It’s one of the highest grossing horror franchises of all time and the movie with some of the craziest and bloodiest contraptions created by John Kramer aka Jigsaw is heading to Blu-ray on the 26th February, we checked out the home release of the latest movie in the Saw franchise.
The first thing that has you thinking when you watch Jigsaw is how the heck could John Kramer be back! After a series of gruesome murders which all bear the markings of the infamous Jigsaw killer, law enforcement find themselves in a predicament that they never thought they would be in, they find themselves chasing the ghost of John Kramer who has been dead for over a decade and they are pulled into a new game that has just began.
'Is John Kramer back from the dead? Or is this a trap set by a killer with designs of their own?'Click To TweetOver the years since the release of Saw in 2004 and then a new Saw movie every year up until 2010 with Saw 3D, the franchise has had a seven-year break, so with such a gap, the franchise needed to bring something fresh to the table with Jigsaw, something that will pull in the fans of the franchise.
It’s great to see Tobin Bell reprising his role of John Kramer, as his voice on the tape recorder sends chills up your spine in preparation for the horrors that not only await the victims but also for those of us watching the movie on Blu-ray with its sharp picture quality that brings even more realism to the small screen.
Along for the ride in Jigsaw are Matt Passmore (The Glades), Callum Keith Rennie (Memento) and Laura Vandervoort (Supergirl), who I was lucky enough to meet at a Comic Con last year.
The movie’s gore is toned down slightly more than the previous films, although there are still the shocks brought to the screen from directors Michael Spierig & Peter Spierig, they have certainly put together a movie that has gone back to the roots of the Saw franchise and Jigsaw certainly feels more like the original movie, with its tense thriller style and those moments of cringing as the contraptions are introduced.
But the film also runs along nicely and the twisted moments of horror certainly have you enjoying this one more than some of the previous movies, it’s certainly a ride that doesn’t drag you along with its running time. Of course, there are those moments where you start thinking one thing and you are totally side-swiped by a devilish twist in the story and that ending, wow, now that’s an ending that you really don’t see coming, something that just takes what you think you know and says, “Nope, your wrong, we’re now going to completely f*** with your mind!“.
Personally for me and this is my point of view, Jigsaw is a return to the feel of the original movie that kick-started the franchise and it’s a welcome return, the movie is more thriller than gore fest, which is great as the horror and gore don’t distract from the twists and turns of the film.
John Kramer: Now the games are simple. Best ones are. You want mercy? Play by the rules.Click To Tweet
Before I go I have to mention how the movie looks and sounds on Blu-ray, it looks brilliant, the colours are vibrant n the outdoor scenes and the dark moments of the carnage also work very well, the image is crystal clear which does give you more of an unnerving feel. When it comes to the sound, the Blu-ray features a Dolby Atmos soundtrack which even on a DD5.1 system sounds rich with the rear speakers being used to great effect throughout Jigsaw.
The Blu-ray also comes with some very interesting special features which include an Audio Commentary with Producers Mark Burg, Oren Koules and Peter Block, I Speak For The Dead: The Legacy of Saw (79 minutes) and The Choice is Yours: Exploring Prop (6 minutes).
Jigsaw is out on Digital Download on 19th February and DVD, Blu-ray, 4K, Steelbook and Box-set on the 26th February.
Summary
Jigsaw is a return to the form of the original movie, full of suspense, gruesome contraptions and the return of the mighty John Kramer.
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.