“Saw VI” raked in a little over $14.1 million on its opening weekend. However, it didn’t take the number one at the box office. That honor went to another horror movie, “Paranormal Activity”.
One thing about “Saw VI” is the similarity to the third installment. The sixth installment seemed to flow well with the entire franchise rather than the fourth and fifth installments. The fifth installment reminds me of an installment of the “Indiana Jones” franchise where the only way out is through death.
The sixth movie plot is centered around Detective Hoffman (Costas Mandylor). Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) is still deceased. However, his wife Jill (Betsy Russell) helps Detective Hoffman with his evil-doings.
Detective Hoffman, Jigsaw, and Jill are not the only returning cast members from the “Saw” franchise. FBI Agent Perez (Athena Karkanis) returns from the previous “Saw” film.
The victim this time is William (Peter Outerbridge). He is the executive of a health insurance agency who would much rather care for the almighty dollar than the health of the ailing patients. William soon finds himself in a predicament. Who does he let live and who will he let die?
The “Saw” franchise is the horror version of “The Matrix.”. The camera techniques, lighting, concept, death devices, characters and scenarios are the same. If you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. Some things never change–such as the cinematography and lightning.
They continue to remain repetitive as seen in the other “Saw” installments. Jigsaw still makes his appearances. Even though he is not there in the flesh, his spirit seems to live on forever.
The lack of star power seems to drizzle away through the franchise. Danny Glover, DonnieWahlberg and Meagan Good helped the previous installments. “Saw VI” had to rely on a reality show winner, Tanedra Howard, from VH1’s “Scream Queens” to help carry the “torch”.
The recent “Saw” franchise gives the audience another reason to hate horror movies. It gives the Motion Picture Association of America another reason to look down on the horror genre. It continues to give the major award shows a reason to deny the horror genre with their own category. It goes to show the audience that the studios care more about the money a movie rakes in rather than for the passion.
Other horror movie icons have fell victim to major studios wanting to make money off of their names and legacies. Such horror movie icons include: Freddy Krueger, Leatherface, Jason Voorhees, Pinhead, and now—Jigsaw.
Unfortunately, there will be a “Saw VII” for next year. Like most movie franchises that continue to tell the same story in every installment all we can do is hope that the seventh one will be the last.