Gornography In The Third Dimension

With SAW D being the sixth sequel to the low budget, breakout, horror hit that was 2004's Saw, I've gotten to know what makes a good Saw movie, and what doesn't. So here's the checklist:-

1/ Are the traps any good? Only partially this time. As with any horror franchise (Elm Street / Friday 13th / Jaws), characterisation begins to take a back seat to the number, and quality of the kills. And when I say 'quality', I mean the originality, the gore quotient and the entertainment value combined. The kills here start of well, with the most being used of the 3D process, but after the first three the budget begins to reign in the sadistic inventiveness of the torture devices. Yes they're OK, but never quite matching up to the fun factor (if you can call it that in a Gorno) to the opening traps.

2/ How convoluted is this sequel? All Saw movies are obliged to tie it's narrative into that which has been established before. It has to provide some fresh perspective onto the events of all the other Saw movies so that, come the revelatory final scene, the audience is going, "Ooooo...ain't that clever!" Saw's 4 and 6 overdid this, making their plots difficult to follow. The audience can spend so much time trying to remember plot points and character relationships from a movie 4 to 5 years ago, it makes you want to stop watching then and there. Fortunately, SAW 3D gets the loose ends from Saw 6 tied up pretty quickly and it's off with the new plot.

3/ Does this sequel have anything interesting to say? Well, Saw 6, despite it being a bit dull, did at least have some social commentary on America's dubious medical insurance policies. Saw 3D does examine people's need to exploit the news and media for personal gain...but it's nothing in depth.

It's directed with all the anticipated gloom and grime of the previous franchise entries, the 3D isn't used to any startling effect beyond the first 20 minutes. Oh and Cary Elwes, the magnificent thesp that he is (!) turns up for a plot twisting cameo. Not a dud, but an average entry into a film series that needs a nice long rest.