Saw III is an adequate sequel A study in grief, guilt and human frailty

Rating: 10/10 (7 March 2015)

Though there's little doubt that these films will keep getting made until they stop making money, Saw III reportedly marks the last hurrah for the original filmmakers - including series creators James Wan and Leigh Whannell (with the latter penning the expectedly intricate screenplay). It comes as no surprise, then, that Saw III generally has the feel of a final instalment - although, of course, the door is nevertheless left open for yet another sequel.Director Darren Lynn Bousman has infused Saw III with precisely the same sort of dark, Fincheresque sensibility that has essentially come to define the series' visual look, a feeling that's been augmented with the distinctly gritty vibe (the film is much, much more brutal than either of its predecessors). Whannell's script features several references to both Saw and Saw II, and occasionally paints certain events from those two films in an entirely new light (that infamous bathroom set makes a welcome appearance, albeit briefly). There's little doubt that Saw III will have a far greater effect on viewers who are already well acquainted with the series, as the filmmakers have included a whole host of little tidbits and shout-outs that will mean absolutely nothing to neophytes (that being said, the central storyline does seem accessible enough to hold the interest of newbies). And if ever there was a movie that warranted a "not for the squeamish" advisory, this is certainly it.