turn off your brain and your gag reflex and enjoy

Rating: 6/10 (30 November 2006)

In 2004, "Saw", a little independent horror film, starring the actor best known for his work in "The Princess Bride" and "Hot Shots!" was foisted upon unsuspecting audiences. The flawed, but tense flick inadvertently created a film franchise that maybe shouldn't have been.
"Saw II" takes the life and death game of physical and psychological torture to another level. The first film spent most of its time in a single dank public restroom, whereas this film opens things up quite a bit. Things get started when a police informant is found murdered by some sort of medieval torture device. The investigation leads the cops to a creepy old man who begins to play mental games with the head detective, played by Donny Wahlberg, who spends the whole film struggling to act like Mark. The film crosscuts between the police investigation, and the ticking time bomb of a house that nine strangers are trapped in.
"Saw II" is an intense, edge of your seat, thriller with flashy, but effective fast-paced editing that leaves no time for thought. By the time the end credits roll, the experience was an enjoyable one, but at a cost. The stylish editing and over-the-top death scenarios can't conceal the fact that half the plot stays stationary the whole time, and that the other half is stocked with characters whose sole motivation is to assist the plot. It's a fun, popcorn movie, but it fails under the weight of its own high expectations.