Saw 3 film review

certificate_18

SAW 3

The Motion Picture Association of America awarded Saw III an R rating for what it describes as "strong, grisly violence and gore, sequences of terror and torture." The MPAA's assessment is not so much a warning as a review. For nearly two hours, Saw III offers no respite from its relentless horror. The original Saw at least allowed some light to filter through, but here both the content and look are perpetually dark.

That the franchise is so successful (borne out by Saw III's huge US opening), says much about society. The idea that anyone would voluntarily expose themselves to "grisly, violence and gore" and "sequences of terror and torture" is as disturbing as the film itself. Sequels, by their very nature, are under pressure to top the original. For Saw's creators James Wan and Leigh Whannell, that means ramping up the blood count. With audiences now familiar with serial killer John Kramer (Tobin Bell), nicknamed Jigsaw, it leaves more time to focus on his sadistic acts, of which Saw III provides plenty.

Prefacing each with his catchphrase, "I want to play a game," Jigsaw's victims find themselves trapped in a variety of macabre situations. One is hung by chains which pierce his skin, another is strapped to a rack that slowly twists him apart. In each case the victims are presented with a way out, but one that forces them to confront a primal fear or instinct, not to mention incredible pain, all in a demented attempt to teach them a lesson. All these atrocities are linked to the central plot involving the dying Jigsaw kidnapping, with the aid of his assistant Amanda (Shawnee Smith), a doctor (Bahar Soomekh) to help keep him alive.

Wan and Whannell have proved themselves innovative when it comes to devising methods of physical and psychological torture, which is the key to Saw's continuing success. If watching people hacking their own limbs off and graphic close-ups of someone having their skull cut open is your idea of a good time, then Saw III is for you. As Jigsaw gleefully warns one unfortunate soul, "Suffering? You haven't seen anything yet." Funny, because it sure looked like suffering to me. I guess for real suffering you'll have to wait for the inevitable Saw IV.

Kevin Murphy