That's funny....why can't Jigsaw practice forgiveness?

Rating: 3/10 (5 August 2019)

This third installment in the "Saw" series is full of pretentious, self-righteous nonsense that should have you begging for it to just end already. I certainly was.
Plot in a Nutshell: A dying serial killer forces a kidnapped doctor to keep him alive long enough to witness the outcome of his latest deadly 'game.'
Why I rated it a '3': Some reviews here made much of the idea that this film contains 'thought-provoking themes' and explores 'the philosophical aspect of forgiveness.' They are saying this, I suppose, because part of the plot revolves around Jeff (Angus Macfadyen), a man who has lost his son in a car accident and is unable to forgive the driver. He can't let go of his son and curses the fact that the driver 'got off light.' The serial killer "Jigsaw" has come to the conclusion that Jeff has not been grieving properly (yes this is as stupid as it sounds, and don't ask me how Jigsaw knows who Jeff is and how he is grieving) and so Jigsaw has determined that Jeff should endure a series of 'games' that perhaps will teach him how to forgive. As if Jigsaw has any moral standing when it comes to forgiveness! Here is a person who has sent countless people to their grisly deaths because of their perceived sins. Why couldn't Jigsaw forgive any of them, instead of setting them up to die? Hmm? Anyone? And now he's going to preach about forgiveness? Hey Jigsaw, how about practicing what you preach, buddy? Moron. Wow what a stupid plot line. Colossally stupid.
Coupled with this is a dreadfully uninteresting concurrent story about Jigsaw on the verge of dying (due to his terminal cancer). A doctor has been kidnapped and been forced to administer to Jigsaw with the challenge of keeping him alive at least until Jeff finishes his game. So the doctor must perform a crude operation with limited tools to get the job done and, if this sounds like it could have been part of a TV hospital drama, you're right. That's not a compliment.
As if all of the above isn't bad enough, it gets worse. How's that, you ask? How about if I told you that this film - which is supposed to be a horror film, right? - is in fact, a love story. I am not making this up. Here is a direct quote from the guy who wrote the screenplay, Leigh Wannell: "It is a love story. It's a love story between Jigsaw and Amanda. Essentially they're like father and daughter." Oh yeah? That's great. You know, when I'm in the mood for a scary horror film, there's nothing I like better than to have it centered on a good father/daughter love story! Gee, what should I watch tonight? "Saw III" or "Father of the Bride?" Wow.
"Saw III" has all the markings of a film that was thrown together as quickly as possible to take advantage of the series' popularity. In other words, it's not good. It's not even average. It's bad. There is a scene where one character shoots another and Jigsaw admonishes - in all seriousness - 'you just ruined four lives.' Uh, what? How about all of the people Jigsaw has sent to their deaths in the first three films? How many lives has he ruined as a result of his actions? Does this self-important idiot even listen to himself? This is laughable. The writing here is so poor it's mind-boggling.
3/10. Would I watch again (Y/N)?: Never in a million years. Hell no.