Saw VI (2009)

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

Agent Strahm is dead, and FBI agent Erickson draws nearer to Hoffman. Meanwhile, a pair of insurance executives find themselves in another game set by Jigsaw. I didn't enjoy Saw V and Saw VI is the exact same horrible mess that the previous installment was i mean don't expect anything more than just blood and people having to sacrifice their parts such a hand or a leg nothing more to see here. Except a bunch of awful perfomances and Hoffman somehow is like the most clever person of all time or something. Such a pathetic film and entry. (F)

Jigsaw returns for the sixth time to further the horror story and continue the gruesome conquest of punishing those the killer deems guilty in terrible ways. Mark Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) carries on the legacy of John Kramer (Tobin Bell) but he has to work harder to cover his tracks. Dan Erikson (Mark Rolston) leads the FBI investigation though he has a misguided belief that a former agent is guilty. He kept it a secret that Agent Lindsey Perez (Athena Karkanis) had survived a Jigsaw attack back in the fourth film. John's ex-wife Jill Tuck (Betsy Russell) holds on to a box of Kramer's last wishes but hands over the folders inside when Hoffman demands them. This installment is about Jigsaw continuing his revenge even after he has died.William Easton (Peter Outerbridge) is the focus of this film's terrifying puzzle. He is attacked in his office and wakes up attached to a breathing machine. His decisions at the health insurance company have resulted in people dying so his first task is to hold his breath against a chronic smoker or whoever breaths will have their abdomen squeezed. William makes it out of this test but has to continue forward or explosive bracelets and anklets will explode his limbs. He also must continue forward because his family is held in a cage with a tank of acid above it. It looks like an abandoned zoo and his next step is in a glass observatory. He must choose between his older secretary with her family or a lonely intern. He chooses the intern to die by releasing a chain that makes the young man hang by barbed wire. His third task is to help a lawyer through a maze by stopping steam jets but in the process, he'll get burned. He helps the lawyer through but balks when she tries to cut a key out of his side. A device goes off ripping open her skull. Check out more of this review and others at swilliky.com

For five consecutive Halloweens, the Saw series had been steadily released from a small budget and gained a good amount of box office returns. After the events of the previous films, mostly dealing with Jigsaw's death and the rise of his successor, Mark Hoffman. A new director was introduced, taking over from Saw V's David Hackl, and the film was created. Surprisingly (though not really, because of the release of Paranormal Activity), the film underperformed at the box office, compared to previous installments, and only made about 5x it's 11 million dollar budget. This led to the proposed Saw VII and VIII becoming one film (which was a problem all of it's own, but we're not there yet). People say that Saw VI is the best film in the series since the first three. Is that true? Is Saw VI the savior of the franchise? Or is it just as bad as some of the previous films? Let's find out.Saw VI follows an insurance executive named William Easton who has to deal with a set of tests played with his employees that attempt to show Easton the error of his ways. Meanwhile, the FBI investigates into Strahm's supposed involvement as a Jigsaw accomplice, and Hoffman has to go to surprising lengths to keep his secret.So, Saw VI. Hmm. This is an interesting film, and in my opinion, it's at the same level as the first Saw (meaning I'm giving it the same grade that I did to Saw). It manages to create a fascinating story and connect it rather well to the previous films. Unlike most of the films, the traps are very much entwined with the overarching story, and just overall, it's a great movie.The acting is great from both returning cast members and new cast members. Peter Outerbridge does a stellar job as William Easton, and really portrays the conflicted man who has to be judge, jury, and executioner all in one go. The funny thing is though, all of the decisions are basically handed to him, he just has to be the hardass who chooses what happens. Devon Bostick and Shauna MacDonald as son and mother do a great job as well. Easton's character did something to their family (not gonna spoil it), and at the end of the film, they have to decide something to do with him. They both play their parts very well. The other actors and actresses, even in their limited roles, turn in great performances.The music is just as good, if not better, than most of the previous installments. One of the reasons I really like these films is because of the music and the overlying music score that continues throughout. Charlie Clouser does a stellar job, as usual, in this department. The cinematography is on point, even if the color palette does look a little bit more washed out than usual. I did read that for the last film, and this one, they tried to make the colors less pronounced and in your face, like the colors in III and IV. I guess they succeeded.Like I said before, the storyline is very well done. It manages to tie together what happens in the past into the future and creates a rather well-tightened narrative. The script works as well. All of the dialogue seems pretty well done, and the early scenes with Easton before his trap actually begins works very well, and all sound like something someone as scummy as he was would say. The gore is also lessened a lot in this film, even if there are some grueling parts to it, it's a lot more classier, I suppose you could say.All in all, Saw VI is an exceptional sequel. It manages to recapture what made the first film so great, while also adding its own twists and turns to the overarching story. The acting, music, cinematography, storyline, and lessened gore all work in the movie's favor. If you've given up on the Saw franchise in the last few films, power through them so you can get to this worthwhile sequel.9/10. | Grade: A-

'Saw VI' was a shock to many fans, myself included. A film that managed to surpass its predecessors, with the exception of the original, whilst still maintaining the gore, the franchise is famous for. The story is not doze inducing, the acting a substantial improvement over 'Saw V' and the traps the most inventive of the series. It even has relevance to the current day health care scheme and that makes 'Saw VI' all the more compelling to watch.'Saw VI' continues minutes after the end of 'Saw V'. Agent Strahm was crushed by two walls, Detective Hoffman (an aggressively angry Costas Mandylor), the new Jigsaw killer leaves the scene Scott free. Jill (Jigsaw's wife) accepted her husband's actions by the start of 'Saw V', she provides Hoffman with several numbered envelopes. Jigsaw's possibly final test for members of a healthcare company is outlined within them. Whilst Hoffman starts the new game, he must avoid arousing the suspicions of Agents Perez and Erickson who have acquired a Jigsaw tape from a test. They are analysing a distorted voice in the hope of finding out the identity of Jigsaw's accomplice. The victim of the game is William; he is the CEO of a health care company with unfair policies. In his four tests he must help members of the firm, whilst reaching his family before he runs out of time.'Saw VI' is surprisingly very entertaining, this garners further merit as this is of course the sixth instalment in a Horror franchise. Because there is so much variety and little lapses of time where nothing intriguing happens, we remain for the majority of the runtime transfixed and glued to the screen. If you never liked the 'Saw' films, then I would not advise you to see this for numerous reasons. Firstly, the gore will be too much to handle, although it is not in repugnant excess like 'Saw V' and this film's successor. Secondly, you will not have the faintest idea of what is going on. The 'Saw' saga has interconnecting story threads running through all of the films. It is therefore essential to watch the first five 'Saw' films before viewing this one. Therein lays Saw VI's biggest problem which cannot be helped. As many of the sequels are ponderous affairs of little value.The traps that William faces are my absolute favourite of the series. That's because they do not provide easy challenges and do not rely on gore, but quick thinking and an abundance of skill. Did I mention pain? There's that too. The first trap excels because of its simplicity. Jigsaw puts William face to face with the Janitor from the company. William is healthy, the Janitor not so. According to the policy of the company, the Janitor's will to live is less than that of William's; as Jigsaw puts it "when faced with death, who should live, versus who will live are two entirely separate things". Without the need for Rube Goldberg style torture devices, when one thing leads to another chain reaction, the franchise finds its footing at last. It is the simple consequences that have the highest effect and overall lasting impact on the audience. The gore is toned down, so you are in no danger of fainting here. Other traps focus on simple harsh decisions such as helping a friend out through the sacrifice of blood and coming face to face with the person you are effectively killing. It's an interesting choice, made all the more potent by the political undertones of the picture.The acting this time around is great, or as great as any Horror will ever be. Peter Outerbridge as William brings overconfidence and bigheadedness. It is impressive to see him smarmy in the first act and all of his power and influence on the people surrounding him diminished by the third. The film's colour palette is mainly formed from cold blues and industrial browns, each location giving off distinctiveness from the last. It makes you feel untrustworthy of the characters. With 'Saw VI' they use the tension to their advantage and by somewhat withholding the guts, they delve deeper into the film and hint at healthcare policies. This makes 'Saw VI' a truly memorable entry and return to form for the franchise.The film's pacing is succinct and edited for maximum impact. I never felt disengaged and would have gladly watched the film run over two hours in length. Charlie Clouser makes key use of his underplayed score. You feel on edge and the score knows when to be noticed. Listen to how it seamlessly blends when characters are engaging in the traps. This is a close to perfect Horror soundtrack. The camera work is solid and allows for complex movements, you always pick up on something you missed the previous time; providing a new experience every time you revisit 'Saw VI'.If you wanted something else to be happy about then you are in luck. We see the return of Jigsaw and Amanda; this is because there are many flashbacks showing how they devised the traps for the previous instalments. Although not essential to the story we get character development and 'Saw VI' utilises this to its fullest potential.'Saw VI' is the high point of the sequels. By withholding the excess levels of blood found in the other instalments, the filmmakers delve deeper into economic issues and ask posing questions about society. Don't worry though, there are plenty of traps, suspense and surprises to make even part time fans enthralled from beginning to its killer twist at the end. 'Saw VI' proves there is plenty of blood left in its veins yet.