Saw V (R-2008)

How many "Saw" movies does it take to ruin a franchise? Apparently, that number is 5. "Saw V" marks the moment the series has "nuked the fridge" (the movie equivalent to "jump the shark"-a reference to Indiana Jones surviving a nuclear blast by hiding in a refrigerator). "Saw V" follows the back-story of Detective Hoffman (Costas Mandylor), who has been investigating the Jigsaw murders from the beginning. While this story is told in flashbacks (a way to keep Jigsaw himself (Tobin Bell) in the series), we are also following the story of 5 people trying to survive one of Jigsaw's games. The problem is we have no idea who these people are for a while and by the time they explain, we no longer care. The back-story itself showing Hoffman's relationship with Jigsaw and the murders only serves to remind you somewhat how good the earlier films in the series are. There is a pivotal scene where Jigsaw's ex-wife (Betsy Russell) is given a box, which contains her inheritance from him, but they never go back to that box and never explain what is in it. It is probably meant to be pursued in "Saw VI", but will anybody even care by then. This is one of those sequels that is bad enough that you start to question whether you really liked the earlier films in the series. "Saw" followers will see this any way (I did!), but it was really a waste of time.

Grade: D

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