more art with less matter

Rating: 1/10 (17 February 2006)

The first Saw wasn't a perfect film, but it was at least interesting and had a whopper of an ending. This one doesn't even come close to the first one; it's just more gore, but with a much weaker script. There's one interesting plot twist, but it feels like too little too late because it comes at the very end. Hopefully the original screen writers will return for Saw 3...
One thing that too few people in Hollywood understand is that a good script is absolutely imperative in film-making. Everything else can be mediocre, but the script is the backbone and if that's weak, it doesn't matter how much violence and gore you have, it's not going to work. A true horror film isn't violent and bloody; it has to have a script and plot that is so creepy that it stays with you long after. Apparently, Hitchcock and M Knight Shyamalan are the only directors who understood that.