Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1711 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-03-03
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 89 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Now we’ve arrived at Saw 4, it’s fair to suggest that most will be familiar with the conventions of the franchise. The dastardly, and really quite sick, Jigsaw (played, as usual, by Tobin Bell) has once again been devising a series of testing, intricate traps to test his human subjects, and naturally when these go off, there’s a fair slice of the film’s budget set aside for the requisite blood and gore. If you weren’t already aware, Saw films are absolutely not for the squeamish.

The twist with Saw 4 is that it digs into the backstory of Jigsaw, although it’s fair to say that it soon becomes a platform to layer on some more deadly traps. Mixing in flashbacks and present day events, the formula is ultimately well worn and well obeyed. Surprises are in short supply, even if there is the odd jump from time to time.

There is a law of diminishing returns with Saw 4, however, and as the franchise matures the tricks because less impressive and the blood and guts quotient increases to compensate. Furthermore, director Darren Lynn Bousman occasionally goes overboard with his flash cuts, proving a distraction from the carefully constructed scenarios that were the trademark of the original.

Still, criticisms aside, Saw 4 is here to do a job, and it has little qualms about getting on with it. Firmly made in the ‘more of the same’ mould of sequels, it’s compact, grisly and absolutely not the last film in the series. It might not be ambitious, but you can’t deny it’s not good at its job. --Jon Foster

Synopsis
The fourth SAW film takes fans into uncharted waters. Now that John/Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) is dead, screenwriters Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan (writers of the Project Greenlight-produced FEAST) give us Jigsaw's origin story--finally showing us why he does what he does. Along they way, they still find time to work in the usual dose of elaborate Rube Goldberg-like torture devices and heaps of censor-defying gore in what plays like an extreme version of CSI. During his (extremely graphic) autopsy, Jigsaw’s final tape (swallowed in SAW III) is found in his stomach. Promising that his work will continue despite his passing, his message sets off a series of grisly tasks for anxious SWAT team leader Rigg (Lyriq Bent), who is given 90 minutes to rescue detectives Matthews (Donnie Wahlberg) and Hoffman (Costas Mandylor), who are to be dispatched via blocks of ice and high voltage wires. Trailing Rigg are FBI agents Strahm (Scott Patterson of GILMORE GIRLS) and Perez (Athena Karkanis), who get some unexpected blood on their hands along the way. A series of flashbacks details a pivotal event between Jigsaw and his girlfriend, Jill (1980s beauty Betsy Russell, PRIVATE SCHOOL), which inspired him to devote the remainder of his life to the creation of his signature puzzles.


Darren Lynn Bousman, director of the previous two sequels, returns once again to ensure that the series retains its trademark de-saturated look. Though viewers starting with this instalment may find the brief glimpses of characters from the previous films confusing, fans should be pleased with how the films link together. They are also sure to appreciate that, like FRIDAY THE 13th carrying on sans Jason in PART IV: A NEW BEGINNING, the death of Jigsaw won't keep the franchise from evolving into SAW V and beyond.

Customer Reviews

A bit too sick and disturbing
'Saw IV' begins where Saw 3 finishes - Jigsaw and his apprentice Amanda are dead. Now, upon the news of Detective Kerry's murder, two seasoned FBI profilers, Agent Strahm and Agent Perez, arrive in the terrified community to assist the veteran Detective Hoffman in sifting through Jigsaw's latest grisly remains and piecing together the puzzle. However, when SWAT Commander Rigg is abducted and thrust into a game, the last officer untouched by Jigsaw has but ninety minutes to overcome a series of demented traps and save an old friend or face the deadly consequences.

Sick, gory and horrible are understatements when describing this film. If you have seen any of the previous Saw films (and you should first if you're going to watch this) you will know that with each one the traps get more disturbing and more disgusting and this is definitely the case here. The opening scene (Jigsaw's autopsy) is literally stomach-turning and is probably the most realistic and graphic that I've ever seen in a film. The first trap you see is also very sick and it pretty much goes on like this throughout the whole hour and a half.

I'd only really recommend this to you if you've seen and enjoy the first 3 Saw films, as it does follow the story on quite well and also leaves the series open for yet another sequel at the end. If you can stomach it, give it a go as it is a decent horror flick, but just don't expect it to be a very plesant one.

The horror continues.
Being a fan of horror films and this series of films I looked forward to it's release and I wasn't disappointed.Tobin Bell as jigsaw is just fantastic and he has the perfect voice for horror,really fantastic.The ending of the 3rd instalment got me worried that Tobin Bell would not be as prominent in this film,but I was wrong.This is a brilliant carry-on from the others and the tie-ins from the other films is excellent.More gore more traps and more to come?.I won't give too much away but you must see this if you a fan of gore movies and the good thing about this series of films is that the story line is excellent in it's self,that included with the gore make's great viewing.Highly recommended.

More clever twists and turns.
When the lead character dies at the end of a film you would normally be correct in assuming that that particular series of films has run its course. Not though with Saw.

After "jigsaw" dies at the end of Saw 3, the writers have managed to come up with a very clever (possibly unique?) way of carrying the saga on. Obviously I won't give it away, but this is a film that fans will love even if you will initially be scratching your head at the end before it finally clicks on what exactly is going on.

The usual scenes are all present with various traps killing people which become increasingly gruesome as the film progresses. The most interesting aspect is that for the first time we see in more detail why John turned to a life of inflicting pain and suffering on seemingly innocent victims. What is very cleverly written is that although we sympathise with him to a certain extent the film manages to still portray him as the villain. If we cared too much and ended up on his side then I believe the whole saga would instantly lose its initial appeal.

A previous reviewer made a very valid point earlier on when saying that these sequels are made mainly for the fans. Whilst there will always be some who grow disillusioned, in the main most will stick with it. I believe this film is a worthy addition to the series and for me, I cant wait to see what twists and turns will be waiting in saw 5 when the saga will have to find a new "jigsaw"....... or will it.