Saw III (2006)
Director: Darren Lynn Bousman
Movie review
From Time Out London
The second ‘Saw’ sequel develops the mythology of sadistic puppet-master Jigsaw (Bell) in ambitious, gruesome but ultimately self-defeating ways. Despite the twisted imagination he and his protégé Amanda (Shawnee Smith) lavish upon their ingenious engines of pain, there are no scares or suspense to speak of, and the screams are starting to sound thin. Although the perverse master/pupil dynamic is explored to some effect, the complicated flashback structure is more confusing than enlightening, the hyper-kinetic images more agitating than exciting. Debilitated by a brain tumour, Jigsaw abducts depressed brain surgeon Lynn (Bahar Soomekh) and forces her to Black and Decker his skull, while wearing an explosive collar linked to his heart monitor. Fully conscious throughout, Jigsaw amuses himself by monitoring the tests he has devised for Jeff (MacFadyen), an alcoholic consumed by fantasies of vengeance since his son was killed in a car accident. As the overwrought puzzle plot is strained to breaking point, the sole point of interest is the teasing (probably disingenuous) hint that this attenuated instalment might be the last of the series.Author: Nigel Floyd
Time Out London Issue 1888: October 25-November 1
Cast & crew
Director: Darren Lynn Bousman
Producer: Mark Burg, Oren Koules
Cast: Tobin Bell, Shawnee Smith, Angus MacFadyen, Bahar Soomekh full cast
Duration: 108 mins
Most popular on this site
Features
To the letter
Forty years later, Costa-Gavras's Z still brims with fury.
Mind over matter
David Cronenberg reflects on a most bizarre body: his own corpus of work.
Fool's gold
Can an Oscar win lead to a cursed career? Here are five stories of postaward professional meltdowns.
We are the championed
Terrorists and teens abound in this year's "Film Comment Selects."
A history of violence
Matteo Garrone's kaleidoscopic Gomorrah wallops you with Italy's crime crisis.
True romantic
James Gray exchanges urban amorality for amour in Two Lovers.
Playing in the dark
MoMA salutes pianist Stuart Oderman's 50 years as the one-man sound of silents.
Junk bonds
Cast and crew recall the making of the classic NYC drug drama The Panic in Needle Park.



What do you think?
Post your review now