The best SAW sequel!

Rating: 9/10 (11 August 2009)

I believe the original SAW to be one of the most influential, creative horror films in recent years. I kind of liked SAW II and upon further viewing it gains points with me for being different from I, but having a solid story within itself, but I think it was the fact that II almost seemed ignore what happened in I and appeared like a totally different almost not even tied to I, except for the return of the character of Amanda and her role in the SAW franchise. Now, with part III, it all comes together! I see where II was going! And SAW III is even more satisfying than II because it forms a great "conclusion" to the "trilogy". I know there has been a IV and V since, but they both go too far with the SAW concept as far as I'm concerned. It should have ended with III.
Picking up about 6 months after the events of II, SAW III continues the story of John AKA Jigsaw (who was revealed as the villain at the end of SAW and Amanda (revealed as Jigsaw's apprentice at the end of SAW II). John/Jigsaw again is played superbly by Tobin Bell, who now belongs in the pantheon of the likes of Norman Bates, Jason Voorhies, Freddy Krueger, and Michael Myers. What makes John unique is that, unlike horror-movie killers of the last 30 years or so, he is portrayed as a functioning sociopath with an actual purpose and a rather focused vision: that people not take life for granted. Shawnee Smith again comes through as Amanda, who I thought was the most memorable character from part I. Now we get to see her character fleshed out and see her and John's relationship in full focus.
John has Amanda kidnap Dr. Lynn Denlon (played impressively by sexy newcomer Bahar Soomekh). Lynn is a brilliant ER surgeon, but seems to have a terrible personal life and is highly depressed. John needs Lynn to operate on him as his brain tumor is worsening and he is now bed-ridden. Scared out of her mind now by this situation, Lynn must comply as Amanda has placed a bullet-riddled contraption around her neck that if John dies, it goes off and she dies too! In a parallel story, John has taken Jeff (excellently portrayed by Angus Macfayden), another emotional basket-case who has recently lost his son, killed by a drunk driver, who was let off with a light sentence. John must navigate through his "emotional" trap of getting over his need for revenge on the people who are responsible for his rage (the driver, an eyewitness who said nothing, and the judge who let the driver go free).
The connection to III and I is that 2 people are imprisoned in one way or another and take life for granted. But here, both Lynn and Jeff are much more psychologically damaged than our protagonists Dr. Gordon and Adam in I. Of course there is a twist! Actually, there are 2 big twists! One of them occurs smack dab in the middle of the film and I like this one even better than the final twist, which is a doozy! While part I focused a lot on style and was short on exposition, this one digs deep into the psyche of it's 4 characters and involves us deeply into the experience.
Also, like in I, part III uses flashback sequences as part of the storytelling, but in I, the flashbacks were used more stylistically and dominated the film. Whereas here in III, the flashbacks are told in a more traditional fashion and placed at just the right time for just the right amount of exposition. But that is purposeful as each film has a different presentation: I was intended to be stylish, gimmicky, and nonlinear, whereas III has a story to tell. Again, the acting in III is exceptional. With a deeply involving story, SAW III is a highly welcome addition to the SAW franchise!