OCCUPIED

Occupied Movie Review

Sarah (Liza Binkley) comes to her uncle's secluded, woods-surrounded home to babysit her little cousin Charlotte (Lucy Bock). While there she begins to hear voices and go a little mad. We've all heard the following: "I sat through that entire movie and nothing happened". This statement has never been more aptly applied to a film than it is to Occupied.

Here's a highlight

The entire movie revolves around Sarah and Charlotte--in fact, only one other character even appears in the film, and most unfortunately, neither Binkley nor Bock are even remotely close to being talented enough to carry an entire film. The movie looks almost like a home video and it clearly has no budget--I suspect that nobody will be surprised when the names Binkley and Bock appear time and again in the credits. I can only assume the two families have been friends for years, had a little extra money to spend, and decided to make a film. So early in the film Charlotte tells Sarah a series of stories about what has happened outside the house, and this actually does build a good bit of suspense, but it is never really touched upon again. As we see Sarah start to go crazy we get a flashback sequence...and then the same sequence again...and again...and again...I honestly lost count how many times I saw the exact same flashback sequence. The director (Mollie Binkley, also the writer...surprise!!) goes with distorted visuals to portray Sarah losing her mind--unfortunately, we are shown Sarah and her surroundings being distorted, giving the impression it is the viewer, not, in fact, Sarah going crazy--of course sitting through this movie for 90 minutes could do that to a person. Even when we are not presented the overused distortion, the focus is way off in many shots. Fortunately, not everything about this movie is bad. Other than a good premise that was never given the light of day, the characters are quite likable and seem like real people (even if the actresses appear to be struggling with their lines and give an obviously scripted delivery). The music, as songs, are decent, but they distract far too much from what we are seeing unfold before us--of course since you're reading this review, if you've never seen this film and decide to watch it in spite of what I have said to this point, you are very aware that nothing is happening anyway, so just enjoy the songs when they come up and don't worry about what is (or isn't, as the case may be) happening on the screen. Occupied really isn't a terrible movie--the story could have gone in many interesting directions (but didn't), leading me to believe this would have been much better as a book. As a feature length film, it feels like a waste of time.

On A Scale Of One To Ten: 4

Occupied Movie Trailer

HANGAR 10

Hangar 10 Movie Review

Three people with metal detectors and cameras go to a wooded area in search of gold. The location? Rendlesham Forest, which UFO enthusiasts recognize as a place where, in 1980, several unidentifiable lights were spotted and reports of extraterrestrial aircraft landings surfaced. What ensues is two blokes and a lass walking about the woods recording each other as they get lost, confused, and angry--the Blair Witch comparison is obvious, and a large part of the film feels like a remake of that film, with the unseen antagonist being aliens instead of a witch. Eventually the group begins to see lights and objects in the sky and attempt to leave the woods.

But not before trying to determine if there's metal in the sky

Unfortunately, not a lot actually happens in the film outside of the group attempting to leave the woods and get to safety. Lights are seen. Noises are heard. Weird things are all around (still sounds like Blair Witch, doesn't it?). For most of the film, when something does finally happen the cameras are shaky and the lights strobe, so it's virtually impossible to see what's going on. Not all is bad here, however. The actors aren't great, but tolerable, and the characters somewhat likeable. The CGI is decent for the budget the film had, and some of the visuals are actually pretty cool. The final scene is one that is visually pleasing, albeit a letdown when it comes to the ending. I've seen a ton of alien movies in my life--many are better than Hangar 10, but there are also a lot that are much worse.

On A Scale Of One To Ten: 5

Hangar 10 Movie Trailer

HELLRAISER: REVELATIONS (aka Hellraiser 9)

Hellraiser: Revelations Movie Review

Two terribly irritating teenagers travel to Mexico, where they are given the box that unleashes the Cenobites. After being missing for quite some time, one returns home to tell their families the events of their trip. This 2011 is, to date, the final installment of a series that initially hooked audiences, but eventually left them feeling soulless. The first thing you need to know about this movie is that, for the first time, Doug Bradley does not play Pinhead. Instead, veteran voice actor Fred Tatasciore gets the nod. Allegedly Bradley read the script and said there's no chance of him returning, so instead of creating a new character (which they should have done) they cast Tatasciore as the new Pinhead. I get all of that--what I don't get is casting a guy who makes Pinhead look less demon and more...cuddly bear.

See?

The second thing you will likely notice, as it's obvious from the opening seconds, is that the acting is worse than you can likely imagine. I am not exaggerating when I state I have seen far better acting in high school productions. There are many, many films that have horrible acting, but almost all have at least one person who has at least a small bit of acting ability--not here. Then there's the storyline. For the first time a bit of found footage is incorporated into the series, but it does little to add anything--the guy is already telling to entire story. Why mix in found footage? All that said, there is a little to like about the movie. For the first time in over fifteen years a Hellraiser movie was written as a Hellraiser film, and actually feels (at least a bit) like a Hellraiser film. Not that the story is without flaws, but it was somewhat refreshing to see them rehash something we have not seen in the series in a long, long time. 

Look familiar?

The special effects are pretty awful, but that's expected in a film with a budget hovering around three hundred grand, and the gore makes up for that. The final fifteen or twenty minutes are actually decent as well. The ending promises a tenth film, but over five years later that has not happened. Given more time, a higher budget, and better actors this could have been a decent movie--a return to the Hellraiser movies we know and love. However, this was a last second throw together film from Dimension simply to avoid losing the rights to the series. This is far from a good film, but I truly don't think it is as bad as most make it out to be...or maybe it just looks okay compared to the last few Hellraiser films.

On A Scale Of One To Ten: 4



Hellraiser: Revelations Movie Trailer

HELLRAISER: HELLWORLD (aka Hellraiser 8)

Hellraiser: Hellworld Movie Review

Two years after losing their friend to the game "Hellworld", a group of teens accept an invitation to a "Hellworld" party, where nothing is quite as it seems. So we are into the 21st Century, and "Hellworld" is an online game based on Hellraiser--though the film never quite makes it clear if the cult following is based on the Hellraiser films or based on real life events, and Pinhead and company have become urban legends--not that any of this really matters. The group gets to the creepy house that holds the party, and we meet the host with the most--a mysterious man played by horror legend Lance Henriksen.

"Were you invited here, officer?"

As has become tradition at this point, this was based on a project that was not originally a Hellraiser film, but it feels much more like one that certain other movies in the series--unfortunately, that's not nearly enough to save it. The acting, aside from Henriksen, is abysmal, and yes, that includes pre-Superman Henry Cavill. The plot is highly questionable, and the utterly ridiculous actions and behaviors of the lead characters pretty much leave you wishing they would all just die already. The dialogue? Don't even ask. All is not lost in this film, however. There is a fair amount of gore and some interesting death scenes. The ending, while not completely unpredictable, was enough to satisfy--I know that not all the questions were answered, but with such a convoluted attempt at a plot, that was bound to be the case. More than anything, however, this film is known as the final time Doug Bradley took on the pinhead role before bowing out of the series.

Can you blame him?

Honestly, there's not a lot to like about this film. It's worth seeing if you care to take in the entire series, and is mildly interesting here and there, but is certainly not something you should go out of your way to catch otherwise.

On A Scale Of One To Ten: 4



Hellraiser: Hellworld Movie Trailer

HELLRAISER: DEADER (aka Hellraiser 7)

Hellraiser: Deader Movie Review

After viewing a video that appears to show a woman being brought back from the dead after shooting herself in the head, a journalist (Kari Wuhrer) travels to Romania to uncover the secrets of the underground group responsible for the video. As was the case with installments five and six of the Hellraiser series, the script of this film originally was not a Hellraiser script, and just like with those films, it shows. They throw in the box and a couple appearances by Pinhead, and even tie the leader of the underground group (they call themselves "Deaders") to the toymakers of past Hellraiser films, but the glue is pretty thin.

It's a Hellraiser film now--see, there's the box!

The film itself is...well...Kari Wuhrer plays the lead character, so you get what you expect. For the most part it comes across as a SyFy Original, with some profanity and nudity thrown in (yes, it IS a Kari Wuhrer film). Nothing of particular interest happens in this film, and much of it is a balancing act between fact and fiction. I think this film actually would have had some potential had they stuck with the original premise, not made it a Hellraiser film, had better acting, and better makeup and special effects--a lot to ask, I know, but the story itself was there. Unfortunately, what we got from it was a muddled mess of mediocrity.

On A Scale Of One To Ten: 4

Hellraiser: Deader Movie Trailer

HELLRAISER: HELLSEEKER (aka Hellraiser 6)

Hellraiser: Hellseeker Movie Review

Following a car accident, Trevor (Dean Winters) attempts to figure out what happened to his wife Kirsty (Ashley Laurence) while also trying to differentiate his dreams from reality. The sixth installment of the Hellraiser series, like the one before it, was originally not a Hellraiser film at all, rewritten last minute to incorporate things familiar with fans of the horror series. Thankfully, this one pulls off this little trick better than Inferno, but we're still left with a film that feels out of place. My main issue with this movie is Winter's performance.

Mayhem

Don't get me wrong here--I do not dislike Winter. In fact, I have typically been a fan of his work, but he was terribly miscast here. Multiple scenes were ruined by his apparent attempt at holding back a laugh or smirk. The story itself is rather bland and relies on dream sequences far too often. Practically every scene turns out to not be reality, resulting in my interest in each individual scene diminishing as the movie progressed. The film is somewhat saved by the end, however, and the connection of Kirsty to Pinhead and the first two films is well done. Unfortunately, this movie feels far too disconnected from the series to seriously be considered a Hellraiser film, and it seems a waste of Kirsty's return to the series.

On A Scale Of One To Ten: 5

Hellraiser: Hellseeker Movie Trailer

HELLRAISER: INFERNO (aka Hellraiser 5)

Hellraiser: Inferno Movie Review

Detective Joseph Thorne, a crooked cop with few, if any, redeeming qualities, is assigned the case of the mysterious "Engineer" killer. While investigating he comes across some strange, disturbing incidents, and all fingers point to him being behind it all. The fifth installment of the Hellraiser series feels like anything but a Hellraiser film--and for good reason. But more on that in a moment. This film, other than not feeling like a Hellraiser movie, is filled with things to dislike, and it starts with our lead character.

This guy--no, it's not Angel

Off the top of my head, I cannot think of a lead character in any film I have cared so little about. There is literally nothing to like about this character, thus no reason to be concerned for his well being. When he meets his inevitable fate, you likely will find yourself cheering. The story is somewhat interesting, but not as a part of this film franchise. Now for the story of this film--the reason it doesn't feel like a Hellraiser film is because it wasn't supposed to be one. This was a stand alone thriller that Dimension turned into a Hellraiser film last minute. Thus, the box is vaguely brought into the story, Cenobite-esque creatures are seen throughout, but ultimately have little to do with the story, and Pinhead doesn't show up until about an hour and twenty minutes into the film. This plays out as more a crime mystery, and a below average one at that, though it is shot wonderfully. The false finishes near the end assume that by this point you even still care about the ending--I didn't.

On A Scale Of One To Ten: 4

Hellraiser: Inferno Movie Trailer

HELLRAISER: BLOODLINE (aka Hellraiser 4)

Hellraiser: Bloodline Hellraiser IV Movie Review

We start off in the year 2127, on a spaceship, with some guy who looks like Rob Van Dam (actually Bruce Ramsey from Alive) telling a woman who looks like Hilary Swank the history of his family--the family that created the box that brings the Cenobites from Hell into our world. We flashback to the late 18th Century, get the story of the box being created, flash forward to 1996 to see his family battle Pinhead, and then back to 2127 to see another battle with Pinhead and his...pet dog?

Sit!

This movie somehow manages to spend about equal amounts of time on each individual setting, with, honestly, none being any better or worse than the other. Ramsey plays all three members of his bloodline, to equally poor results. Some of the things we are used to in the series are still here--Doug Bradley returns as Pinhead (albeit a somewhat toned down Pinhead from the third installment), the box is back, and the general idea is here, but much of what we know from the previous installments is gone. No other Cenobite returns, and, other than the box being buried amongst a building, nothing really connects the story to the storyline from before. Also gone, for the most part, are the fantastic makeup, special effects, and brutality. Overall this isn't quite a jumping of the proverbial shark--it's more Hellraiser Lite.

On A Scale Of One To Ten: 5

Hellraiser: Bloodline Movie Trailer

HELLRAISER III: HELL ON EARTH

Hellraiser III: Hell On Earth Movie Review

Club owner J.P. Monroe (Kevin Bernhardt) unleashes Pinhead from his captivity in a statue. Now reporter Joey Summerskill (Terry Farrell), with the help of Elliot Spencer (Pinhead in his human form, both played by Doug Bradley), must attempt to send Pinhead back to Hell. The third installment of the Hellraiser series takes a turn in a few different ways--Julia is gone, Kirsty is almost gone (she's used to connect the first two films to this one), and, most importantly, Pinhead is given much more personality (and one liners), and is finally brought front and center.

At last!!

Also of note is that all the Cenobites besides Pinhead are gone, and are not replaced until toward the end of the film. This, to me, is a fantastic film. For the most part the special effects and makeup jobs we are accustomed to in the first two films are gone, but the brutality is not. The acting also is a step up here--Farrell turns in a decent performance, Bradley, of course, is good, and Bernhardt is a scene stealer as the cocky club owner. This movie includes one of my all time favorite horror movie scenes as well--the fury Pinhead unleashes on the club. That scene--and the aftermath scene with Joey walking through the club--is a wonderful combination of brutality and "so bad they're good" special effects. To me the big drawback of this film are the dream sequences Joey has of her father. I understand this all sets up the finish, but the scenes are poorly directed, poorly written, and take away the mood set by the rest of the film--however, this is not enough to take away from this film. I have seen Hellraiser III more than any other film in the series, and I continue to enjoy it to this day...

...even if I now find her more annoying that hot

On A Scale Of One To Ten: 8

Hellraiser III: Hell On Earth Movie Trailer

HELLBOUND: HELLRAISER II

Hellbound: Hellraiser II Movie Review

Following the events of the first film from the Hellraiser series, we find Kirsty (Ashley Laurence) in a psychiatric institution. There, Dr. Phillip Channard (Kenneth Cranham) discovers the secrets of the Cenobites, and feeds inmates to a returning Julia (Clare Higgins). Now Kirsty, with the help of puzzle solving savant inmate Tiffany (Imogen Boorman), enters the realm of the Cenobites to attempt to destroy Julia and the rest of the evil demons. This is a pretty solid follow up to the original film. The visuals are fantastic throughout the movie, particularly when they enter Leviathan.

Or Hell...whichever

As in the original, the makeup is also very impressive, and the special effects and acting less so. Laurence somehow goes from a good performance in the first film to being borderline awful here. This film brings Pinhead more to the forefront, and for the first time he is credited as "Pinhead", but he still somewhat plays second fiddle, this time to Julia. We do, however, get a small look into his past, and in fact get to see all the Cenobites in human form. This film had a much larger budget than the first film, but that does not translate into a better movie. The story is not quite as good, the acting is much worse, and the ending doesn't do much to help. Hellraiser II is a step down from the first film, but it is a small step as this is still a very enjoyable movie. As an added bonus, if you're a Queensryche fan your ears will likely perk up a couple times while watching this.

On A Scale Of One To Ten: 7

Hellbound: Hellraiser II Movie Trailer

HELLRAISER

Hellraiser Movie Review

A mysterious box unlocks demons who take the possessor, Frank, to Hell--Frank escapes, and now calls upon his former lover Julia (Clare Higgins), his brother Larry's wife, to bring him the flesh and blood of others to bring him back to complete human form, all the while fearing the demons, known as Cenobites, will return to take him away again. This 1987 horror film from Clive Barker is an absolutely horrific film--in all the right ways. The story is interesting, original, and frightening, but the real highlight of the film comes from the makeup department--the progression of Frank alone is something to behold.

Frank coming back

Frank coming along

Frank almost there

The acting is pretty shaky throughout, with the exception of Ashley Laurence, who does a really good job as Larry's daughter/our hero Kirsty. While the makeup is fantastic, the special effects are a bit dated, especially the final scene, which is so bad it is hilarious--it reminds me of something you'd see from a 1950s creature feature. And interestingly, though Pinhead is the iconic character of this series (and rightfully so), he is not in the film much--in fact, there is not a lot that differentiates Pinhead from the rest of the Cenobites, and he's not even known as Pinhead yet--he's credited as "The Lead Cenobite".

The Cenobites

This movie kicked off a very successful horror franchise, and as a stand alone movie it is really good. It may not be a perfect film but it is innovative, brutal, intense, and a must see for all horror fans.

On A Scale Of One To Ten: 8

Hellraiser Movie Trailer

RING OF CURSE (aka Gomennasai)

Ring of Curse Movie Review

Tired of being bullied by classmates and her sister, and ignored by her parents, high school student Kurohane finds a way to kill them all--by having them read cursed stories she writes. When classmate Yuka finds out Kurohane's secret she tries to find a way to stop the curse. This 2011 Japanese film is a mix of the familiar with the original, but those familiar with Japanese horror will know what to expect--for the most part anyway. The movie opens with the lead actresses (the members of a Japanese pop band, as it turns out) introducing us to the film and explaining they are playing the roles of real girls and this is based on a true story. When we get rolling we get the story from the perspective of Yuka, hit the turning point in the film, and then get the story told from the perspective of Kurohane. When the story returns to the turning point it is (primarily) told from Yuka's viewpoint once again.

The aforementioned turning point

I am a big fan of the shift in the viewpoint midway through the film, as it gives the viewer a chance to enter the mind of Kurohane and attempt to see what has driven her to where she is in life (and we get to find out how she came across the curse idea). The acting is about what you would expect in this film, though Airi Suzuki does turn in an impressive performance as Yuka. As is standard with this form of Japanese horror there is not a lot of blood or gore, but this film really didn't need it. The story isn't terribly original, but the presentation is slick, and the writing and dialogue are impressive--it comes across almost like a campfire story. You will find yourself questioning the actions of many of the characters, but this is only a little distracting. If you have the patience to sit through a ton of dialogue and slow build you will be rewarded by a fantastic ending--and be sure you stick around for one of the best post-credits scenes you are likely to ever see. Ring of Curse is not a fantastic film, and is not particularly scary, but it is a really well made film--I recommend it.

On A Scale Of One To Ten: 7



Ring of Curse Movie Trailer (in Japanese)

NIGHT OF THE DEMONS (1988)

Night Of The Demons Movie Review

Angela (Amelia Kinkade) is throwing a Halloween party at an abandoned funeral parlor, and when the party goers arrive, things get spooky. This 1988 film is low budget, has horrible acting, and doesn't bring a whole lot of new ideas to the table, but it is such a fun film. Once the demons start to take over the movie really takes off. The characters are actually interesting, and Kinkade is frightfully fantastic as Angela. One thing I love about this movie, and something that makes it stand out from so many other films of this era, is that it has so many memorable scenes--for example...

Who doesn't love Bauhaus?

Casket lovin'

"How 'bout a magic trick? I'm gonna make this lipstick disappear..."

The makeup and special effects are really well done in this film, especially for a film that, again, had such a low budget. The death scenes are interesting, and, though the movie has more than it's share of horrifying scenes, there are splashes of humor thrown in as well. A couple faces will be familiar, especially legendary scream queen Linnea Quigley, who turns in a memorable performance as Suzanne (see above, third photo). Night of the Demons is not a film that turned the horror world upside down, but it had modest success, amassed a cult following, spawned a couple sequels, and inspired a remake in 2009. The demon voice is laughably bad, the demon itself is a riot, and the sound quality isn't great, but these things, as bad as they are, add to the enjoyment of this movie, and the final scene is absolutely fantastic. I first saw this film when it hit the pay channels of the late 1980s--I loved it then, and almost thirty years later, and countless viewings since, I love it to this day. 

On A Scale Of One To Ten: 8

Night Of The Demons Movie Trailer

SAW 3D (aka Saw 7 / Saw: The Final Chapter)

Saw 3D Saw 7 Movie Review

The seventh (and allegedly final) installment of the Saw series picks up where part 6 left off. Detective Hoffman (Costas Mandylor), having survived Jill’s (Betsy Russell) attempt to kill him, is now hunting down Jill while executing the final wishes of Jigsaw (Tobin Bell). Meanwhile, Bobby Dagen (Sean Patrick Flanery Boondock Saints) has made a living selling a book claiming he survived a Jigsaw trap and now must truly be tested. The first thing you will notice in this movie is the return of a character. One may also notice not a whole lot of advancement storyline wise with this movie. The plot is a somewhat weak one, by Saw standards anyways—but this is really all okay as the point of this film is to tie up some loose ends and ultimately end the series, and it does a very good job on both levels. This may also be the bloodiest installment of the series, and features more traps than any other, to mixed results.

A good opening trap

Also, very much to my delight, the reverse bear trap FINALLY kills somebody!!!

That answers that question 



*****SPOILER ALERT***** My only real complaints about this film are that Amanda was not in it (except a very brief flashback clip), it seemed a bit rushed, and the return of the character I mentioned previous was very poorly timed. This character should not have been revealed until the end. *****END SPOILER ALERT*****

As a side note, I did see this one in 3D. A couple things were done well with this effect, but this is certainly not a movie that MUST be seen in 3D. To me, the end of the Saw series was about as perfect as could have been done, and as much as I love this series, I hope they do not make another one. There is just not a better way to end the series.

On A Scale Of One To Ten: 8

Saw 3D Movie Trailer

SAW VI (aka Saw 6)

Saw VI Movie Review

Mark Hoffman continues John Kramer's deadly game as he targets predatory lenders and, more importantly, the heartless, soulless bastards who run and work for health insurance companies. Meanwhile, the FBI tries to put together the pieces of Peter Strahm's role in the Jigsaw killings, while Jigsaw's former wife Jill executes Jigsaw's final game. If Saw V was a step down in the series (it was), Saw VI is a big step back in the right direction. Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan (with new director Kevin Greutert) right many of the wrongs of the fifth movie, while adding additional layers to what we already know about Hoffman, Jigsaw, Jill, and even a somewhat returning Amanda. The series of traps the insurance executive, William Easton, has to go through are absolutely fantastic, and includes one of my personal favorites from the entire series.

This one

For the most part the acting is nothing to write home about in this film, and, at times, is actually really bad, in particular Devon Bostick as Brent, the teenager locked up with his Mom--his performance is the worst the series has seen since the infamous Franky G. stunk up the screen in Saw II; still, one can easily overlook this as we see Easton and his cronies receive the comeuppance millions of Americans wish upon health insurance bigwigs. The final scene with him is fantastic, and, in the final scene of the film, we almost see the reverse bear trap from the first film actually kill somebody. I am a big fan of the sixth installment of the Saw series and recommend anybody who gave up on the series after Saw V give this one a shot.

On A Scale Of One To Ten: 8

Saw VI Movie Trailer

SAW V (aka Saw 5)

Saw V Movie Review

Five strangers awaken in a room and, if they are fortunate enough to escape this room, must make their way through several other rooms, all while being told not to do what their instinct tells them to. Meanwhile Detective Mark Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) is promoted to Detective Lieutenant but is aware that somebody is on to who he really is. Really this movie focuses almost primarily on Hoffman--his history, how he ended up in cahoots with Jigsaw, etc., and the group of five seem to be there just to have some people go through traps. Scott Patterson returns as Agent Peter Strahm, the man who figures out there's something not quite right about Hoffman.

Things don't get much better for Peter

Melton and Dunstan return to write this installment, and long time production designer David Hackl replaces Darren Lynn Bousman as director, and, well, the results aren't great. The story becomes WAY too convoluted in this outing, focuses far too much on Hoffman, and the acting is, as a whole, the worst we have seen in the series. The "twist" concerning the five is something you will likely figure out early on, and the fact that none of those characters are worth saving makes you care little about them. That said, the final trap is actually pretty good--in a bloody way, of course, and the fate of Peter is nothing short of tragic and gruesome. Naturally, Jigsaw John Kramer is barely in the movie, which only contributes to the disappointment. Ultimately Saw V only serves to make the story of the series murky, and puts pressure on the next two to clear things up. This, to me, is the worst movie in the series.

On A Scale Of One To Ten: 5

Saw V Movie Trailer

SAW IV (aka Saw 4)

Saw IV Movie Review

Detective Mark Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) realizes his test has not concluded, and we see Lieutenant Daniel Rigg (Lyriq Bent) is now also being tested after he proves he is reckless and impatient. The fourth installment of the Saw series spends a good bit of time introducing us to the new mastermind behind the traps while at the same time reminding us that, despite everything we know to this point, Jigsaw is still very much in control. Jigsaw's wife Jill (Betsy Russell) becomes a more important character, and Agent Peter Strahm (Scott Patterson from Gilmore Girls) is introduced. One thing I like a lot about this film is the character Rigg, an interesting character with a great degree of complexity. He is an easy character to cheer for, and Bent does a wonderful job playing the character. The traps seem a little toned down from the previous installments, but they are still very gory.

And hair raising

Darren Lynn Bousman returns to direct with Leigh Whannell bowing out of writing duties, replaced by the duo of Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan, the masterminds behind Feast. It's not hard to recognize the changing of the guard, but Melton and Dunstan do a decent enough job moving the story forward. I like Saw IV a lot, but more than anything the film serves as a bridge between the first three films and the final three films.

On A Scale Of One To Ten: 7



Saw IV Movie Trailer

SAW III (aka Saw 3)

Saw III Movie Review

Cancer ridden "Jigsaw" John Kramer (Tobin Bell) is now confined to his bed, and when Amanda (Shawnee Smith) is unable to care for him, Doctor Lynn Denlon (Bahar Soomekh) is brought in. Her trap? She has a metal necklace that will explode if she roams outside the immediate area or if Kramer dies. Meanwhile, a man named Jeff (Angus Macfadyen) must work through a maze of traps holding people he feels are responsible for the death of his son, and must decide if he will let them die or sacrifice himself physically to help him live. The third film in the series, once again directed by Darren Lynn Bousman but, for the first time since the original film, written by Leigh Whannell, gets the series back on track after the hiccup that was the second film. As we see Jigsaw start to slip away physically we see Amanda become a more complete character, and we are introduced to Detective Mark Hoffman (Costas Mandylor), a character who would take front and center in future Saw films. The violence? Oh yeah, it's here. The traps are incredibly brutal, and this film contains the answer to the question I am asked so often: "So Josh, of all the traps in the Saw series, which one would you dread being trapped in most?"

The answer

 

Saw III also gives us something we've not seen before: a trap that made it impossible for the victim to survive, something Kramer did not approve of. The acting takes a step up from the previous installment, and Bell, who is absolutely awesome as Jigsaw throughout anyways, really turns in a phenomenal performance here. The story builds upon the one we already know while setting up the movies to come, the traps are fantastic, and the ending is jaw dropping. While not the classic the original Saw is, this one is really, really good.

 

On A Scale Of One To Ten: 8

 

Saw III Movie Trailer

SAW II (aka Saw 2)

Saw II Movie Review

On the heels of the events from the original film the police have located Jigsaw killer John Kramer (the returning Tobin Bell), but they also discover eight more potential victims are locked in a building in an unknown locations--and the potential victims includes Detective Eric Matthews' (Donnie Wahlberg) son. Jigsaw tells Matthews the only way to save his son is if he sits and talks to Kramer until the game is over. The first sequel to Saw delivers in the blood and gore...

This guy has a key behind his eye

 

...but has a lot more holes and drawbacks than the first. The acting, which was no highlight in the first film, drops a few levels in this film, in particular the ever-popular Franky G, who brings with him the acting skills of your standard high school play extra.

 

Drawback

 

The story, which was written and directed by newcomer Darren Lynn Bousman (the dynamic duo of Wan and Whannell was unavailable for this film, though Whannell did do some rewrites), gives us a more in-depth look at the background of John Kramer. We also find out that the first person to ever survive one of Jigsaw's traps, Amanda (Shawnee Smith of Becker fame), has partnered with Kramer. The death scenes are really brutal in this film, but, unfortunately, most of the characters are SO unlikable (especially Chavez, played by the aforementioned Mr. G) that you WANT them to be killed. As in the first film there is a fantastic twist ending, something that would be a staple in the series (though none of them live up to the awesomeness of the first). Saw II is not a bad horror film, but considering the film it followed and the films that would follow it, this one hangs out near the bottom on my list of favorite Saw films.

 

On A Scale Of On To Ten: 6

 

Saw II Movie Trailer

SAW

Saw Movie Review

Strangers Lawrence (Cary Elwes) and Adam (Leigh Whannell) awaken in a bathroom and realize they are chained to something in the room, and, worse yet, a dead body is lying between them. Throughout the course of the film they realize their lives are connected in a way, and that they may be the latest victim of the jigsaw killer. This 2004 film, shot on a shoestring budget (just over a million dollars), sort of redefined how many looked at horror. It was original, it was fascinating, and, most importantly to many horror fans, it was bloody, gory, and more graphic than almost anything they had seen before.

"Why is this movie called...oh, I see"

 

At worst, this film gave birth to a subgenre that would come to be known as "torture porn". At best it re-envisioned what a good low budget horror film could be. The story is one we had never quite heard before--the "killer" locks people he feels don't appreciate life into a situation where, in order to survive, they must make physical sacrifices. Here's the thing--every trap he creates can be escaped (albeit before the timer stops), so if the victim dies, it can be argued they killed themselves instead of being killed by anybody else. As if all this awesomeness isn't enough, there is a twist ending you likely will not see coming--the first time I saw this film was in a packed theatre, and after everybody literally cheered out loud just prior to the end, they all gasped and fell dead silent when the twist was revealed. Over ten years later this ranks as one of the best endings I have ever seen in film history. Not everything is perfect with this film, especially the acting, but it is a fantastic film nonetheless that changed the face of horror, put Leigh Whannell (the writer) and James Wan (the director) on the map, and kicked off what would eventually become my favorite horror film series. I couldn't possibly count the number of times I have seen this film, and I love it every time.

 

On A Scale Of One To Ten: 9

 

Saw Movie Trailer