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Saw VI (2009)

Director: Kevin Greutert

2

Time Out rating

Average user rating
24 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

Although you should hack off your own arm rather than contribute any more money to the undeservedly long-lived Saw franchise, it must be admitted that this fifth sequel is less bad than the fourth. Kevin Greutert, taking up the directorial reins after editing all the previous 'Saw' movies, keeps the action driving forward – even when it doesn't make any sense. Major problems remain, however. First, the series died when Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) expired; second, the nominal thriller element of the plot - whether Agent Erickson and the mysteriously resurrected Agent Peres will work out what we already know, that Detective Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) has inherited Jigsaw's blood-stained mantle - is now entirely divorced from the brutal morality of the torture-testing scenes.

For completists, there are two minor innovations. Given Obama's recent proclamations on health insurance, the plot is right on message with a theme about cynical health insurance employees who find loopholes in their sick clients' legitimate claims. Also there is more emphasis this time on cruel games that pit the victims against one another, forcing them to make real, rather than administrative, life-or-death decisions about the fate of their fellow captives. Otherwise, as the exploitative tabloid journalist pithily puts it, it's just the usual Conundrum of Carnage. For the record, this instalment's ingenious games of death include one that demands a literal 'pound of flesh', a booby-trapped maze rigged with scalding jets of  steam, and a boring carousel of death.

The real-time unfolding of events generates no suspense whatever, while the rushed ending is both predictable and disappointing. But it's the care-worn Hoffman who sums up the tedium best, when he asks Jigsaw, during one of the myriad flashbacks: 'How many next times are there going to be?'

Author: Nigel Floyd 2009-10-23 15:04:31

Time Out London Issue 2044, 22-28 October 2009


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User reviews of this film

  • Ryan Williams said...
    Posted on Nov 17 2009 12:57 I thought this film was beautifully written and showed attention to detail. And i really enjoyed the song at the end..''ryan williams, has only got one ball...''
    Absolutley superb film..I would recomend this to people of all ages especially Children underneath the age of 10.
    Everyone go and see this.WOW it was such a thrill!! absolutly heart racing..reminded me of my bunny rabbit Jessica Jaws the 3rd.
    The films was utter genious! well done Al Paccino and his co writer Julie Andrews. And the editing by gordon brown was just phenomenal.
    I felt the main charector resembled Joan Rivers.
    But overall a Must see film of the year!!
    Report as inappropriate
  • TIMMY NICTOR said...
    Posted on Nov 01 2009 13:16 If you are a sociopath or budding sociopath - you will llike this film. Pop ya popcorn at enjoy all the gratuitous violence. A creepo's delight.
    Report as inappropriate
  • Thomas Noctor said...
    Posted on Nov 01 2009 13:01 As I sais everyone has their own opinion! I'm not asking anyone to enjoy it, I'm just saying I do, and to 'Mr Man' I'm a film reviewer and its none of your business what my opinion is. Excellent movie! Great series love the twists and turns!
    Report as inappropriate
  • Bumfluff said...
    Posted on Nov 01 2009 12:38 amazing.
    totally amazing man!
    Report as inappropriate
  • Stacey said...
    Posted on Oct 30 2009 22:39 First of all I dont see why people who dont like this film need to slag off the people that do. If you dont like it good for you go rent Barbie or something. To all my people who thought this was brilliant i'm right there with you. I loved the begginning they bought a comical edge to it they rarely do this there was a lot of laughs from the cinema goers its still gory with a lot of people looking away at parts but i enjoyed how it all came together and the suspence of wondering what Hoffman would do once they decoded his voice!! I'm weary of them making another one i kind of want to see what happens to Hoffman but at the same time dont want them to overdo it. Especially since this movie see's them wrap it all up with a bow. If you love the saw films you will love this. People who are too scared to see fake blood grow some balls and take a look see.
    Report as inappropriate
  • rogerrabbit said...
    Posted on Oct 30 2009 17:17 You will luv this and be really turned on........ if you have the mind of Fred West !!!!
    Report as inappropriate
  • ARCHGATE said...
    Posted on Oct 29 2009 19:55 Hey everyone, Stewart thinks this film is awesome.
    So if you are a retard like him, you will like it too.
    Report as inappropriate
  • Ronan said...
    Posted on Oct 28 2009 21:59 Lol at how it centers around current, sensationalised events to seem more intelligent then it is. The next film will probably parallel swine flu or the war on terroooooor.
    Report as inappropriate
  • stewart said...
    Posted on Oct 28 2009 18:42 elfonzo bonzo and ARCHGATE are both BIG douchebags! Stop being pretentious and go elsewhere and bark if you do not like this film!
    Report as inappropriate
  • Norman Lowther said...
    Posted on Oct 28 2009 18:11 What a wonderful family film ! My mother is 90 next birthday & I wonder should I get her a double dvd box set with all six films in the series ?
    Report as inappropriate
  • MrMan said...
    Posted on Oct 28 2009 12:56 "For me this series is the most, clever, well written I've ever seen"
    Thomas, you really need to start seeing more movies.
    Report as inappropriate
  • elfonzo bonzo said...
    Posted on Oct 27 2009 23:28 People, don't waste your time with this crap. Go and watch something good instead. There are probably 2 million films better then this. Go watch one of them instead,
    Report as inappropriate
  • ARCHGATE said...
    Posted on Oct 27 2009 21:46 Stewart is a tosser and a coward
    avoid this rubbish if you are an adult.
    Report as inappropriate
  • Jason Woods said...
    Posted on Oct 27 2009 12:26 Superb, long live the Saw films
    Report as inappropriate
  • usman khawaja said...
    Posted on Oct 27 2009 02:13 This is a relentless satire on the effete and corrupt american heal th system and it succeeds in mingling the gore and horror in a tongue in cheek manner with it's message which now is almost complete .
    the editing and acting was better than last two episodes and it kept me involved as the movie surprisingly had an actual plot .
    the sadomasochistic violence was actually serving a motive which was and amenable accessible to the audience in general .
    Report as inappropriate
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Cast & crew

Director: Kevin Greutert

Cast: Patrick Melton, Marcus Dunstan, Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Mark Rolston, Betsy Russell, Shawnee Smith

Genre(s): Horror

Duration: 90 mins

UK Release: Oct 23 2009




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