Saw III

Directed by Darren Lynn Bousman, Saw III follows Tobin Bell’s John Kramer as he endeavors to set his endgame into motion. Filmmaker Bousman delivers a for-fans-only sequel that does, at the outset, progress at a blistering pace, as the movie, which picks up immediately after the events of its immediate predecessor, spends much of its running time tying up various loose threads – with this vibe certainly perpetuated by the ongoing appearances of past characters and a series of flashbacks exploring certain elements from previous films. It’s clear, as well, that Saw III benefits substantially from Bell’s predictably magnetic and gripping efforts as the fascinating John Kramer, and there’s little doubt, certainly, that the movie’s impact is heightened by its emphasis on the villainous figure’s ongoing exploits. (It’s impossible, for example, not to get a kick out of the movie’s peek behind the scenes at how certain past traps were executed.) And while the picture’s parallel storyline, involving a grieving father (Angus Macfadyen’s Jeff) and his attempts at surviving Jigsaw’s deadly game, doesn’t deliver anything spectacular or innovative, Saw III builds towards a typically revelation-heavy climax that ensures it concludes on a memorable, engaging note – with the end result a surprisingly entertaining sequel that fares better than one might’ve anticipated.

*** out of ****