Saw IV

So, Saw V is out now, and since I've seen all the other films in the franchise, I figure it's about time I get my butt into the theatre to check this one out, despite having been disappointed by Saw IV last year. Although I debated preparing for this one by watching all four of the films that precede it, I felt secure enough with my knowledge of the plot twists in the first three to forego watching them, instead just refreshing myself with the events taking place in the fourth installment.

First off, let it be said that, having not yet seen the fifth film, I'm still very much of the opinion that the creators of the franchise should have just stopped with a trilogy, as the story contained therein was really cohesive and tied up nicely. But then they threw us this curveball fourth film which adds a bit to the previous timeline in a fairly convoluted and unnecessary way. Package this with a set of traps that were significantly less gruesome and shocking than those found in the previous three films, and you've got a film that subtracts more than it helps.

Ultimately though, I'm going to reserve full judgment on Saw IV until I've seen Saw V (which should be soon), so be sure to check back for that post to see if the fourth movie makes more sense with something following it. Until then, my advice would be to check out the first three films and pretend the fourth never happened...