Saw: The Final Chapter (Exclusive Mini Review Series)

Saw: The Final Chapter (aka Saw 3D) (Exclusive Mini Review Series)

Initial release date: October 29, 2010

Studios: Lionsgate Twisted Pictures

Tagline: The Time Has Come For All to Experience the Last Act of a Legend

Plot: As a fierce battle rages over Jigsaw’s terrible legacy, survivors seek support from a fellow survivor and self-help guru, who has a few secrets of his own. Meanwhile, crooked cop Hoffman seeks revenge against Jigsaw’s wife and an author who has his own story.

Cast

Tobin Bell - Jigsaw/John

Costas Mandylor - Hoffman

Betsy Russell - Jill

Sean Patrick Flanery - Bobby

Chad Donella - Gibson

Gina Holden - Joyce

Laurence Anthony - Rogers

Dean Armstrong - Cale

Naomi Snieckus - Nina

Rebecca Marshall - Suzanne

James Van Patten - Dr. Heffner

Sebastian Pigott - Brad

Jon Cor - Ryan

Writers: Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan

Director: Kevin Greutert

Rated R for sequences of grisly bloody violence and torture, and language (90 minutes)

Continuing on with re-watching the ‘Saw’ franchise … Just one more after this!!!

‘Saw 3D’ (or aka ‘Saw: The Final’) actually does have a few interesting moments scattered throughout. The first couple minutes flashes back to the original movie, where fans finally learn the fate of a certain character who hasn’t been seen since the 2004 movie.

The outdoor trap is kinda unique since it’s the first trap to be featured outdoors and in public. But, just how they did the trap was sort of corny.

The rest of the supposed ‘Final Chapter’ falls flat in so many places. The “Jigsaw survivor” group scene could have been much better if they had a few surprise survivors from previous installments. Instead, they just use people you haven’t seen before and maybe one or two people from the sixth movie for many a second or two.

‘Saw 3D’ almost seems like the type of movie that the SyFy Channel would make. Bland. Predictable. Kinda crappy effects and acting. And most of the movie really seemed rushed.

The ending of the seventh movie is definitely predictable and, after awhile any die-hard ‘Saw’ fan would know that Dr. Gordon would eventually have something to do with possibly helping Jigsaw during the franchise. The Gordon reveal could have worked better if they didn’t just have him in a previous scene for maybe a minute and then no where else.

So, overall, ‘Saw: The Final Chapter’ had the potential to wrap up the series perfectly but eventually falls really flat. The ending was kinda cool since it takes place in the bathroom where the first movie's main trap was held.

Here are a few interesting tidbits about ‘Saw: The Final Chapter’:

• The movie finally sees Cary Elwes returning to the franchise as his character Dr. Gordon from the first movie. The producers frequently approached Elwes about reprising his role, but a lawsuit over his salary for ‘Saw’ caused him to pass on the opportunity multiple times. After the lawsuit was finally settled out of court, Elwes insisted that he would only return for the final entry of the series.

• Before the movie opened, it was revealed by Lionsgate, the producers and the writers that, although this was the end of the ‘Saw’ franchise at the time, more movies were considered for the future. However, it was stated that it could be several years before a new one came out. This finally happened, seven years later, with 2017s ‘Jigsaw.’

• Due to the slow 3D process, filming was completed in 9 weeks as opposed to the usual 6 weeks for previous entries.

• Over 25 gallons of fake blood was used - more than 2.5 times the amount used in ‘Saw II.’

• It was revealed in the commentary track by the writers that the two additional people with Gordon in the end were Brad and Ryan from the opening trap.