Saw II is a Strong
Follow-Up to the First in the Franchise
Saw
II is the first sequel in
the franchise, and continues the saga of top-notch horror villain
Jigsaw.
Review by: The Zombie Master Lee
Roberts October 7, 2006
Release:
2005 Directed by: Darren Lynn Bousman Written
by: Darren Lynn Bousman & Leigh Whannell
Starring: Tobin
Bell as Jigsaw Shawnee Smith as
Amanda Donnie Whalberg as Eric Matthews Erik
Knudsen as Daniel Matthews Dina Meyer
as Kerry
Any one who has read my review
of Saw
knows that I really liked the movie but I gave a warning that, if not
done correctly, sequels could easily screw up the franchise before it
got started. I was so grateful to see that, so far, my fears can be put
to rest. Saw II is a perfect follow up
to the original.
Our
journey begins with the awakening of a man who finds himself locked
into a “death mask”. What is a “death
mask” you
ask? Think of a venus flytrap, add spikes, set it to shut on a timer,
and place it around the neck. (Where does one get such wonderful toys?)
Jigsaw, the villain from the
original Saw,
is at it again and informs his new lucky customer that the key to
unlock and remove the death mask is to be found in his own eye (placed
there through surgery) and all he has to do is cut it out
before the mask shuts. Anyone want to take bets on whether he makes it
in time?
Saw II then goes into story mode and we are
introduced to
Detective Eric Matthews (Donnie Whalberg) and his son Daniel (Erik
Knudsen). Seems Daniel has ended up at the police dept. and his dad had
to pick him up. An argument ensues, words are said that can’t
be
taken back and Daniel runs off. We then see Eric answering a phone call
hoping that it is Daniel only to find out that it is Kerry (Dina
Meyers), another detective that has been handling the Jigsaw case,
wanting Eric to come to a crime scene (death mask guy has been found).
Clues found at the scene lead the police to the location of Jigsaw
(Tobin Bell) himself.
As if it wasn’t fun already, Jigsaw has also kidnapped seven
people and locked them in an old house at an undisclosed location.
There is a
chemical being released into the air within the house that
is eating them up.
They will be dead within two hours unless they find the antidote that
has been hidden sporadically throughout the house. One of the seven
just happens to be young Daniel Matthews. While the hostages are
playing Jigsaw’s game, he has a game for the police as well.
The
police are watching the events on closed circuit television trying to
locate where the hostages are before their time runs out.
Saw II is a fantastic
movie. It is like a roller coaster ride
with no slow down. Bousman and Whannell (director and writers) did an
excellent job on this sequel. There are more twists and turns than in
the original so you may want to pay attention. The gore effects are top
notch - No where near weak but not over the top
either.
I will now go on record as having a
love/hate relationship with the Saw franchise. I
love the films and I am looking forward to the release of Saw
III (slated for October 31, 2006). I hate the fact
that they got me again. I like to pride myself in figuring
out the ending of a film. I had Sixth Sense and The
Others pegged before the credits rolled. However, I was
caught off guard with Saw and have now been caught
off guard with Saw II. The bruise on my ego still
hurts.
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Jigsaw, the villain from the
original Saw,
is at it again and informs his new lucky customer that the key to
unlock and remove the death mask is to be found in his own eye (placed
there through surgery) and all he has to do is cut it out
before the mask shuts. Anyone want to take bets on whether he makes it
in time?
