Saw 3D (2010)

The Saw series would have to be one of the most consistent horror series established, with a new film every year on Halloween for the last 7 years! You always know what to expect, and the films quite cleverly deliver. I am not a big fan, but I appreciate what they have accomplished.

So it was with some trepidation that I agreed to see Saw 3D, I had only previsouly seen the first and second films at the cinema, and the next few on DVD and of course the whole 3D element left me dubious.

Whilst the film itself is the usual convoluted plot and gore fest, as I suspected the 3D element really worked against it, lowering what was already gratuitous violence and gore into a cringe worthy gimmick. In fact, I was amazed by the audience reactions to a lot of the traps in this film, not so much shock, but merriment as pieces of the latest victim get flung out of the screen. It is an element I feel the film could clearly have done without, but I guess the Saw series has become a trademark of pushing the boundaries when it comes to over the top violence and gore (although not at all on the same level as some torture porn movies), to the point where the film itself is a gimmick.

This film, like the previous ones, starts with an epilogue for a previous Saw film, in this case, the first, with Cary Elwes returning as Doctor Gordon. We are then privvy to one of Jigsaw's latest and possibly his most public traps ever, but I fear the film does not exactly make clear the motives or time-line in which this trap takes place and it seems to serve no real purpose (aside from the obvious gore-fest factor). Following that, the film returns to the storyline of the previous films, picking up from where Saw VI left off with Hoffman escaping his trap set by Jill Tuck. This of course leads to Hoffman declaring war not only on Jill, but the entire police force that are after him. Using a newly created game he has set up as a lure, Hoffman systematically wipes out all adversaries that get in his way, whilst simultaneously taking care of another thorn in Jigsaw's side.

On the whole, the film is another solid entry in the series, despite a number of plot flaws and over use of 3D gimmickry. (or the fact that it is in 3D at all...)