Saw VI
Year: 2009
Directed by: Kevin Greutert
Starring: Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Mark Rolston & Betsy Russell
Runtime: 90 mins
BBFC: 18
Published: 11/11/21
Directed by: Kevin Greutert
Starring: Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Mark Rolston & Betsy Russell
Runtime: 90 mins
BBFC: 18
Published: 11/11/21
For the most part, Saw V remedied most of the issues present in Saw IV, but overall was still not a particularly good film. For fans of the franchise there was definitely enjoyment to be had, but it seemed like the series would never recapture the glory of the original film. But Saw VI was widely considered to be the series last chance at redeeming itself, so the stakes were high and only time would tell if the sixth annual entry to the hugely popular series would actually be any good.
Following his murder of Agent Strahm, Detective Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) has started to cover up his Jigsaw style murders with Strahm’s DNA. He works alongside Agent Erickson (Mark Rolston) and the returning Agent Perez (Athena Karkanis) to compile evidence against Strahm to go public in a plea for information about his whereabouts. All whilst Hoffman sets up John Kramer’s final Jigsaw game as laid out in his will, with the help of John’s ex-wife Jill Tuck (Betsy Russell).
As John’s final game is set into motion, health insurance tycoon William Easton (Peter Outerbridge) awakes to find that he must choose which out of his employee’s will live and die in a practical simulation of his health company’s insurance policy. Will he abide by his algorithm for the value of human life, or will he defy the rules he has laid down for so many others to save those he cares about the most?
Following his murder of Agent Strahm, Detective Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) has started to cover up his Jigsaw style murders with Strahm’s DNA. He works alongside Agent Erickson (Mark Rolston) and the returning Agent Perez (Athena Karkanis) to compile evidence against Strahm to go public in a plea for information about his whereabouts. All whilst Hoffman sets up John Kramer’s final Jigsaw game as laid out in his will, with the help of John’s ex-wife Jill Tuck (Betsy Russell).
As John’s final game is set into motion, health insurance tycoon William Easton (Peter Outerbridge) awakes to find that he must choose which out of his employee’s will live and die in a practical simulation of his health company’s insurance policy. Will he abide by his algorithm for the value of human life, or will he defy the rules he has laid down for so many others to save those he cares about the most?
Much like its immediate predecessor, Saw VI has a halfway decent story. Watching Hoffman always be on his toes as he tries to be in multiple places at once, afraid to trust anyone because at this point he’s made so many enemies. Plus, William’s story, and how it ties into John Kramer is excellent and the strongest area of the film. The traps in this entry are also very good, although they are definitely more elaborate than something John, Hoffman, and Amanda would have been able to construct which can test your suspension of disbelief.
In fact, Saw VI is a very good entry to the series. It certainly doesn’t make it a particularly great film when looked at on its own merits, but it is markedly better than most of the other Saw sequels.
The issues I hold with it are that Hoffman is not a compelling enough character to essentially be the leading man in this film. Also, it’s difficult to tell whether the film wants you to side with Hoffman or not, because he is the antagonist of the entire series, the revelations made in this film reframe most of the previous films and how he has been pulling the strings from the start to leave himself as the sole survivor. As such he’s a good enough antagonist but lacks the charisma and depth that John Kramer had. But he’s also far too evil to be a protagonist, despite the film repeatedly seeming as though it wants you to see him win.
Jill Tuck is also given a significantly bigger role in this film but yet she’s given absolutely no personality. Her role in Saw IV was limited to interactions with Agent Strahm in an interrogation room where she simply acted as an exposition informant. Now that she’s a full-blown character and cog in Kramer’s grand scheme, she doesn’t have the motive to carry it out and it seems puzzling to me as to why she would involve herself to the degree she does.
On the whole Saw fans will definitely enjoy Saw VI and it leaves a great setup for Saw VII to be an explosive finale, but the knowledge entry level is so unattainably high for newcomers that it will only appeal to those who are already heavily invested in the series. That seems like a no brainer for a franchise on its sixth film, but the fact that there is absolutely no accommodation made for newcomers is a little disheartening. Will Saw stick the landing in its grand finale? Let the game begin!
In fact, Saw VI is a very good entry to the series. It certainly doesn’t make it a particularly great film when looked at on its own merits, but it is markedly better than most of the other Saw sequels.
The issues I hold with it are that Hoffman is not a compelling enough character to essentially be the leading man in this film. Also, it’s difficult to tell whether the film wants you to side with Hoffman or not, because he is the antagonist of the entire series, the revelations made in this film reframe most of the previous films and how he has been pulling the strings from the start to leave himself as the sole survivor. As such he’s a good enough antagonist but lacks the charisma and depth that John Kramer had. But he’s also far too evil to be a protagonist, despite the film repeatedly seeming as though it wants you to see him win.
Jill Tuck is also given a significantly bigger role in this film but yet she’s given absolutely no personality. Her role in Saw IV was limited to interactions with Agent Strahm in an interrogation room where she simply acted as an exposition informant. Now that she’s a full-blown character and cog in Kramer’s grand scheme, she doesn’t have the motive to carry it out and it seems puzzling to me as to why she would involve herself to the degree she does.
On the whole Saw fans will definitely enjoy Saw VI and it leaves a great setup for Saw VII to be an explosive finale, but the knowledge entry level is so unattainably high for newcomers that it will only appeal to those who are already heavily invested in the series. That seems like a no brainer for a franchise on its sixth film, but the fact that there is absolutely no accommodation made for newcomers is a little disheartening. Will Saw stick the landing in its grand finale? Let the game begin!