SAW II
US, 2005, 90 minutes, Colour.
Tobin Bell, Donny Wahlberg, Shawnee Smith.
Directed by Darren Lynn Bousman.
The original Saw thriller was a clever horror or terror film, much better written and more frighteningly constructed than might have been expected. The sequel has appeared very rapidly, the makers probably having a healthy bank balance to go in to production almost immediately. The sequel continues the style of the original, even to repeating the basic plot (and linking it with the first film towards the end). Fans will know what to expect. Other audiences straying into Saw will find it all rather alarming and gruesome.
Once again, a group of seemingly random individuals wake to find themselves trapped in a locked room, discovering tapes which gives them clues as to how they might escape. They bicker, they try their wits, they fail. In the meantime, their tormentor watches on closed circuit television. Last time there was a twist as to where the killer actually was – and a variation on this trick is used here with a character from Saw. The other difference here is that John (a sinister Tobin Bell) has a central role this time as he taunts a detective as they watch the victims on the screens. The detective has tried to reconcile with his son who is one of those trapped. As the plot goes on, the detective is unmasked as having some deep secrets.
While trying to find a word that would do some justice to the skills in the film-making while highlighting the macabre, even sadistic touches, I came across a review which called it both clever and heartless. That seems to be right.
1.The extraordinary success of the original film? Popular around the world? The marketing of the sequel?
2.The sequel resembling the first film in plot? Developing Jigsaw’s character? Giving more background to his cancer and his illness? His work with Amanda, saving her, bequeathing his mission to her?
3.The similarity of the plot to the first film? The initial criminal, caught, trapped, tied into the torture chamber? The torment, his death?
4.Eric Matthews and the police investigation? The contact with Jigsaw, tracking him down? The ease with which he found him? Discussions with him? The other police?
5.The group who were trapped, coming to consciousness? Eric’s son with them? The various characters, their personalities, their interactions, the reasons for their being trapped and tortured? The connections with Eric Matthews?
6.Matthews and his concern about his son, John Kramer giving him time limits in order to find his son? The reaction of the other police? The technology of the torture chamber? The visuals on the monitors?
7.Matthews and his going after his son, into the building? The police following, the visual clues? Discovering they were in the wrong building?
8.The reaction of the group, the rash man wanting to get out and being shot? The desperation of the other characters? The violence they experienced? Attacking each other?
9.Amanda, her presence, waking up, her participating in the game? The fact that she had engineered it?
10.Daniel, his presence, his relationship with his father, running away? His father wanting to save him? His not knowing that his father was concerned? Talking about his father?
11.The different men and women, the torture, their deaths? The possibilities of escape, the corridors, the importance of the timing?
12.Amanda revealing herself to Eric Matthews? The confrontation, her motivations, the case against him, his framing her? His personal violence, his aggressive police tactics? Her leading him further into the building?
13.His being trapped, his death? The others being saved?
14.The moralising of the film? The visualising of the torture? The horror aspects?
15.The film’s success – and another sequel?
