Psychological duel of vital importance

Rating: 9/10 (23 January 2019)

Creating a successful movie on amateur actors, inexperienced screenwriters and low budget is quite an accomplishment in itself. Following such a film up with a strong sequel within a single year is an even greater challenge. Somehow, Leigh Whannell and Darren Lynn Bousman delivered the goods and offered a movie that kept the grisly tension of the original movie and added some depth to old and new characters. Even though this sequel isn't as creative as the first installment, it comes surprisingly close and underlines the significance of this contemporary horror movie franchise.
The movie revolves around four strong lead characters, including two old and two new ones. The film gives an insight how the mild-mannered John Kramer became the cold-hearted Jigsaw and elaborates upon the twisted philosophy behind his actions.
Survivor Amanda Young who had a rather brief appearance in the predecessor is a very important and unpredictable character in this sequel who has to play another deadly game with a group of seven strangers who must uncover what they have in common in order to survive.
Police investigation is more important in the sequel than in the predecessor. The viewers are introduced to two officers with completely different philosophies who complement each other perfectly. Allison Kerry is a factual, pragmatic and realistic investigator who always follows the rules by the book in a nearly emotionless way.
Eric Matthews on the other side is a brutal, emotional and pitiless investigator who regularly breaks the rules and clashes not only with colleagues and superiors but also with the criminals he has to deal with and his own family members.
This is an important detail since his estranged son is among the serial killer's eight test subjects. The investigator and the serial face off in a psycholigical duel that may decide upon life and death which leads to a showdown with unexpected twists.
If you appreciated the first entry in the franchise, you are also going to like this surprisingly rewarding sequel as well as all other installments. This second entry is even less graphic than the predecessor and can genuinely be described as psychological thriller. It convinces with diversified characters, sinister locations and a twisted plot that offers an elevated number of surprises for the gripping finale. Once again, this entry in the franchise finds the perfect balance between grisly and intellectual elements that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.