The police are at a dead end when investigating numerous ghastly murders in the city that resembles the work of a serial killer who is known to be dead for ten years.
The legacy of the Saw series, often dubbed as "torture porn," has endured through time, outlasting rival franchises in its relentless pursuit of shock value and suspense. Unlike many horror series, the staying power of Saw is attributed not only to its gruesome traps but also to its thematic and character continuity. Jigsaw, the eighth instalment released in 2017, brings back the iconic Jigsaw killer and his intricate web of twisted morality while offering a fresh perspective under the direction of the Spierig brothers.
As other horror franchises fell by the wayside, Saw has maintained its presence, partly due to its thematic and character consistency. The series delves deep into the minds of its victims, as they confront their own sins and shortcomings. This exploration of morality, mixed with the intricate and grisly traps, has created a unique appeal that has resonated with fans over the years.
While the Saw franchise is known for its gruesome violence, Jigsaw takes a different approach. The Spierig brothers hold back on the arterial spurts and skull cracking until the film's final reel, creating an intriguing dynamic. The focus on suspense and storytelling sets Jigsaw apart from its predecessors, demonstrating the directors' desire to maintain the series' reputation while offering a fresh perspective.
In Jigsaw, the infamous Jigsaw killer returns to the spotlight, raising the body count and leaving detectives puzzled. With Jigsaw's previous acolyte gone, the investigation takes an unexpected turn as the detectives begin to suspect their medical examiner allies of being involved in the mounting deaths. The film's narrative structure aligns with its predecessors, combining the perspectives of the police and the victims to create tension and intrigue.
Cinematographer Ben Nott takes a departure from the series' previous desaturated palette, opting for unbleached daylight and improved camerawork. This visual shift offers a fresh perspective on the grim and gritty world of Saw, while contributing to the film's professional and polished appearance.
Despite its attempt to revitalize the franchise, Jigsaw stumbles in delivering compelling storytelling within its formula. The film follows the familiar pattern of previous Saw movies, focusing on the investigation, the victims' plight, and the inevitable twist. However, the film spends an excessive amount of time building up and concealing its twist, resulting in a lack of decent scares and tension. The reliance on detective sequences at times detracts from the fans' craving for the franchise's signature gore and elaborate traps.
While Jigsaw attempts to delve into the character of the titular killer, it often loses focus on updating his methods for the present day. The film explores Jigsaw's past, but its emphasis on his backstory overshadows his motives and the intricate connection between the victims' crimes and their personalized traps. The once-amusing non-equivalence between crime and punishment takes a backseat, leaving fans with a sense of longing for the series' signature balance between moral dilemmas and violence.
The Spierig brothers aim to infuse Jigsaw with a thriller element, moving away from the conventional horror style. While the film features the series' trademark blood and guts, it strives to strike a balance between suspense and terror. This shift, coupled with the use of inventive torture methods, delivers a concoction of horror and thrills that both satisfy fans and invite a new perspective.
As Jigsaw brings the iconic killer back to the screen, it also reintroduces a familiar blend of rust, metal, blood, and guts that have defined the franchise. The film boasts a series of traps that, while not as outlandish as in earlier instalments, remain inventive in their own right. From acid to lasers to a massive and hypnotic blender, Jigsaw doesn't skimp on the creative and gruesome methods of torment.
While the traps in Jigsaw retain the series' gruesome reputation, they lack the satirical playfulness of previous entries. The countryside setting offers a refreshing change from the industrial warehouses of the past, and the nerve-wracking silo trap captures the essence of the series' better set-pieces.
One of the film's drawbacks lies in its lack of character depth beyond its plot purposes. Characters are overshadowed by the roles they play in the twists, leading to a lack of memorable personalities. The film struggles with connective tissue between major revelations, leaving viewers with unanswered questions about the characters' motivations and actions.
Jigsaw embraces elements of a sequel, prequel, and reboot. While it attempts to offer a fresh take, the film feels familiar in its execution. The surprisingly strong final stretch, buoyed by an unexpected twist, leaves the franchise on a positive note, even as it falls back into familiar territory.
Jigsaw presents itself as both a return to the classic Saw formula and an attempt at reinvention. The Spierig brothers infuse the film with suspense and thriller elements, departing from the conventional horror style. While the film grapples with narrative shortcomings and misses some of the franchise's signature nuances, it delivers the expected blend of gore, tension, and twisted morality that fans have come to expect. As Jigsaw brings the iconic killer's legacy to an end, it offers a blend of nostalgia and freshness that leaves fans with a mixture of satisfaction and longing for more of the twisted puzzles that have defined the Saw franchise.
Jigsaw was released back in 2017, but Saw X is in NZ cinemas from September 28, 2023