The Leader

Thus ends the tale of John Kramer, a.k.a. Jigsaw. I think we all can breathe a sigh of relief that one more psycho is off the streets… until another round of brutal torture-themed movies pokes their collective nose out of the gutter to gross us out once again. Also, word to the wise, look for “Saw IV” to make its appearance in the coming year, but you didn’t hear that from me.

The question remains for this writer, what is the psychological toll taken on the writers and producers of movies like this? It’s clearly fiction and everything is ballistics gel, makeup or CGI effects, but nonetheless: someone out there had to be sitting down in a room with a pen and piece of paper, thinking up all kinds of nasty little things to do to another person one wouldn’t suspect them of doing. Someone actually had to sit down and carefully outline all the subtleties, nuances and meanings behind Jigsaw’s little game.

The thing is torture is horrendous and disturbing enough as it is, why is it Jigsaw never experimented with the classics in torture? Yes, we see a little bit of the iron maiden (the implement, not the band) in Part II, we see some freezing, we see some burning, and we even see a little rack action. But it’s all so convoluted and complicated and technical! Taking a quick gander around the Internet I can easily find medieval devices so much more insidious than anything Jigsaw could put together.  Take the Judas Cradle, for instance- something that’s still being used in a handful of South American countries to this day (and in the Middle East, I wouldn’t be surprised) imagine how freaky it would be for someone to wake up, suspended by their waist above a large, iron cone or pyramid.

Thank about it.

Or the Pear; why is it Jigsaw never thought to use the Pear on someone in any one of their various orifices? He always has to come up with something so much more messed up and twisted than anyone else; isn’t he special!

What I can’t find fault with is that Jigsaw is not your average Freddy, Jason or Michael. The fact is, Jigsaw probably would kick some unrighteous ass at a game of chess. The way everything falls so neatly into place according to Jigsaw’s exquisite attention to detail is just amazing. Even more delicious is the diabolical way he offers the illusion of revenge in exchange for a pound of flesh and a gallon of blood.

Be sure to lock up your sharp implements when you go see this one.

3.5 of 5

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