Director: Kevin Greutert
Starring: Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Betsy Russell
This review by Adam Truscott.
I bloody love Saw.
Actually, I should clarify.
I love the first Saw. All of the others can do one.
Especially Saw 3*, that made a guy behind me in the cinema throw up.
And Saw 6*, which on the Ledger Stag, made me feel so queasy after a night out, I tried to sleep through it.
So… Saw 3D (The Traps Come Alive!)… What’s the verdict??
Well, I came straight out of Paranormal Activity 2, which shocked me, but how good, and effective it was. None of the jump cut editing, I hate. No loud rock music. No queasy blood effects. No stupid ending (Screw you, Spielberg – you were wrong!). I was on a roll. Hoping for some 3D mayhem.
And then I had a moment of clarity.
The Lionsgate logo, looking nice and… er, 3D, jumped up. Then it got loud. Like rock gig loud.
Then, going full circle, we see characters from the first film. (I bloody love that film). Lots of blood. Sawn off feet – only one thing left to do. Seal the wound. Cue wincing.
Welcome to Saw 3D.
Everything that PA2 isn’t.
No subtly. No build to tension. Just BOOM. (Best said whilst doing an Ari Gold impression.)
To be fair, no one can say they didn’t know what they were signing up for.
I was with two of my best mates, and we just decided to laugh it up. I don’t think any of us were sat there, claiming this to be anything it wasn’t.
Actually, come the most inventive set piece in the film (series?), involving four racists, some super glue, and a car rigged to kill all four… we were actually laughing out loud – and maybe even punching the air.
I lost track of who was who a long time ago.
I would suggest that even if you watched 1-6* before going in, you still wouldn’t have a clue what was going on.
But again, I guess that isn’t really the point.
The 3D element was OK. (Hey, it’s no Piranha 3D!). It does a job, but only just. Moments where you thought gore would literally fly at the screen seemed a little tame, if I’m honest. When you’re up to your nuts in guts (can I say that on here, Phil?), I always want them to keep going.
It’s why From Dusk Til Dawn sits on a pedal stool for me. Knows it’s stupid. Knows it’s sick – but the hits just keep on coming!
I turned to MC about ten minutes in, and said:
“I don’t think they are releasing this in 2D. That’s a bit weird, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, I suppose. But what would they call it?”
“Good point… “Saw 3D – in 2D?”"
Hey, anyone would think this was a money making exercise.
Did anyone say cash cow?
* Sorry. But I refuse to put roman numerals for anything. Apart from Rocky.
