The "Saw" Franchise

The "Saw" series really made a great impact in the movie industry. As of today, Lionsgate had already released Saw 1 to 4, and just recently, Saw 5. Here's a look back on the previous SAW films:

"SAW" (2004)

The movie began with Dr. Gordon and Adam chained in a very, very dirty abandoned bathroom. After a while they began talking and talking about who they are and if ever they had known each other before. The greatest mystery of course was that who brought them there and for what reason. Then series of events and flashbacks were shown through out the movie. These include the story about Amanda Young, one of the victims of whom they called "Jigsaw". Jigsaw always let someone plays a game of choice, between life and death. Amanda was one of those who had escaped his trap.

Later on, both guys realized that they were victims of Jigsaw and he wanted them to cut off their foot for them to escape. Just like any other suspense/thriller movies, the family of the protagonist were always put in danger. It was indeed the same in this movie. Few minutes before the movie ended, Dr. Gordon was able to cut off his foot and promised Adam to come back with help coming his way. He then crawled on the floor leaving Adam behind. Little that they know was that the body, covered with blood, together with them was the real Jigsaw. He slowly stand up just like a zombie and telling Adam that the key to his chained was indeed with him in the bathtub. Jigsaw went out and said, "GAME OVER!", and slammed the door leaving Adam being electrified.

OVERALL RATING: It wasn't bad, but wasn't great either. The story was quite slow paced. But quite tolerable since it was just the beginning of the series.

HANGING QUESTION: What happened to the crawling Dr. Gordon?

"SAW 2" (2005)

Oh yes...there will be blood. It's a lot more bloody version of the SAW movie, well, compared to the first one. It started with Michael being trapped with a Venus flytrap-like attached to his head. And the only way to escape it was to get the key hidden behind his eyes. Grossed!

Anyway, this movie brought back Amanda Young, the survivor from the first one. It also presented new major character Detective Matthews. He was one of the agents in solving the case of Jigsaw. But later on in the movie, his own son will play Jigsaw's games. Together with other 7 people, including Amanda, they must survived inside an abandoned house before they die due to the virus injected through their veins. Meanwhile, Detective Matthews and the others detected Jigsaw's place. They found out that he was suffering from cancer due to an accident. But this didn't stop Matthews to look for his son.

Persons in the house started to die one by one leaving Amanda, Matthews' son and a big fella fighting for survival. Later on they found out the numbers for the combination of the antidotes' vault was on their nape. Amanda and Daniel run for their lives while Matthews and Jigsaw went on to their location. They ended up at the very, very dirty bathroom from SAW 1, with dead bodies lying on the floor. The struggle continues until the big fella died, finally. Meanwhile, the other agents discovered that the scenes they watched was all recorded, meaning it already happened earlier. Matthews fell to Jigsaw's trap because of his anger. His son was safe all along inside a vault. At the end of the movie, Matthews was chained, he then discovered that Amanda Young was indeed Jigsaw's apprentice.

OVERALL RATING: Definitely better than the first movie. With more victims and exciting storyline of course.

HANGING QUESTION: What will happened to Detective Matthews now that his in Jigsaw's hands?


"SAW 3" (2006)

The third installment of the Saw franchise. Jigsaw is dying and it's Amanda's time to take on his job. One of the agents, Kerry, was also placed in Jigsaw's trap and died. Lynn, a doctor, was kidnapped to play Jigsaw's game: to keep him alive. Another character was involved in the film, Jeff. Jeff needed to pass different tests to reach who ever the person responsible for the death of his son.

Along the way, Jeff met different persons involved in his son's accident. He was to choose whether to save them or leave them behind. While Lynn did everything to keep Jigsaw alive, and at the same time, had some confrontations with Amanda. Amanda then started to be taken over by her emotions and attempted to kill Lynn. But Jigsaw refused her to do it since Lynn had done her job.

Jeff was then able to reached the final stage of his test. Amanda was killed and Lynn was badly hurt. We then found out that Lynn and Jeff were a couple. Jeff and Jigsaw had a conversation about the truth on his son's death. Jigsaw asked Jeff to forgive him. He was forgiven but was killed by Jeff with a razor. Little that he know, his life was connected to Lynn's life, meaning if he dies she dies as well. The movie ends with Lynn having her head blown out and Jeff listening to Jigsaw's tape. He discovered their daughter was hidden in that same building and he will not be able to know where she is.

OVERALL RATING: Saw 3 was again better than the first one. Some details about Jigsaw was also revealed in this movie which made it more interesting.

HANGING QUESTION: What was the content of Amanda's letter?

"SAW 4" (2007)

The movie begins with the autopsy of Jigsaw's body. A tape was recovered in his body and was played by Detective Hoffman, one of Detective Matthew's team members. Jigsaw said that "the game had just begun" and will not end just because he is dead.

The main character of this movie was Detective Rigg, already seen since Saw 2. He still grieves for the death of Detective Kerry and still believed that Matthews was still alive. Later on, he himself became the new player of Jigsaw's games. Every stage challenged him to save the lives of others, or leave them behind and find out where Matthews really is. The movie also presented new characters like Agent Strahm, Agent Perez and Jill, Jigsaw's ex-wife. Jill was interrogated by Strahm suspecting her to be involved with Jigsaw's works.

After a while, Rigg was almost near where Detective Matthews was. Meanwhile, together with him was Detective Hoffman and Art, another victim of Jigsaw's game. He discovered that for them to be saved, the time on the clock must run out first. Later on in the movie, Agent Perez died and Agent Strahm went on to where Jigsaw was. There was only few seconds left when Rigg arrived near the door. He then went through the secured door and activated the device that will crushed Matthews head. Matthews died, same as Art since he was gun fired by Rigg. Rigg then discovered that his real test is not to proceed and try to save a life again. He was also warned earlier not to go through secured doors. It was also revealed that Detective Hoffman was the other accomplice of Jigsaw. Rigg died also died because of gun shot. Earlier on, Strahm met Jeff, who was looking for his daughter. Strahm shot Jeff for self-defense. He was then locked up by Hoffman in the same room where Jigsaw's, Amanda's and Lynn's dead bodies were.

OVERALL RATING: The best part so far, well, for me. Pieces started to put into place. More flashbacks were also shown and the movie was more exciting than ever.

HANGING QUESTION: Was Amanda really dead? What will happened to Agent Strahm after being locked up inside the room?

"SAW 5" (2008)

The movie I've been waiting for, although it was quite a letdown. The movie started with Seth, a criminal, in a pendulum trap. It seems to be one of Jigsaw's trap, but it was unescapable which made it more dangerous. It was later on discovered that he was the ex-boyfriend and murderer of Detective Hoffman's sister.

Going back where it left of, Agent Strahm was still inside the room. He then discovered a secret door and a cassette player. He was told not to proceed or else he will find salvation or death. He ignored it and proceeded. He was then attacked by a man with a pig's mask. Strahm woke up with his head trap inside a glass cube with water. He then performed tracheotomy to save his life. After a while, Hoffman went out the building carrying Jeff's daughter and telling one inspector that no one else made it aside from him. He was shocked to see that Strahm was still alive. Meanwhile, Jill was given a box from Jigsaw telling her that it contains things of grave importance to her, she then left. The movie also presented five other characters playing Jigsaw's game, but are actually not that important in the story.

Agent Strahm continued his investigation for who was Jigsaw's other assistant aside from Amanda. He found proofs that led to Hoffman as the accomplice. He then followed him and arrive at a building. Meanwhile, Agent Erickson also went out to track down where is Strahm and also arrived at that same building. Inside he saw monitors showing the events happened to the other five characters. He tried to call Strahm, and was shocked to found out that Strahm's phone was on the table nearby. He then suspected him to be the accomplice. On the other side, Strahm found a box with broken glass and a player. He was told to get in so that he will still live, but he paused it after hearing someone coming, Detective Hoffman. Strahm then pushed Hoffman inside the box and closed it. The doors then closed and Strahm played the player. The truth was that if he chose not to get in, he will just vanished from this world as the walls ready to crushed him. Strahm died, and Hoffman lived.

OVERALL RATING: It was almost a good movie,but it's too short. It's just like combining some flashbacks and including characters which seems to be extras. Too bad Agent Strahm died at the end.

HANGING QUESTION: What was inside the box which was given to Jill? What will happened now that Agent Strahm was suspected as Jigsaw's apprentice, considering he died at the end of the movie? Is Brit also one of Jigsaw's accomplice in the film?

That's all for now, tune in for more updates about the upcoming "Saw 6" movie...or even more from the Saw franchise...

-Brent John Nathaniel F. De Guzman