Saw II
"Saw II" improves on its predecessor in exactly one way: It doesn't feature Cary Elwes, whose hammy histrionics in the first film make even celebrated overactor William Shatner pale in comparison.But it's a marginal improvement at best. If anything, this blood-spattered, stomach-churning sequel to last year's serial-killer thriller is even more moronic, more overplotted and more convoluted.
It also ups the cruelty factor in an attempt to shock audiences into submission.
But you have to wonder about any moviegoer who would find such cheap tactics appealing.
The film picks up the story months after the events in the first film. Detective Eric Mason (Donnie Wahlberg) has finally managed to catch the Jigsaw Killer. As it turns out, the killer is an embittered cancer patient named John Kramer (Tobin Bell), who's playing life-or-death "games" with his unfortunate victims.
And Jigsaw has ensnared Eric's estranged teenage son Daniel (Erik Knudsen), along with seven others, in his newest trap. Fortunately, one of the group just happens to be Amanda (Shawnee Smith), who survived one of Jigsaw's earlier games of death and may have some insight into the killer's mind.
As was the case with the first film, there's no real attempt at character development or even characterizations beyond the expected racial and other stereotypes. Wahlberg is even trying to replicate the tiresome tough-guy routine of his better-known brother, Mark.
And co-screenwriter/director Darren Lynn Bousman employs the same quick-cut, music-video style as his predecessor, James Wan, turning several of the film's scenes into headache-inducing blurs.
"Saw II" is rated R for strong scenes of horror-thriller violence and graphic gore (including shootings, a beating and a throat-slashing), frequent use of strong sexual profanity, some strong drug content (including hypodermic needle use and references), and use of some crude slang terms. Running time: 91 minutes.
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