Saw 3 will have you screaming for more

Saw 3
I remember three little years ago when the hyped up Saw finally came out on DVD and I had the chance to view it. I was blown away not only because I'm a gore hound and love the whole premise of Jigsaw putting his victims in situations where they kill themselves in a horrific manner, but the stories and the endings of the first and second editions of the franchise where unexpected and brilliantly written.

When the first two movies were so good and the third was apparently “rushed” to theatres, can a movie live-up to its predecessors? Or would it just be more gore for the sake of gore?

After seeing Saw 3 last Friday I have to say, “hell no” to both questions.

Saw 3 starts off very intense with two brutal Jigsaw games and victims. Right away, the story pulls you in and links-up with the first two movies. If you have followed the films, you'll appreciate how this is done and some of the loose ends it ties up, but if you've never seen one and this is your first venture into the realm of Jigsaw, the movie can easily stand out on its own.

It's kind of difficult to write a review on this movie without giving away any of the little surprises or links to the first two films. I will say that there isn't a dull moment in the movie, there's plenty of gore and contraptions to please you and there are many different moral/ethical questions that are placed in the movie for you to ponder on and actually wonder if the people in these situations actually deserve what is happening or if they're making the right choices.

All of the acting in the movie is dead on and there's none of that “cheesy” horror movie acting (although the doctor in the first Saw is guilty of that as well as one or two of the victims in the second film). I find that the acting as well as the minimized number of actors in this film actually heightens the intensity and connection with the characters.

It was great to see some people actually squirm in their seats during the movie and that may tell you the level of gore/blood that are featured in some sections of the movie. Personally, like usual, I wanted just a little more and wanted the “oh my God!” factor that Hostel gave me. With the quick cuts and pans, you can tell that the film makers wanted a little more in the movie but had to make cuts to get the R rating. I never saw Hostel in the theatres so I can't compare it with the Unrated DVD that I have. Hopefully Saw 3 on DVD will add a little more (and that goes for the Saw 2: Director's Cut that comes out this week on DVD).

I have to say that this edition of the Saw franchise was nothing like what I expected and this is a good thing. The movie kept me intrigued and wanting to see what was coming up next while the ending gave me that satisfaction that I need when I actually pay money at the theatre for a movie. Horror fans should definitely not miss this movie.