Two Jigsaw Pieces

James Wan and Leigh Whannell's Saw (2004) was a surprise box office hit.

Actually, the real surprise was that it was a fresh, original idea that delivered the horror goods. It wasn't a glossy uninspired remake of a 70's classic, its twists and turns and grim perversity kept you guessing and squirming.

Leigh Whannell and Cary Elwes played the two main characters trapped in Jigsaw's sick game. A game designed to determine the lengths to which someone might go in order to stay alive. A good movie, only let down slightly at the end by Elwes' acting as his character gets pushed to the limit. That said, given the situation he was in, it would have been tough for any actor to pull off.

So now just a year later we have Saw II. A quick cash in? Yes, but a well made one. Leigh Whannell returns as a screenwriter, joined by Darren Lynn Bousman who also directs.

Saw II, quite rightly, reuses the twisted Mr Jigsaw. The mood and horrendous traps are familiar from the first film but there are enough new ideas thrown in to make it worthwhile. This time it's not just a two person head to head. A large group of characters, individually kidnapped, wake up to find they are trapped with strangers in a strange building. There's a connection between them all, what is it?

Now these people are not very likeable or interesting and the situation they are placed in reminded me of the awful Halloween: Resurrection - BUT (and it's a big but) the real good stuff happens outside of their prison. Jigsaw has been captured and Cop Donnie Wahlberg is desperately trying to find out their location before they all die. His son is one of those trapped in Jigsaw's little game. What will he do to keep his son alive?

Saw II is gruesomely entertaining and you are never sure what is going to happen next. What is certain though is that Saw III is coming to our multiplexes in October.