Most of you would agree that Aliens was a better film than Alien. Why do I bring this up? Simple. There are very few sequels that are better than the original. This is definitely one of them. Saw 2 was just smarter than Saw.

I hated the original Saw film. Click on THIS to find out why. The original relied on its audience to be forgiving and naive teens to just buy all of its flaws. This sequel was far smarter and far more interesting. When I rented it, I set myself up for the abomination the first one gave me. I guess that's why I liked this one more than most critics. This time around, it's as if the screenwriter actually had his script polished and fine-tuned by more experienced veterans. This story drew me in and kept me riveted. My hatred for the first film quickly diminished.

Our story opens with a man wearing a death mask and blood coming from his right eye. Seems ol' Jigsaw collected this human trash, and while he was asleep did a little inventive surgery. The man had 60 seconds to remove the key (placed in his body) to the death mask or it would snap shut on his head... ramming several nail-like spikes through his skull. All he had was a mirror and a scalpel. Genius.

Soon after, we're introduced to Detective Eric Mathews played by Donnie Wahlberg ("Annapolis" & "Dreamcatcher") and his turbulent relationship with his son. Mathews is called to the death mask scene and soon learns that the notorious "Jigsaw" is at it again. Only, this time, Jigsaw aims his twisted game at Mathews.

Next thing we know, we're in some old dilapidated house and Mathew's son is one of the captives. Another one of them is an old friend from the first film. Amanda, played by Shawnee Smith ("The Island" and TV's "Becker") is back - even though she made it out of Saw alive, she was taken again because of her drug habit. Jigsaw's tape gives us clues and one of them (it's in the back of your mind) was a major clue for everyone to work together. Too bad they couldn't figure that out.

All the while, there's a deadly nerve gas coursing through everyone's veins and they only have 2 hours to get out before they drop dead. Of course, Jigaw (John) has other ideas. This time around, the traps and puzzles require thinking - both on his part to devise them and the player's part to figure them out.

Unlike the original, Jigsaw John (played by the creepy Tobin Bell) is out in plain sight. He makes a deal with Eric Mathews to sit and talk and he will see his son alive. Of course, tough guy Mathews gets frustrated and beats John within an inch of his cancer-ridden life. It's then we find out that Mathews is not the upstanding honest cop we might hope. Thus, the reason his son was taken.

MORE DETAILED SPOILERS TO FOLLOW. IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE FILM STOP READING THIS SECTION.

After a few cleverly planned deaths, the remaining characters realize that this boy is the son of Detective Mathews. Problem is all of the players in the house were unlawfully arrested or set up by Mathews so another sub plot of the boy on their hit list becomes apparent. Very smart.

Even smarter is the way Jigsaw manipulates people to do things. The opening guy in the death mask had the key to his safety surgically implanted behind his eye. He must cut open his own eye in order to get the key to save his life.

One man must crawl into a furnace to get the life-saving antidote, but when grabbing the syringes, it ignites the flames and he is burned alive.

Another great element is that each character has a number on the back of his or her neck. Three of the numbers are the numbers in the combination of the safe that holds more antidote. One man even cuts a piece of his own (back of his) neck in order to see his number.

In the end, Amanda is actually the plant. She's there to make sure things go as planned - much in the same way that Jigsaw did - lying in the middle of the room in Saw).

But wait, there's another twist. All of this is not live...it already happened hours ago.

The SWAT team went to the wrong house while Mathews tries to save his son. He winds up in a familiar place. Yup, the bathroom from the original film. And the bodies of the two prior players are STILL there. Obviously, no one ever found this remote death chamber. Cool element. Mathews gets himself caught like a caged animal in the same bathroom while Amanda, Jigsaw and Mathew's kid are free to add depth to Saw 3 now in production!

I did, however, notice that Amanda knew right where the tape was hidden and that she was never affected by the poisonous gas. Thus, that kind of gave her away, even though she was tossed into a pit of used needles - which was tough to watch. It gave new meaning to a needle in a haystack for sure.

What I didn't like... The female SWAT cop was a bit out of place. Why is she there? Oh yeah, because she and Mathews are the reason Mathew's marriage is over?

Over all, I thought this sequel was a smart, cleverly crafted thriller/horror film. It's as if there was less gore and more attention paid to story and characters. BRAVO! I'm glad they redeemed themselves this time around.


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for Groups
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older