<\/strong><\/p>\n Directed By: Kevin Greutert<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n Starring: Sean Patrick Flanery, Costas Mandylor, Betsy Russell, Cary Elwes, Tobin Bell, Chad Donella<\/strong><\/p>\n \n After five films that never achieved the same effect as the original, expectations were at rock bottom for the seventh installment of the Saw <\/em>franchise, Saw 3D<\/em>. All director Kevin Greutert and his team had to do was manage to at least keep it on par with the rest. Sadly, not only did Greutert fail miserably, but he had to take all of the other six films down with him.<\/p>\n \n WARNING: SPOILER ALERT<\/strong><\/p>\n \n This installment’s centerpiece is a Jigsaw survivor named Bobby Dagen (Sean Patrick Flanery). Ever since his “rehabilitation,” he’s been busy peddling some book around trying to bank on his trauma. The problem is, Bobby\u2019s a complete fraud. Clearly Jigsaw is not going to let him get away with this and nabs Bobby, his wife and his entourage, finally bringing some truth to his lies. Bobby is forced to go through a series of traps all of which put one of his team member\u2019s lives at risk culminating with the ultimate, his wife\u2019s.<\/p>\n \n Meanwhile, Detective Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) and Jill (Betsy Russell) are still going at it. At the end of Saw VI<\/em>, Jill left Hoffman in a reverse bear trap, but Hoffman managed to escape, mangling his face in the process. Now, Jill is under police protection, specifically the protection of Detective Gibson (Chad Donella). While Gibson attempts to keep an eye on Jill and stop the latest game before the players perish, Hoffman lurks in shadows, preparing to pounce.<\/p>\n \n Before we even get into this whole mess of a story, we get an unintentionally laughable opening. It\u2019s too bad too because the concept of having a Jigsaw killing go public had so much potential. Rather than exemplify that angle, the action focuses on a pathetic love triangle. The trap itself is rather inventive, but the banter that goes on between the players is downright silly. This is a scene that should be in a Saw<\/em> spoof movie, not really part of the franchise.<\/p>\n \n Things only get worse from there. The primary portion of the film is Bobby\u2019s story and that\u2019s actually rather intriguing, but between the convoluted twists and atrocious performances there winds up being little to enjoy. Flanery is easily the best of the bunch, but that\u2019s not saying much. Each character is unbearably one dimensional, dribbling out absurd dialogue like one line that describes Jill as looking \u201ccrazier than a sack full of cats,\u201d whatever that means. Bobby\u2019s PR team is so irritating, it\u2019s a pleasure to see them perish and the same goes for his wife who incessantly shouts out trite lines like \u201cBobby, help me\u201d and \u201cWhy are you doing this?\u201d<\/p>\n \n As for the ways they die, they\u2019re certainly new and creative, but far too complicated to appreciate. Almost all of the traps are designed for one thing, carnage. Most of the previous traps seem somewhat sensible, but the batch in this installment will have you questioning their validity relentlessly. In fact, there\u2019s one instance where it\u2019s quite confusing why Bobby\u2019s actions don\u2019t free the victim. There\u2019s also one mass killing before Bobby winds up in his nightmare featuring Linkin Park\u2019s Chester Bennington. Zero character development leads to zero interest, leaving the filmmakers to rely on gore for sheer shock value. There really is no point to this particular instance other than to send flesh flying. The fault in this department likely lies with the extra dimension. The footage does look better having been shot in 3D rather than being post-converted, but at the intellectual level of the trap\u2019s expense. Most of the traps are designed to pop, not terrify, leaving them with no lasting effect.<\/p>\n \n As bad as the story, the dialogue and the acting is, the element of Saw 3D<\/em> that makes the film almost insulting is the portion that pertains to the entire series. Dr. Gordon\u2019s (Cary Elwes) return may be exciting for some, but the way in which they bring him back completely destroys everything the franchise has built up over the past six years. The whole scenario makes little sense. You can\u2019t try to make a connection with earlier traps and have Amanda (Shawnee Smith) completely absent. Even worse? One of the few new scenes featuring Tobin Bell has him dressed liked a teenager. It\u2019s so ridiculous, it\u2019s impossible to appreciate the moment and what it means to the story.<\/p>\n \n
![\"Saw](\"http:\/\/www.shockya.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/saw3d-350x502.jpg\" "\\"Saw3DPoster\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\n