It doesn't disappoint

Rating: 9/10 (30 October 2005)

I walked into the theaters with minimal expectations. I was looking to watch a no brain sequel to a movie that I thought was amusing at best. After the movie, I realized I hadn't even touched my popcorn and the ice was all melted in my cherry coke. I was truly amazed by the movie.
I don't believe movies of the horror genre are meant to be meticulously picked apart. You must approach them with a somewhat forgiving attitude. With that in mind, Saw II delivers in every way and surpasses the first movie. It's suspenseful. It's gory. It's worth it. Where the Jigsaw killer was a mystery in the first movie, the character is well developed and carries the sequel without any difficulty. And because the writers decided not to hide the killer in the sequel, it doesn't insult the audience by falling into that all too familiar cookie cutter horror films.
Some people may be put off by the sort of open ended ending, but I argue that this is OK with the Saw series. And the reason is simple. In other horror classics (i.e Friday the 13th, Halloween, Nightmare on Elm St., etc, etc) the killings were senseless. The victims' sins were nothing more than the fact that they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. And the killer's intentions are either not clear or flimsy at best (Jason is ticked because people are in his favorite campground?!). In Saw, the Jigsaw killer wishes to be the hand of god that punishes people who don't fully appreciate the lives that they've been given. The premise may be a little cliché (Seven?), but the method in which the Jigsaw executes his punishments and tests are what drives the movie. So instead of a particular key killer carrying the movie, it's the technique of the kills and the legacy that the killer brings that makes the movie pop.
If you're wanting to watch a fun movie that's worth the $9.50 that you paid and you like horror movies. Go watch Saw II. I don't think you'll be disappointed.