Jigsaw (2017) Review

John Kramer, otherwise known as the Jigsaw killer, has become the most recent iconic horror slasher icon. In 2004, horror fans across the world witnessed the beginning of a legacy that would end up spanning more than a decade. As Freddy and Jason ruled the 80s, and Ghostface ruled the 90s, Jigsaw ruled the 00s.

It has been seven long years since a new SAW movie. After all, John Kramer died. Unlike most of his other slasher movie counterparts, there is nothing supernatural about John Kramer. He was human, and he died... or did he?

The new film, Jigsaw, picks up seven years after Saw 3D: The Final Chapter. A new group of law enforcement officials find themselves playing a new game, an impossible game seemingly being run by a killer long dead. The bodies stack up as it seems they are chasing the ghost of a killer.

Jigsaw seems to be an attempt at relaunching the franchise. This installment does something great that is a staple of the SAW movies: misdirection, and showing you things that are not as they appear. As the characters in the film are playing a game, so is the viewer. The entire movie is a puzzle, and the clues are there for the observant to pick up on. For the less observant ones, the ending is one of the best in the series that rivals the first film.

The acting in the film is top notch, particularly from Matt Passmore, who is best known for his starting role in the tv show, The Glades. Tobin Bell makes an appearance as Jigsaw, and is his usual creepy self. Another strong performance is given by Laura Vandervoort, who played Supergirl in the Smallville TV series. The rest of the performances were fine.

Some things that bothered me about the film is that there were definitely some script problems. With traps that are so intricate and tailor-made for specific victims, it is impossible for anyone to predict who would survive and live to get to the tailor made traps. This will make more sense when you watch the film.

I'm going to put a disclaimer here, because there is something I need to address about the critical response to this movie, and I can't do it without giving some spoilers away, so... if you don't want spoilers... stop reading now. You were warned.

Tobin Bell made the claim in the press recently that this installment was groundbreaking. Most of the critical response disagrees with him, and have blasted the film for being more of the same... and it is, to an extent. Here is why I agree with Tobin.

This is an attempt to relaunch the franchise as something different. Jigsaw truly is dead, unlike Freddy, Jason, Michael, Chucky, and a host of other slasher icons. But Jigsaw has something that they don't: a legacy, a following. Yes... this film follows a Jigsaw copycat, and the parts with Jigsaw in them are flashbacks, but it shows how the filmmakers created a slasher icon whose legacy never dies. It's hard to explain, but in a sense, he is just like Freddy and the others.

This film is a transition film from Jigsaw to one of his followers. It could be the beginning of something special, if fans give it a chance. John Kramer wanted to play a game, but Logan Nelson speaks for the dead.