SAW II: Oh yes, there will be blood...yeah no kidding.

by: Average Joe February 21 2006

The makers of SAW II should be commended for staying close enough to the original to keep that same gut-wrenching effect, but also making it a good suspense/thriller movie on it’s own merit.

The sequel to the insanely popular 2004 horror (although I thought it was more of a suspense or thriller) flick “SAW”, SAW II brings us more of the same suspense, terror�?�.and of course blood. Last time around we saw two men (Leigh Whannell and Carey Elwes) trapped inside a room with a dead body laying in between them. Throughout the film they are given clues on how to escape by their capture who seems to know a little bit too much about them. At the end of the film it is revealed that the dead body that
has been laying in between them the whole time is in fact alive, and the very person who has imprisoned them in the room (if I blew it for you, shame on you for not seeing the original!).


SAW II brings us back into the twisted mind of the serial killer known simply as “Jigsaw”. After an opening scene that made everyone in the audience squirm in their seats, the movie is off and running. Without going too in-depth into the story for the film I will say that the plot for SAW II isn’t just some rehash of the original, infact it’s reminiscent
(which is good) without being too close and just basically copying the original storyline.


Jigsaw is back at it, only this time he’s trapped not just 2, but an entire group of people inside a mysterious location. Once again he has given them clues on how to escape within the 3hr time limit, only he’s been pumping a deadly nerve gas that only allows them 2 hours to live....sounds tricky huh? of course throughout the film you’ll be treated
to more than enough scenes that will make you “ooohhh” and “ahhhh”, one scene in particular involving a large hole in the ground and a nasty pile of USED syringes made me do a full body shiver.


At first glance the DVD for SAW II looks most impressive. Much like the first release, this DVD comes packaged in a pretty slick clear box with a matching cover featuring the two mangled fingers from the film’s poster. Now if you’re anything like me if something pleases your eye, you’re willing to give it a shot to see if it can please your other senses as well.

The special features on this DVD are nicely done as well. Of course you have your standard commentary from Directory Darren Lynn Bousman, and actors Donnie Wahlberg, and Beverley Mitchell. We are also treated to 2 featurettes; �??The props of SAW II�?� where we are taken inside the different �??toys�?� that are used throughout the film, and �??Deconstructing Jigsaw�??s traps�?� where we are taken deeper into the making of the film. Also present are deleted scenes, production interviews, original theatrical trailer, and misc. other trailers.


All in all SAW II is a not only a nice follow up to the original, but a great suspense/thriller on it�??s own merit. A lot of people think that since the original was so hard to figure out, this one should be a breeze�?�not quite. SAW II has more than enough twists and turns to keep you guessing throughout the course of the film, and enough blood and gore to keep most female viewers clung to their date�??s (or in this case, someone you know well since you�??ll be watching it on a DVD player and not in a theater) arm. SAW II manages to live up to the original, and avoid what so many sequels have fallen victim to�?�.being really, really crappy movies.