SAW VI - DVD review

It's hard to believe we are on the sixth part of the "Saw" series, with "Saw VII" already in the production phase. Rarely these days do you see a Hollywood movie with six parts, but the "Saw" movies seem to be at the far end of the spectrum, where they continue to defy any logic for their existence. OK, "Star Wars" (including prequels) had a total of six movies and maybe the "Child's Play" series with five parts come to mind. "Saw" started off with a fresh concept, but with each subsequent release, the "Saw" series began to be rightly tagged as a part of the torture-porn field. Even worse, the last couple of movies in the series have seen diminishing returns at the box office, perhaps an indication that fans are getting tired of the beaten-down formula.

I thought "Saw" (2004) was good, as it pumped new life into the horror genre, not with its depiction of monsters or aliens, but with its unrelenting take on the perverse killing of human souls and its wicked storyline. Every "Saw" movie presented us with numerous, gory ways to kill a human being. I watched the first three films and gave up on the series after the "pig" scene in "Saw III." I became frustrated with the filmmakers having extended this series longer than desired. As my fellow reviewer, Dean Winkelspecht, rightly points out, the "Saw" series has become a maze like the "Lost" series.

The "Saw" series is predominantly told from the perspective of its main villainous character. All the savagery that goes in the series is a result of the killer losing his sanity. More so, victims are punished merely because they have forgotten to savor their lives. The first six "Saw" movies provide substantial details on why the killer is on a killing rampage, without endorsing his actions. Nonetheless, there is very little under the surface in terms of story, and when you link all the pieces together in this convoluted series, nothing warrants this series to be extended this long. The series could have very well ended with the third movie, but with good returns at the box office and an ensuing cult following, the franchise comes to life every Halloween. In the audio commentary, the producers emphasize that the seventh movie will provide additional background on the key characters of the series. Haven't we heard producers talk about this since the release of the first "Saw" movie?

Because I haven't watched "Saw IV" and "Saw V," I can only assume that "Saw VI" picks up where "Saw V" ends. It appears that detective Mark Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) is carrying out the "Jigsaw" killer legacy. When two FBI detectives close in on the Jigsaw case, Hoffman set things in motion that includes a series of grisly killings. I don't want to reveal too much here, but this movie follows the familiar pattern of the other movies in the series. The detective picks up a key character and his associated companions who directly influence the outcome of Jigsaw's health. Inside the maze, the victims are racing against the clock to stay alive.

As expected, "Saw VI" begins and ends with the traumatic deaths of victims. Within these acts, we get references to a key issue that is going to affect everyone in the future: health care in the U.S. In one scene, an insurance executive, William Easton (Peter Outerbridge), rejects an insurance claim filed by an insured party on the grounds that the insured did not disclose a preexisting condition before beginning the health-care coverage. In response to the rejection, the insured understandably utters, "You have handed me the death sentence." Indeed, the entire scene aptly represents the controversial nature of the recent health-care debate and how insurers wriggle their way out of not paying anything in similar situations as shown in the movie.

In the movie's opening scene, a recorded message from the Jigsaw killer calls two victims "financial predators." After all, the root cause of the current financial crisis is mainly attributed to an insurmountable amount of lending by financial institutions and the meager savings of its consumers. The timing of these scenes seems a bit coincidental with the current economic times, but it nevertheless, works with the overall story when you tie in all the ends.

Following the template of the earlier movies in the series, the director uses a number of flashbacks to provide additional insight into the mind of the Jigsaw killer. Through these flashbacks, we understand the relationship of the Jigsaw killer to his wife and to his old and new protégé. Further, this movie adds a new dimension to the story by bringing in a character whose decision was detrimental to the killer's health. It appears all these characters have crossed paths with each other at some stage in their life.

I like the fact that the director used flashbacks to build existing and new characters. In terms of sets, "Saw VI" uses new rooms and killing gadgets, which are described in detail by the set designers and the director in one of the disc's extras, "Traps of Saw VI." Notably, the hanging room stands out from the rest in terms of its impact and somewhat artistic content. The victims hanging in this room resemble puppets in a theater show with the composition comprised of dark, dimly lit background.

However, in spite of some positives, the movie suffers from an overwhelming amount of gore, which, of course, might appeal to horror fans. In addition, the horror elements are only used to create shock value rather than developing genuine creepy moments. The series applauds itself by showing its audience how new gadgets and techniques can be used to kill a human being. Even so, it tends to overshadow anything tangible going in the storyline. In the end, you are left with a vile taste in your mouth.

Video:
The movie is presented in its original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.78:1. For a gritty film, "Saw VI" looks pretty solid on DVD. There is a bit of grain present in some scenes, but that is the desired look of the film. Based on a stylistic choice, the directors of these films have preferred a palette that is devoid of bright colors. Of course, red is omnipresent in the entire movie. Overall, a fantastic transfer by Lionsgate for this release.

Audio:
Lionsgate has included a 5.1 Dolby Digital EX audio track, which does its job very well. The screams and gunshots are loud, with dialogue clear for the entire duration. Also included is the option to view the movie with English and Spanish subtitles.

Extras:
This is a two-disc release: Disc one contains the first movie of the series, "Saw," with a couple of extras, whereas disc two is dedicated to "Saw VI" and its extras. The extras on disc one are not as elaborate as on the previous "Saw" two-disc DVD release.

Extras on Disc 2
First, we have a set of two audio commentaries. The first audio commentary is with producer Marg Burg and executive producers Peter Block and Jason Constantine. The second commentary is with director Kevin Greutert and writers Marcus Dunstan and Patrick Melton. Both commentaries are very detailed, where everyone presents their thoughts on the opening scene, the maze, and the climax. Along the way, they provide information on the set design, especially the injection system.

Up next we have a featurette, "The Traps of Saw VI" (8:50 minutes, 16x9), where the producer, the director of set design, the special-effects supervisor, and the director of photography provide intricate details on the various sets. They talk about how the sets were designed for the hanging room, the steam room, and the carousel room.

Next, we have a featurette on the Jigsaw killer called "Jigsaw Revealed" (5:30 minutes, 16x9) that focuses on Tobin Bell and how he plays the character of the Jigsaw killer. Other crew members provide their thoughts on Tobin Bell as well.

Then we get a detailed featurette, "Killer Maze" (10:40 minutes, 16x9), that talks about how "Universal Studios" constructed a maze motivated by the "Saw" series. Basically, the maze designer received feedback on favorite traps in the series from a blog. Based on the feedback, with the help of a prop master, they then composed the maze.

Also included on the disc is a set of four music videos by Mushroomhead, MMF, Hatebreed, and Suicide Silence.

Finally, we have the movie's original theatrical trailer.

Parting Thoughts:
Interlacing conventional horror elements with a social debate, "Saw VI" is probably an improvement over the past few movies in the series, but I doubt by much. The movie still suffers from an unwanted, extended storyline that does not want to end, although it still brings in a few surprises. For me, the series has overstayed its welcome with its worn-out concept. Nevertheless, Lionsgate has produced a fine package that also includes the first movie of the series.