354) Saw 3D: The Final Chapter (2010)

354) Saw 3D: The Final Chapter (2010) Dir: Kevin Greutert Date Released: October 29, 2010 Date Seen: October 28, 2010 Rating: 1.25/5

I'll miss panning this series. Which doesn't mean that I'm done with them just yet. But still, I had hoped they'd be around forever. Because...because why not? See my review for Slant Magazine.

RV!: Saw (2004), RV!: Saw II (2005), RV!: Saw III (2006), RV!: Saw IV (2007), RV!: Saw V (2008) and RV!: Saw VI (2009)

RV!: Saw (2004) Dir: James Wan Date Released: October 2004 Date Seen: August 14, 2010 Rating: 1/5

RV!: Saw II (2005) Dir: Darren Lynn Bousman Date Released: October 2005 Date Seen: August 14, 2010 Rating: 1.5/5

RV!: Saw III (2006) Dir: Darren Lynn Bousman Date Released: October 2006 Date Seen: August 14, 2010 Rating: 1.25/5

RV! Saw IV (2007) Dir: Darren Lynn Bousman Date Released: October 2007 Date Seen: August 14, 2010 Rating: 1.25/5

RV!: Saw V (2008) Dir: David Hackl Date Released: October 2008 Date Seen: August 14, 2010 Rating: 1.75/5

RV!: Saw VI (2009) Dir: Kevin Greutert Date Released: October 2009 Date Seen: August 15, 2010 Rating: 1.25/5

Ok. Ok. OK! So I was going to do something with all this rewatching, some kind of video essay with Matt Seitz. Our respective schedules didn't match up however so this project got shelved, unfortunately. I say "unfortunately" ecause while rewatching these movies was pretty excruciating, it did give me a sense of perspective on the franchise in general and why it really does deserve better critics than it's gotten. The films' soap opera melodramatics look that much more impressive in a scuzzy, over-achieving kind of way when viewed back-to-back like this. A myriad plot points are retconned into existence with all the skill of a magician producing different colored scarves out of his ass in a daisy chain. Which is actually pretty interesting when you consider how the films' emphasis on timed traps works: you can only move the narratives' immediate events forward by going backward. That's actually a pretty impressive conceit for such a lunk-headed series and the main reason why I think the Saw movies are so morbidly fascinating.

358) Saw VI (2009)

358) Saw VI (2009) Dir: Kevin Greutert Date Released: October 2009 Date Seen: October 23, 2009 Rating: 1.5/5

I've come to snuff the rooster. See my piece for The House Next Door.