ONE HARSH CRITIC: Saw V

But I will keep it alive, if only for another fifteen minutes.

The "Saw" series has quickly become part of my Halloween tradition. My wife and I pay our 12 dollars ready (and surprisingly eager) to see what the minds at Twisted Pictures has for us each year. And with no real signs of wrapping up the story of the films evil mastermind, Jigsaw, it looks like a tradition we will be able to continue.

If you haven't seen any of the Saw saga, now in its fifth installment, you've got some catching up to do. This is not the place to start. And if you have seen some or all of this franchise, you've got some brushing up to do. Before you catch this macabre movie, head to your video store (or hopefully your own personal Saw collection) and relive the action, traps and slow unveiling story that the creators of Saw are so deft at unraveling.

This particular installment focuses less on traps and more on story. This is disappointing on a certain level as the traps are what keeps many audience members coming back. In this episode, the traps that our characters find themselves stuck in seem to be sub-par for Jigsaw's twisted mind. They don't seem like they've been thought out very well. Several of the traps have the same consequence - a jar of exploding nails. We've been waiting 365 days to see the new traps. Don't cheat us.

The other side of this coin is the story, and this is why audience members need to revisit the Saw films of yesteryear. There's no real way for me to recap the story point without A) giving the film away, B) confusing the hell out of everyone and C) reducing this piece of the puzzle to an unjustly juvenile level. However, know that this installment continues to painstakingly unveil more and more of Jigsaw's plan. Jigsaw died several films ago, yet his legacy lives on. Each film reveals a larger and larger picture; one that involves predator and prey in ways that continue to baffle and shock Saw's faithful fans.

Saw V isn't the best installment of the bunch. But that said, it's an essential cog in the machine. When not focused on traps, the ever growing bigger picture is what draws audiences' attention. This film explains more than it does shock with the typical Saw gore-fest. Don't get me wrong, this film is disturbing enough. It's just not as terrifyingly gruesome as its predecessors. But if you're interested in Jigsaw as a man, his intentions and his legacy, you'll enjoy Saw V.

Maybe I'm getting desensitized.

The bottom line is, if you enjoy the carnage and plot twists that keep the Saw franchise going, you'll like Saw V.

Of course, if you're a fan of Saw... you've already seen it.

Happy belated Halloween!

----------

Josh Gloer, Movie Correspondent

You can find Josh's column One Harsh Critic, published every other Sunday. Tuesday, Wednesday... Who can tell at this point? at http://oneharshcritic.gather.com/.

You can keep up with Josh's postings and his Gather activity by joining his Gather network.  Just click here: http://filmmaker1997.gather.com/, and then select the orange "connect" button on the left hand side of the page. 

You can find Josh and other Movie Correspondents, celebrity content and connect with other movie buffs at Movies.Gather.com.