DVD Review: Saw 4 (2007)

There are plenty of reviews and storyline spoilers around including a lengthy one on The Independent Movie Database here which contains many spoilers and reads like a gamer’s walkthrough.

Don’t be fooled by the hype – think for yourself. Saw 4 is the worst in the series and as always, uses clever devices to ‘play a game’, as John Kramer or Jigsaw, would put it. I like the devices and the imagination of the movie’s creators (making stuff up like this must be the best job in the world). The movie’s storyline isn’t the worst part of the movie, being tantamount to the ending. After watching Saw 3, I didn’t think the endings could get any worse. It doesn’t stop Jigsaw’s devices from causing an occasional grue as we see lavishly portrayed visceral matter of our fellow humans. In fact, the film is worth watching to see these devices in action, if for nothing else. Biology 101.5

With each new Saw movie, the storylines become starved, so I am trusting that the Saw series are now at an end (again). However, putting the storyline and ending from the first and gore from the third may change my mind.

What I did like about the movie were some of the scene transitions. There’s some seamless camerawork and clever editing done here, I assume, to keep the viewer interested in the narrative. I like innovation in camerawork and direction (The Matrix being a standout in this field). Unfortunately, the technical aspects of scene transitions were more interesting to me than what was happening in the scenes themselves. Many scenes were boring. Tension was scarce because of the flurry of dead bodies. I didn’t like the main character. The only tension I had to look forward to was the ending (nod, nod, – say no more).

The original Saw movie remains outstanding and a movie I can watch over and over. I would like to say the same with Saw 4, but only a device which would flay me would make me do that.

I'd rather play a game ... of backgammon.