The Rebirth of Sick

Rating: 8/10 (2 May 2010)

Twisted serial killer Tobin Bell (as John "Jigsaw" Kramer) is back, from the first "Saw" (1904), and he's out for more blood. Last time, as you recall, Mr. Bell trapped two men in a bathroom, with leg-irons and "Saw". This time, he's locked a bunch of people in a dirty house. To make it WORSE than the first movie, the house seems to have NO bathroom at all. What happens if you have to go? There is a way for the characters to get to the bathroom from the original film (but I'd rather go in my pants). Anyway, "Jigsaw" is also releasing a deadly gas in the sealed-up house; it makes the trapped cast cough up blood, and wear dark eye makeup...
"Saw II" is directed by Darren Lynn Bousman with continuity assist from co-writer Leigh Whannell. It is a great thriller - and, more importantly as this is obviously now a film series - an excellent sequel. They do just about everything you need to do to build a successful franchise. The neatly constructed plot weaves Shawnee Smith (as Amanda) from the first film with corrupt cop Donnie Wahlberg (as Eric Matthews); his estranged son, curly-haired Erik Knudsen (as Daniel), is among the unsavory types trapped in Jigsaw's puzzle. The cast is wholly entertaining. And, the DVD comes with a cool bonus, the "Saw: Rebirth" comic book.
******** Saw II (10/28/05) Darren Lynn Bousman ~ Donnie Wahlberg, Tobin Bell, Shawnee Smith, Erik Knudsen