half-convinced it wasn't a Saw movie at all, because I'd been watching for half an hour, and we hadn't even started the first room yet. This is where the traps become secondary to the excitement that is Straum (Scott Paterson)and Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) - who's the best character of the series, by the way. The twist of the main trap series is obvious to see, and yet does follow the theme of Saw IV of inevitable due to this group of people being fundamentally awful. Here's another subtle change to the series - the people in the traps behave as terribly as possible; an old horror trick so that you don't feel bad when they die. (In fact, you might even look forward to it.) The traps that stand out aren't the main event, but both of Straum's - the water box trap and the glass coffin are both some pretty great scenes.

Saw VI (2009): The one with the very memorable traps. The first, the last, and the shotgun carousel are all remembered well. Whenever I re-watch this one, I'm sure the acid trap isn't as horrible as I remember, only to be reminded that yes, it really is. Not only that, but Hoffman in the reverse bear trap is also another great ending. There's also some truly baffling Billy the puppet entrances that make up for everyone's lack of character - not to mention the incompetency of the FBI. (Why would you invite your suspect to watch you declare him a suspect, without any form of defense?)

Saw VII (2010): Also known as Saw 3D, and Saw: The Final Chapter - and what a chapter to go out on. The pink blood is ridiculous and even more immersion breaking than usual, the protagonist is inept, and everyone hesitates just long enough for the traps to go off - oh, and the final trap is pretty unfair on an innocent person. But we do get the return of Hoffman, in full, unrealistic, slasher-villain mode, which creates a bit of camp fun - and the even campier fun of Dr Lawrence Gordon's (Cary Elwes) return. His entrance is suitably melodramatic, and it's a delight to see him again - even more delightful is the final twist. The old 3D effects make it goofily fun - especially in that twist ending. (Yes, it makes very little sense, but at least it's dramatic!)The traps may have reached the height of over the top gruesomeness, but hey, we finally get to see a reverse bear trap in action.

Obviously, the plot has become a winding, complicated thread that would unravel under any scrutiny and the series pivots to rely on its gory traps and twist endings instead of any real logic - but that's what fans enjoy. It's what they've come to expect, and will probably agree with you about the series' many flaws. But there's a certain comfort what you're gunna get: Billy the puppet, traps that'll make you cringe and some truly interesting line deliveries.

Saw may not be the pinnacle of cinema, but at least it knows who it is.