a_chinn Jigsaw takes on corporate America in this sixth installment of the usually engrossing, but now fairly played out horror series. A pair of insurance executives find themselves the subject of Jigsaw's latest set of choice based Rube Goldberg torture scenarios. There's also another storyline about law enforcement trying to stop Jigsaw's games (even though Jigsaw died in "Saw 3"). The first Saw film is easily the best. That film was more of a grizzly thriller than a torture porn horror film, which the sequels quickly became. James Wan left after the first film, and Darren Lynn Bousman took over directing the next three films, which were reasonably clever and managed to continue the story without repeating themselves, but from part five on, the series began to repeat itself ad nauseam. As was with part five, the story fo part six serves only an excuse to create new elaborate torture chambers and violent traps where the characters have to repeatedly make awful no-win decisions in order to survive. As a fan of horror films, I will admit that Jigsaw's grizzly "games" hold my interest and each scenario makes me think, "what would I do in that situation?" That's the major hook for the Saw films and it still works here, but that's not really enough to justify this film's existence or the sequels that followed. Still, I suppose this is worth watching if you liked the prior films, even if it's nowhere as good.

TheLittleSongbird Finally saw all the 'Saw' films prior to seeing 'Jigsaw' (as part of my wanting to see as many 2017 films as possible this year, during a quieter and less intensive period). Heard a lot about the films, good and bad, but wanted to see them for myself to know what to expect.The films as an overall series are a very mixed bag. The original 'Saw' had a great premise and while it was problematic it was still pretty good and one of the best in the series. 'Saw II' was one of the few sequels to be just as good and while flawed in its own way it had most of what made the first work. Sadly the novelty wore off in the next three sequels (though the fourth did have elements of what made the first two films work), the fifth especially being a let down. 'Saw VI' is one of the best of the series and the best sequel since the second.'Saw VI' is not a great film by all means. The dialogue continues to be weak, was never a strength in the previous films and still isn't, being cheesy, half-baked, rambling and contrived. Of the performances, only a chilling Tobin Bell, with (a much better used this time round) Jigsaw continuing to fascinate in how the series does so well in setting him apart from most characters of his type, fares well. The others are saddled with characters that are either bland filler or resort to illogical decisions and are fairly perfunctory.Ridiculousness was all over the previous films too, even in the first. 'Saw VI' doesn't escape that sadly either, the credibility and logic lapses are numerous and big.However, although the editing is not exactly refined (some of it should come as a health warning for epileptics), 'Saw VI' is visually one of the most atmospheric, most elaborate and effectively claustrophobic films in the series. The music is suitably eerie and 'Saw VI' for me is the best directed since the second film, with things being tightened and steadied and things that were excessively done in instalments III-V toned down while still making impact.For what it may lack in logic, 'Saw VI' makes up for it vastly in satiric bite, suspense and atmosphere, it is more taut in pace and is far easier to follow than the third and especially fifth films. Even with the gore, though it is not as excessive, there is a pleasing return to the most inventive traps, tortures and demises since the second film. The Russian Roulette carousel sequence is wonderfully executed and for me the best individual scene since that unforgettable twist ending of the first 'Saw'. There haven't been twists this devilishly clever or bold since the first either.Unlike 'Saw V', which seemed only to exist to set this one up, 'Saw VI' actually did feel necessary despite fears. As seen with the contents of the letter from 'Saw III' being revealed much needed questions are answered, mysteries left unresolved are solved like with the box and Jigsaw's motives are clearer. The ending is easily the most satisfying one since the first 'Saw', the only sequel ending to not be obvious, incoherent or contrived, actually it's pretty disturbing and by the series' standards it makes sense. Bell continues to send chills down the spine.Overall, one of the better 'Saw' sequels and one of the best of the series. 6/10 Bethany Cox

Spikeopath So where were we at now then? Detective Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) is still continuing to do the bloody work of the dead John Kramer/Jigsaw (Tobin Bell). In his sights is William Easton (Peter Outerbridge), an unfeeling insurance head who turned down claims by Kramer and a myriad of others on pathetic technicalities. Cue more elaborate traps, painful decisions and some twisty devilment. Yep! It's another Saw movie.Somewhat surprisingly, part 6 is a step up in quality of writing and ingenuity of gore/trap factors from the previous two installments. It's still very much old hat as a formula, and once again the sequences of Bell used in flashback show him to be the franchise's strength. However, the makers put at the core an insurance issue that everyone can identify with, whilst piling on mystery and suspense by way of Jigsaw's left envelopes and the FBI closing in on an increasingly overt confident Hoffman. 7/10

LeonLouisRicci The Plot in This One is What the Saw Sequels Should Have Been Doing All Along. Instead of Using Everyday People with Character Flaws, Drug Addiction for Example, the Vigilantism Should have been Aimed at the True Monsters of Society Like Those Found in this Film.This Entry Only Made 2 1/2 Times its Budget. Saw V Pulled in 5 Times Budget, so You See where this is Going to Go. A Curtain Call and then Game Over. Overall, this May be the Best of the Sequels Despite the Lead Actor Playing the Cop and Taking Over for Jigsaw. Does His Expression Ever Change Once, Ever. Just Awful Acting in a Mostly Awful Franchise.This and the Original are the Only Two So Far Worth a Watch for Anyone Not a Fan of the Torture Porn Genre.