IGN.com
Emma Barkley
Lantern Staff
After being silent for seven years, Saw has made a return to the theaters as a spin on the original now called Jigsaw. Even though John Kramer is presumed to be dead, but now he is back with a vengeance, taking lives in horrid ways.
A lot of horror movies begin slowly and work their way up to the suspense, but Jigsaw uses a different approach. The movie begins in a suspenseful way with someone running from the cops and when he finally gets caught, he speaks about the “game”. Directors Michael Spierig and Peter Spierig are not afraid to start the film out gruesome when viewers see the scene of the game.
Jigsaw has chosen five people with sins they have committed, they are placed in a room with chains around their necks and metal buckets over their heads. Kramer’s voice echoes from a voice recorder, informing them of the game they are about to play. Only one person will be left standing, and the game presents life or death situations.
Among the five participants, we meet Anna, Ryan, Mitch and Carly, and the fifth player is unknown. The detectives try to figure out who is behind the murders and where these games are being held. Every time someone from the “games” dies, the Jigsaw killer places the dead body where the detectives would find it. Each body the detectives find has a puzzle piece carved out of their skin and a note is left behind.
As the movie comes to an end, viewers suspect the detectives have finally figured out who the killer is, but they are left shocked. The ending contains a plot twist viewers will never see coming, and the ending is also disturbing.
It was hard to watch given the gruesome killings. The movie is definitely not for viewers with weak stomachs. I, for one, was expecting more horror scenes, and many times I covered my eyes.
A viewer can follow along with Jigsaw without watching any of the Saw films, but these films can help provide context. If a viewer likes to watch movies with a lot of blood and gore, then Jigsaw is the film for you.