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Sit back, enjoy "Saw II" for what it is - but not alone
Movie Review: Saw II
By Brett Troxler
btroxler@wbrz.com
Web Producer
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PLAY OFFICIAL TRAILER
The sequel to one of last year's racier, make-you-think thrillers is in a theatre near you, and with all its intense, gut-wrenching moments, I recommend bringing along a close friend or significant other who you are comfortable latching onto now and again.
When you see "Saw II," you'll be seeing a film about a group of strangers who find themselves trapped and involved in a game put together by the sadistic Jigsaw Killer (Tobin Bell), a man whose mission is to punish those who don't appreciate life by testing their survival instinct.
The film really centers on tough guy Det. Eric Mason, played by Donnie Wahlberg ("The Sixth Sense" and your favorite New Kid on the Block), who quickly learns his connection to the serial killer's sick scheme. With the clock ticking, Mason has the chore of finding the house where the group of caged individuals is, all the while watching on monitors as they make choices that may end their lives sooner than the toxic nerve gas that is filling their lungs.
Wahlberg and Bell are decent enough in their roles, but it's no surprise the cast members have so much trouble trying to find their way out of booby-trapped house. It's safe to say they probably couldn't have acted their way out either. In typical horror movie fashion, most of the faces you see have only been stand-ins with smaller roles in previous films. It won't be long before you're ready to slap Beverly Mitchell back into "7th Heaven," or you're wishing the rumbling, bumbling, stumbling Franky G would just keel over and die. But let's be honest - no actor or actress signed up for this movie expecting awards to be thrown his or her way upon its completion.
"Saw II" really doesn't sit still. Bouncing cameras and quick switches between angles add to the uneasiness you already feel. This sequel has more gore, grit and blood than the original, and while it's equally disturbing as its predecessor, it's not exactly as scary in the true sense of the word. But the moments where you are hiding your eyes and grimacing more than make up for the lack of a scare factor. And kudos to the producers/executive decision makers for releasing the film on Halloween weekend. A novel concept, I know.
Whether or not "Saw II" is on par with the original is up for debate, but fans of the first film should not be disappointed with the sequel. The few correlations between the two movies make it that much more fun. You just have to peel back the layer of bad dialogue and overacting and enjoy this thriller for what it is. In the end, when your mind is twisted into a soft, salty pretzel, that's when you will fully appreciate the intelligent writing and concept behind "Saw II."
