Decent sequel, gore and blood ala plenty, never lacks creativity thanks to Whannell

Rating: 7/10 (26 February 2006)

**1/2 Donnie Wahlberg, Shawnee Smith, Tobin Bell, Erik Knudsen, Dina Meyer, Franky G, Glenn Plummer. Directed by Darren Lynn Bousman
Despite the doubt of a sequel surpassing the original (which it doesn't) or the attempt to measure up, "Saw 2" does. Leigh Whannel going out on a limb with out James Wong but substituting for him director Darren Lynn Bousman. A fine choice indeed. This time friendly serial killer and life teacher Jigsaw (Bell) pits eight strangers in a house while they breathe in deadly nerve agents. While Detective Mathews attempts to hunt down his son who is also one of the eight. "Saw 2" doesn't fail on blood and creativity but it does the exact opposite, it brings wholesome torture and life back to killings on the screen. Most horror films fail to deliver the goods or a decent story line, "Saw 2" packs both. No it's not as good as the original but a lot better than I would think for what it is. My final rating 7/10