Review of Saw V (2008) by Zach B — 29 Jul 2011

There are multiple threads of storyline in this instalment of the Saw series, some true to the concept that fans of Saw would approve of, some simply distracting. Again the blood and gore are excessive, but not unexpected. The story-telling was to the point and the whole wow factor was definitely there despite what critics say: it is a old and tried concept but it is not boring. You got trapped and forced into playing a game a psychopathic killer set up to "redeem" you or your sin; the "cost" of the redemption as prescribed by a psychopathic killer is definitely unfair and usually involve losing body part(s). You need to follow instruction, otherwise you die in the most painful fashion; but then you die at the end anyway is the usual process once you commence your "redemption". It is very sickening and very uncomfortable to watch. But there is somehow a method to the madness. It reflects how rotten one and the society one is in can in fact be. It touches on the idea of cruelty. What do you know about cruelty? We as human are embodiment of cruelty. We are cruel in different degree and definition but cruel nevertheless.

Jigsaw, though dead, featured yet again in this episode. The recruitment of detective Hoffman was explained; I couldn't agree less with all the bullshit he uttered. He found killing distasteful but set up traps in which his victims experience torture through the process of what would amount to dying or, more plainly, being killed. Should it be true that Jigsaw found killing distasteful, he was nevertheless attracted to the idea of making people die a painful death unless survived, he called it "redemption". All his "rehabilitation program" ends when its participant become severely crippled and/or dead, mostly both.

The main trap was exciting (but not for those needing to go through it), five victims will become one with the aim of surviving. What's not known to them is that all have the chance of survive if they work together. It certainly wouldn't look that way if anyone of us from this selfish world was involved in it.

Again, Saw, as a general rule, is not mainstream and should not be tried by anyone not accustomed to the Horror genre or find killing distasteful. But as a horror film, it sticks to a high standard of story-telling and concept development. It was also very very horrific!