Tag Archives: Jigsaw

Saturday is Horror Day #155 – Red Eye, Saw VIII: Jigsaw

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Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Red Eye

Lisa Reisert (Rachel McAdams) is flying back home after attending her grandmother’s funeral. A flight delay is frustrating because she needs to get back to her job as manager of a high end hotel where a VIP is expected shortly. Jackson Rippner (Cillian Murphy) has also had his flight delayed. When they end up next to one another in line, he invites her for a drink while they wait. Hesitant at first, she accepts, and she finds him charming company. But then, when she finally boards her flight, she finds he is her seatmate, and suddenly things seem very unreal. Especially when he confesses that he was there because of her – they’ve targeted her father Joe (Brian Cox) and unless she does exactly what they tell her to do, her father will die.

Red Eye is a Wes Craven movie. You know, the Nightmare on Elm Street guy. I think he’s stepped up to a

new level with this film. Cillian is both charming and menacing, which he does well, while Rachel McAdams character refuses to be intimidated by him and is constantly trying to thwart his plans and save her father. What she is expected to do involves the VIP guest that is arriving. She finds herself between a rock and a hard place. Great suspense, well written and acted. It kept me in suspense, with definite unexpected moments. I wasn’t sure how it was going to end.

 

I am a huge fan of Cillian Murphy, he is a very versatile actor who can take any role and make it his. This was an enjoyable watch that I definitely recommend. I’ll give this film 4 Stars.

Saw VIII: Jigsaw

John Kramer, aka Jigsaw, has been dead for ten years – or is he? The body count is rising, each death more gruesome than the lasat. And all the evidence seems to point to John Kramer being the culprit. How can that be?  Five people awaken inside a barn with buckets on their heads and chains around their necks. As they are pulled toward a wall of buzzsaws, a voice tells them they must each sacrifice blood to survive. And so the game begins anew…

The theme for the eighth film in the Saw series seems to be confession and penitence. Detective

Halloran (Callum Keith Rennie) and his partner Detective Hunt (Cle Bennett) are tasked with investigating the murders. Halloran becomes suspicious of two pathologists, Logan Nelson (Matt Passmore) and Eleanor Bonneville (Hannah Emily Anderson), especially after Eleanor confesses herself to be a Saw fangirl. Meanwhile, the five in the barn have dwindled in number as they continue to face test after test.

I enjoyed seeing Matt Passmore, who was in The Glades. And it’s always good to see John Kramer. Despite seeing some negative reviews, I liked it. In fact, I saw it at the theater once and streaming once. I would watch it again. It has all the elements of a good Saw story but with fresh elements and new progragonists. I’ll give this film 4 Stars.

Saturday is Horror Day #151 – Saw VI, Saw: The Final Chapter

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Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

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Saw VI

Agent Strahm learned the truth about Mark Hoffman (Costas Mandylor), but the knowledge didn’t help him as he let his own arrogance get in the way and he died, while Hoffman lived to see another day.  FBI agent Erickson (Mark Rolston) is getting closer to the truth himself. Will he survive the knowledge, once he finds out? Meanwhile, the game continues, beginning with two co-workers at an insurance company who must give up the proverbial pound of flesh in order to save themselves… or should I say, save one of them, for only one can win this game.

The sixth installment in the Saw series continues where the fifth left off. Hoffman has been acting as Jigsaw’s accomplice, but it seems as though the FBI might be closing in, having realized the voice on the tape isn’t John Kramer’s. What if their analysis is successful? Will they unmask Hoffman? Why does Agent Erickson focus so heavily on Kramer’s ex, Jill (Betsy Russell)? She was an innocent pawn in all of this… wasn’t she?

In this installment, the game centers around employees of an insurance company who have long defrauded their customers, including John Kramer. Despite being dead, he had everything planned, and he intends to show these people the consequences of their actions. It’s easy to make a decision about someone’s life when you don’t know that person and never will. But what if it’s someone you do know, whether friend, co-worker… or loved one?

I find the character of Mark Hoffman to be very intriguing. I think he is a better assistant than Amanda. The series continues to be very interesting. I like the acting, the plot, the direction. It’s still very enjoyable, and I went ahead and watched the next one, which I am going to review next. I will give this film 4 Stars.

Saw: The Final Chapter

Jill Tuck (Betsy Russell), John Kramer’s (Tobin Bell) ex, seeks protective custody, but will she give up Mark Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) in order to get what she wants? Detective Matt Gibson (Chad Donella) is counting on it. Meanwhile, Jigsaw survivor/self-help guru Bobby Dagen (Sean Patrick Flanery) is making a living by assisting other survivors to cope with the aftermath of their torturous time with Jigsaw. But his own dark secrets threaten to overwhelm him and he is forced to fight to protect his family and friends. Will he succeed?

As in the other installments of this series, the emphasis is on how actions have consequences, the same

thing John Kramer has said from the beginning. The people he targets all have something to atone for, and they all have choices to make. Hoffman is carrying on Jigsaw’s legacy, despite being hindered by Jill.

I know others think the series went downhill after the first film, but I disagree. And despite being labeled the final chapter, spoiler alert – it isn’t. I know of three more, and another one is coming out this year. So it’s far from dead. The games are good good, as well as gory. I am especially looking forward to Saw X, since it takes place earlier in the series and we’ll see more of John Kramer. Bobby Dagen deserves what he gets, trust me. I did like this one too and I’ll give it 4 Stars.

Saturday is Horror Day #131 – Saw II

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Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Saw II

Detective Eric Matthews (Donnie Wahlberg) has a troubled relationship with his son Daniel (Erik Knudsen). The rebellious boy is acting up and getting into trouble. Eric Matthews gets mad at him and yells at him to leave if he wants to so the boy does. Eric finds himself investigating a murder with his partner Kerry (Dina Meyer), but there’s a twist – the killer has left a personal message for the detective. What is going on?

The victim was someone Matthews knew, although facial recognition was impossible due to the way the

man died. But he recognized his unique tattoos and knows he was someone he once put away. Matthews reaches out to his son, to no avail, but soon finds himself immersed in the case as it becomes obvious the killer is none other than Jigsaw. Acting on certain evidence, they locate John Kramer (Tobin Bell), and it seems like a slam dunk…but, of course, it isn’t. The detectives discover a bank of monitors which reveal several people on camera who are trapped together somewhere…including Matthews’ son Daniel. Kramer explains about the nerve gas that is slowly killing them if they don’t get out within a certain period of time. But he says if the detective is patient and waits, he will get what he wants. Of course, Matthews chooses otherwise. Let the games begin…

The second installment of the Saw series is every bit as bloody as the first, maybe more so. And there are definite twists you won’t see coming, including a previous location. The first death in this film was memorable to me, as I looked at what needed to be done and realized I would just have to die too, I couldn’t do what it would take to get free.

I absolutely love this series, but I know it isn’t for everyone. The scene with the pit filled with needles made me cringe. I don’t think I would have the nerve to go into that. Looking forward to rewatching the rest and also the tenth Saw that is coming out at the end of September. I give this film 4.5 Stars.