What do you have when “Fear Factor” meets “Survivor?” You have “Saw II,” the sequel to last years “Saw.”
The story only varies slightly from its original. Jigsaw (Tobin Bell), a cancer stricken psycho who wants to make people appreciate life, uses his super genius powers to round up a group of people and trap them in a house. His “game” involves watching his victims struggle to survive his booby-trapped house.
In a different house on the other side of town, the police apprehend Jigsaw. Jigsaw, who is much more visible in this film, is put under house arrest and is playing a cat-and-mouse game with Detective Mason (Donnie Wahlberg), whose son is trapped inside the house.
Fans of the bloody original will not be let down by this sequel. It does not get more disgusting than watching a girl jump into a bin of needles – that is, for those of you who can even bear to watch it. At times it seems like the “game” is really to see how much gore the audience can take before vomiting up their popcorn.
As far as sequels go, “Saw II” proves to be better than most horror sequels. Director Darren Lynn Bousman joins the writer of the original, Leigh Whannel, to give the film a new edge. Together, with a full budget this time, they manage to provide the blood-spattered goods to the audience.
While the script improved, the acting is comprised of a mostly B-list cast. Although, many will miss Danny Glover, fear not because Beverley Mitchell from “7th Heaven” is there. However, I advise die-hard “7th Heaven” fans to steer clear of “Saw II.”
Overall, the movie seems somewhat confused about whether it wants to be a psychological thriller or just a plain gore-fest. Making Jigsaw a visible character takes away the original suspense from “Saw.” The movie is forced to rely on the element of surprise. The writers attempt to keep the suspense alive by putting Jigsaw up against Detective Mason, but the writers never fully establish the characters or their connection.
The rest of the stock characters in the house are never really established, just used as bodies for destruction.
What the audience does understand about the characters is that they are junkies or junkie-related. In some sense it seems that the movie is saying not to be a junkie or you will end up cutting out your own eye.
Like all good sequels, it leaves the door open for future “Saw” movies. In fact, do not be surprised if you see a “Saw III” in the near future.
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