Saw 4 (Review)

It seems there's no stopping the Saw juggernaut. Judging by this fourth chapter and with fifth and sixth installments on their way, it looks as if the Jigsaw killer will continue to have his sick way with horror audiences for some time yet. It’s interesting to note that since the mainstream horror revival that kicked off with Scream back in the mid-nineties, no modern franchise has matched the success of the Saw series in terms of the number of sequels produced.

In this episode, Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) is dead but that doesn’t stop his deadly games from continuing. In a graphic autopsy scene early on, an audio tape is retrieved from Jigsaw’s corpse, and the carnage recommences. This time around, SWAT Commander Rigg (Lyriq Bent), is thrust into a desperate mission to rescue the still-alive Mathews (Donnie Whalberg), before time runs out. Added to this is a bevy of new and returning characters from previous films, in a myriad of death traps, riddles and sermons on the value of life.

Saw 4 Cuts Deep

To discuss the plot of Saw 4 any further would probably spoil the film for followers of the series. The more important questions are: does this fourth installment carry on the surprising momentum and smarts of Saw 3? And secondly, are the death traps as imaginatively gruesome as before? The answer to both is yes. For those who agree that the Saw films have actually improved from B-grade nastiness to a genuinely clever and thrilling horror saga, part four delivers.

It could very easily be argued that Saw 4 is rubbish, and not far removed from its badly acted, contrived and tasteless beginnings. But that would be pointless considering there is obviously a love amongst horror audiences for these films, and it is rare for such a series to actually improve with each sequel. Ultimately, amid the tasteless gore set-pieces and uninteresting characters lies the heart of the Saw films and that is Tobin Bell’s Jigsaw.

Jigsaw: The Latest Horror Icon

Like Freddy, Jason and Michael Myers before him, the character of Jigsaw is fast becoming a horror icon, with his mere presence guaranteeing another successful chapter in this story. Fans of Tobin Bell’s multi-faceted villain, who feared the character’s death would prevent him from being pivotal to the ongoing saga, needn’t have worried. In fact, thanks to the film’s sometimes clever use of flashback, Jigsaw is as much a part of the on-screen action as ever, and is again crucial in the film’s most effective and chilling scenes.

The Saw Films Remain Razor-Sharp

Ultimately, there is nothing on offer in Saw 4 that is likely to convert new fans to the franchise. This is a film aimed fairly and squarely at established fans, and to be fair they have been decently rewarded here. It’s easy to dismiss the Saw films on the basis of some very obvious and unchanging flaws, but it’s worth dwelling on the amazing success of this series and its unlikely but welcome progression in quality. With more sequels on their way, it looks as though Jigsaw’s work is far from done.

Saw 4 movie poster

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