Review of Saw IV (2007) by Zack R — 25 Jun 2011
While Saw III was a great ending to the first trilogy, the same level of quality cannot be said for Saw IV, which sadly just feels like a lackluster beginning to a new one.
One thing I have to give immense amounts of credit for right off the bat is that it's trying. The acting is quite good by the series' standards, and from the very opening, a strong sense of drama is conveyed. The first image of Jigsaw, the hitherto elusive, sneaky, wise judge jury and executioner of existence, being autopsied and cut open is quite a shocking and effective scene. "Even death may die", it seems to say. Our beloved punisher of sins is dead.
The writing is also fairly good for the series, too. Not as good as Saw I or Saw VI, but it manages to tie everything up fairly well.
Saw IV is an example of a continuation to a series presumed finished by the first trilogy done right....
...At least, at first.
"Why?" you ask? Pacing problems, an absurd twist that almost completely kills any and all suspension of disbelief, and overall just losing all control and quality by the end of the film. The only good thing to come out of it is the fact that one of the minor characters (I will not reveal who) gets a nice graduation to being a major threat in the next three movies.
It's a movie that starts off strong; in fact, the first half of the movie would have been a really good (If short) addition to the franchise on it's own; but ends horribly and messily, trying to tie up as many loose ends as it can.
This review of Saw IV (2007) was written by Zack R on 25 Jun 2011.
Saw IV has generally received mixed reviews.
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