Saw VI Review

Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!

Plot Summary: Further implicating Strahm as a Jigsaw apprentice, Hoffman attempts to execute Jigsaw's last trap.

Review: This is the least successful entry in the franchise, but, as I mentioned, that is mostly due to the idiocy of part 5; and it was significant too--losing virtually half the business. Does the financial failure mean this entry marks the lowest point story wise? Of course not. Part 5 had simply burnt out a lot of the interest and momentum established in parts 3 and 4. I would still put this above part 1, but I cannot deny the shenanigans were getting out of hand at this point. The constant backtracking of the story was ridiculous, and the games were becoming increasingly unwinnable; this essentially defeats the premise of Jigsaw's beliefs. On the other hand, the story did keep you guessing regarding whether or not Hoffman would get caught, the traps were imaginative, and the buildup to the final trap was respectable.

Picking up right after part 5, Hoffman uses what's left of one of Strahm's hands to implicate him in a new trap. By the way, this first trap included an amateur actress who won a role from a TV competition, called "Scream Queens," which was intended to hype interest in this entry. Anyway, the FBI isn't buying that Strahm was a Jigsaw apprentice...well, because it's preposterous. Strahm's partner, who we believed died after the events of part 4, appears once more as it's quite obvious they suspect Hoffman. The main clue has something to do with the knife used to cut out the jigsaw-shaped pieces of flesh. This was contrived since you'd think Hoffman would continue using Jigsaw's tools but okay...I guess we have to keep the story rolling somehow. I should also mention that this is the point when the continuity finally picks up after the opening scene of part 4.

Now for more backtracking as we learn Jill was always complicit to Jigsaw's crimes. This doesn't even fit the character realistically and doesn't quite jive with Jigsaw's relationship to Amanda. This is worsened by the idea that Amanda was with the guy that caused Jill and Jigsaw's baby to die. Hoffman somehow knows this fact but Jigsaw and Jill don't? Nevertheless, Jill has been tasked to help Hoffman finish yet another fucking gauntlet of traps. We get the idea that Hoffman just wants to end this, but the movie can't decide if Hoffman is a villain by choice or circumstance. Regardless, Hoffman oversees the next gauntlet which involves an insurance company that, while performing shady practices, rejected Jigsaw when he first developed cancer; the main character, specifically, was Jigsaw's agent. It was wise that they brought the connection back to Jigsaw, but most of the victims weren't allowed a chance to survive their traps. Speaking of which, the traps are creative and do set themselves apart from the previous entries. The most important trap is the final one that is built up the entire movie; we are shown a mother and son duo and a reporter in two different rooms with acid levers.

Eventually the main insurance guy has run the gauntlet's course only to realize his fate is left in the hands of the mother and son duo. It would appear the reporter is the insurance guy's sister, but we were led to believe the mother and son duo were his family; the insurance guy was their husband/father's agent and led to his death. The stupid son pulls the lever that kills the insurance guy in one of the most gory deaths in the series. While this was happening, Hoffman killed the FBI agents that realized he was Jigsaw's accomplice including Strahm's partner and boss. Hoffman burns their bodies and leaves prints to connect the deaths back to Strahm. However, when Hoffman goes to see the gauntlet's results, Jill incapacitates him and puts the reverse beartrap on his head. Apparently, that letter Hoffman wrote to Amanda interfered with Jigsaw's game and this upsets Jill or whatever. Likewise, Jigsaw wanted Hoffman to finally be tested or something. Honestly, this entire scenario makes no sense and is far-fetched as hell. It's not as though Jigsaw knew what Hoffman was up to, and Jill's commitment to doing what Jigsaw wants doesn't fit the character established in part 4. None of it matters since Hoffman manages to escape the reverse beartrap as the film ends.

I may sound harsh toward this entry, but it's not too bad. There are plenty of things to enjoy, and it was a vast improvement over part 5. They continued to up the ante with the traps and kill count, although, how was Hoffman able to capture that many people?! I liked the involvement of a sleazy insurance company, and the final twist was cool even if predictable. My main gripe is that the story was becoming convoluted with the incessant backtracking--making the franchise's plot beyond unrealistic. Yes, it's a horror film series, and the unbelievable is to be expected, but the suspension of disbelief needed was becoming challenging. Finally, with diminishing returns on the horizon, the producers decided it was time to wrap this series up once and for all with part 7.

Notable Moment: The carousel trap was a creative idea, but it felt cheap that you couldn't escape it.

Final Rating: 6/10