“Oh, yes, there will be blood” comments James, (Tobin Bell) who is known by the infamous Jigsaw Killer, aptly named not by him, but by the press and the police. Well, he’s right…there is quite a bit of blood in the picture. But I’m not sure where most critics of the sequel seem to think it is gorier. I actually thought there was less blood in this follow up to 2004′s surprise horror hit. Most horror fans know the premise of the first film; two men, chained up in a musty, uncleaned underground bathroom attempt to figure out a way of escape while being taunted by a mysterious mastermind. I thought the non linear storytelling was great and the film kept me on the edge of my chair. Yes, there was blood. There also was some implausibility in the true identity of Jigsaw; but it was a good thriller anyway. In the sequel, penned by the first film’s writer and co star Leigh Whannell, and first time director Darren Lynn Bousman, our villian is front and center. Yes, there was some blood…but the suspense wasn’t there. When the question is raised what do all eight ‘players’ have in common, the answer is too obvious, and when we are ahead of the characters, it never is a good thing. Like the previous film directed by James Wan, the ending is again suspect; it seems the bad guy can always predict the behavior of his targets like a second hand psychic. On the plus side, the second film’s ending fills in a logic gap in the first film. On the down side, if a character followed ‘the rules’, someone will still be in hiding, locked up waiting for this character to come by – which opens a new can of worms.

Unlike some horror film sequels, there are returning characters from the first movie. They include Jigsaw and his puppets, one of the detectives from the first film (Dina Meyer) and surprisingly in another but more elaborate trap, Amanda (Shawnee Smith). There are some new ‘players’ who are sketchy and not as fleshed out, so to speak, as the previous Jigsaw victims from the first film. Aside from thier vices and that they were busted by the same cop, who may have planted evidence to secure thier convictions. Never mind the small error that such backgrounds imply that this officer must have worked varied police divisions when he works homicide. He’s called a ‘dirty cop’, yet if they were framed, and Jigsaw is aware of this, then these inviduals, save one, then his ‘rules’ of these folks ‘betraying’ thier reason for living is shaky. Not to mention that at least two characters have turned thier lives around and everyone was kidnapped.

Their kidnapper, most likely manipulated like a character from the previous film, is among the party.

Also among them is the son of the cop in question, who also does not fit the profile. Perhaps Jigsaw’s death games have gone up a few notches to the point where who is in the cages do not matter all that much. Yes, I too, would like to know how Jigsaw got his hands on chemical agents like terrorists use; but that’s not important. What is important is that the film lacks suspense. That’s not taking away from the pit of needles (my favorite scene) or the more menacing Frankie G, but the talents of actor Glenn Plummer are wasted. What was the giveaway? Well, when “dirty” detective Eric Matthews (Donnie Wahlberg) wants to get his son free, he, nor any of the other detectives/SWAT folks mention the other characters. Not once- not even after looking at a hidden file late in the film.

See? These people, like them or leave them, don’t matter. Or the detective knows them already. Actually both. Not to mention that, the cops don’t rummage through the place, looking for clues and dismantling more possible traps.

The film offers no insights into what really makes Jigsaw do what he does. Despite the bad guy bravado of Tobin Bell, who is back on the hiss meter since 1993′s counterfiter in “In the Line Of Fire” and the hitman in “The Firm”, Jigsaw (oops, I mean ‘James’) goes into a Hannibal Lector/interview with the serial killer mode which has been done countless times.

Anyway, back to the main problem of the movie: the surprise twist. I didn’t mind it, but when you go back and rewind like the first film, it dawns on you that it makes little sense at all, given the timing of the final twist. Like the first film, the filmmakers get smart, get inventive, then, thinking that they are really clever for thier own good, suddenly gives the implausible twist and the entire movie snaps like an old rubber band. Here’s how I understand it: when Matthews has an arguement with his son, he is called to lead the raid on Jigsaw’s hideout sometime later that same day. Check. Upon arrival, Jigsaw prepped ahead of time, simply waits for them. Check.
In this prep, something has to happen, someone has to be in a certain spot for at least two hours. Another person has to be in a certain spot for less than two hours at the exact time the cops unravel the viewscreens. Then the same person has to get in the right place assuming a character will act in the predicted way and without any help.

Now, I’ll give a window of a day’s time- if the following were not so : a) seven/six people were not kidnapped the night before. Hence the conversation between father and son could not have taken place; b) how did they subdue the big thug played by Frankie G; c) how do the recently dead quickly decompose within 24 hours?

Yes, I know. Questions and speculation isn’t what we are watching this film for. Lacking suspense and character, there is only one explanation. We want to see some people coughing up blood, gouging out an eye, and cutting away the backs of thier necks. Enjoy.

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Directed by: Darren Bousman

Starring: Donnie Wahlberg, Franky G, Glenn Plummer, Emmanuelle Vaugier, Shawnee Smith and Dina Meyer

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