"Saw VI"
by: Paolo Sardinas

Like clockwork the latest addition to the seemingly never ending "Saw" franchise has been released. Becoming almost like an annual tradition this latest film tackles subjects of a different nature. Amongst the torture traps and mindless violence we also get some political relevance. Health care(more on it later) is a fun little topic, especially with the way things are now. But for the first time the "Saw" movies, going on six, have actually tackled this subject. Which is kind of strange considering the whole subject matter of these films. Rather than being preachy about the much needed reform it instead mimics the decisions made by big health care companies. Yes, this does sound weird, but fret not you Saw fans. There is still plenty of gore to go around.

This film tackles the much heated subject matter with its main character William, the CEO of a major health insurance company who gets taught a lesson by John Cramer aka Jigsaw(Tobin Bell). Essentially the main goal was to prove to Willy that his day job is essentially playing God, so this all is supposed to come some concluding revelation about himself but it really doesn't make much sense. The film plays out with flashbacks and daydreams which offer nothing more than just a confusing time at the movies. Something that the Saw franchise has always been able to do really well. Confusing the audience is there game and Jigsaw's, whose been dead for the last three movies, games are never better. In fact they seem to get dumber by the minute.

In a "big scene", which is only as smart as it thinks it is, Will has to decide, from a group of six strangers, which ones live and die. They are all strapped to a spinning carousel and must make the ultimate choice. Another throwback to the fact about him practically playing God at work. This scene is very very dry. Dry in the sense that the viewer doesn't care-at all- about these six idiots. We don't care about their past, what they're doing there, or why these films even exist. And considering the fact of how the mechanism works, the creators don't care either.

Of course like every installment in the franchise they are always offering up some new toys. Each one gets dumber and dumber but at least they tried. "VI" yes this is the six installment actually manages to have some fairly interesting inventions, well despite the one I mentioned above that is just plain stupid. Most of them still are dumb and ridiculously unnecessary but they still make this sixth installment kind of fun to watch. Sure it's just as dumb as the others but hey every now and then we just need something to diverge our attention away from our everyday problems. Something that the fifth and previous installment didn't quite accomplish.

The story line, which I'm sure you've already figured out, is increasingly confusing. For those who haven't watched the previous films here a little refresher course. Yes three films ago Jigsaw died, but he left behind pre taped videos which describe to all of his predecessors, who are all vying for his "power", what to do. Pre taped torture vids. Sounds great. That is more or less it in a nutshell. Granted there are more details throughout but those are long and will take awhile. Another feature in the Saw films that never seems to go away. The confusing plot-line throughout "Saw VI" is constantly jumping back and forth. Making less and less sense of what its trying to say. The flashback and day dreams add nothing to the story and in fact make it harder to understand, rather than making it easier.

Tobin Bell returns, in his series of pre taped torture vids, and delivers another thought provoking performance. One which, like all the films, is the only real reason to watch. Even as the movies get older and seem to lose their quality, Bell will always be a stand point. The one thing which is always entertaining to watch. No matter how dumb the rest of the film is.

No matter how much more fun these toys are to watch as they chop up people, you still have that little part of your brain which will constantly question you. "Why the hell am I watching this?" is what you'll always be thinking. But when the twist ending comes than you might think differently. The twist ending, which makes "VI" the only real reason to watch, is and actually makes sense. Now I won't give anything away since then there will be no reason to watch. But you should know that when the next installments are released they might actually, dare I say, make sense. "Saw VI" overall manages to be somewhat entertaining but still will confuse the hell out of you. That I can guarantee. Grade: C-

Rated R for sequences of grisly bloody violence and torture, and language.