Review of Saw IV (2007) by Jarid J — 08 Aug 2012

Every long-running horror series has to have its nadir, and for the SAW films it's this muddled installment. It didn't strike me as a total disaster this time though, as compared to when I first saw it at the theater (I rated it a total BOMB at that time). I think it helps to see this right after the first three rather than cold on its own, but even being somewhat familiar with the characters and scenarios set up in the storyline so far, many people are still bound to get lost and mixed up. Director Darren Lynn Bousam at this point established himself as the go-to guy for this franchise (he also directed parts II and III, each diminishing quality) but this time the dizzying camera-work and bouncing around from flashback to flashback take on new heights of tedium.

Tobin Bell (as the now-definitely-deceased John Kramer, aka Jigsaw) returns via numerous insights back into his past life, but there is getting to be less interest in what made him the angel of death he is, since we've already learned enough of that in the previous films. We're introduced to his ex-wife (Betsy Ross) and there are some new angles toyed with amidst the confusion, but the best thing that may be said for this sequel, for those who would look at it this way, is that the gory death traps which are the main staple of this series are still potent.

4/10.