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Saw 4 - Extreme Edition [2007] | ![Saw 4 - Extreme Edition [2007]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51TJbEJnLdL._SL160_.jpg)
 enlarge | Director: Darren Lynn Bousman
Actor: Tobin Bell
Studio: Lions Gate Home Entertainment
Category: DVD
List Price: £19.99
Buy New: £4.98
You Save: £15.01 (75%)
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Rating:  16 reviews
Sales Rank: 347
Format: Pal
Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
Region: 2
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 89 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
EAN: 5060052413864
ASIN: B000Z63YRA
Release Date: March 3, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
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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
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| Customer Reviews: Read 11 more reviews...
 Awful July 13, 2008
Gogol (England)
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
First I have to say I have never been much of a fan of the Saw films. Maybe its just because the whole 'super intelligent serial killer' has been done before and to far better effect in Seven and the Hannibal series. The same goes for the hyper fast camera angles, obsessive detective failing at the final clue etc... so I wasn't expecting an awful lot from this one.
While Saw 1 was to a large extent gore without purpose, Saw 2 the usual half measured sequel and Saw 3 something of a climax to the trilogy, a sort of lets quit now while we are ahead Saw 4 is just plain awful.
Set as a continuation of both Saw 2 (The detective captured by Jigsaw at the end of that film) and Saw 3 (The husband still hanging around imprisoned in the basement) This is just frankly dire.
In this film we are treated to the background of Jigsaw, how he became what he is and why. The film continues with just about the only detective left alive, the leader of the SWAT team in his own personal obsession to find his partner who he believes to be still alive.
So again we begin with Jigsaw (Dead we know but hey, since when has that stopped a serial killer? We are even treated to his autopsy at the start of the film then his body bizarrely turns up at the end of the film back in the basement where it was left in Saw 3 (Along with the doctors husband) Now you work that one out, surely if they done an autopsy they found the body, if they found the body they found the doctors husband) up to his usual tricks, setting up elaborate traps and murder devices (Sorry he doesn't kill he leaves the victim to make the choice!) We are even given one of the detectives saying "How does someone bring all this stuff into a hotel" "Piece by piece over days" Comes the reply. Its almost as bad as a kids cartoon I was half expecting "And I would have gotten away with it were it not for you meddling kids" TO chirp in!
Murder, hack, chop, gore. Reverse camera angles, lots of spinning heads, repeat Acton camera shots (hands slamming on tables, stressed looking cops) Problem with a film like this is it tries to be cleaver when in reality it just isn't. Films like Halloween are a damn sight better because they make no attempt at being cleaver they are just popcorn horror. This is just clutching at straws plot writing with a director hoping that the viewer gets carried along with the Saw bandwagon. Problem is, the wheel has fallen off and people starting to lose interest.
Yes, the director has (not so) cleverly given us the new Jigsaw (well he had to after killing off his last prodigy in the other film) So I guess we can look forward to a Saw 5 which I suppose will be the son of the detective who died, his wife's brother, sisters uncles cat, bloke 2 doors down the road or some other weak link to the previous films.
Awful film, file under lost the plot long ago.
 Not as good as the first 3 June 24, 2008
DJ Darroch-thompson (England)
Saw IV is not as sick as Saw III, but is probably more graphic. I was a huge fan of the first three films, and this provides a fitting conclusion, with a decent unpredictable twist at the end. However, I think the twist is good enough to save this film, as the rest of it is fairly transparent. You can see what direction the film is heading in fairly early on, and (***minor spoiler****) if you paid attention in Saw II you can predict easily what will happen (***end spoiler***).
If you've watched the first three, definitely watch this one to complete it, although it does leave itself open for a 5th, something that they should definitely avoid.
Worth watching but not what i'd hoped for March 24, 2008
Zoe (Sussex, England)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Having watched the first 3 Saw's it was a no-brainer that i had to watch this!
Saw was (& still is) unsurpassed by it's sequels. 2 was a good film but lacked the darkness & psychological edge of the original & I was disappointed by 3 - & really hoped that 4 would redeem the series.
It does - & it doesn't.
The opening sequence is of Jigsaws autopsy, followed after the credits by going back in time to the discovery of Detective Kerrys body. This bouncing around in time is prevalent through the entire film, & whilst it answers some questions & gives an interesting insight into the mind & background of John Kramer & how/why Jigsaw was born, it is also quite distracting & at times confusing.
For those that like to watch the Saw films for more than the gore, it was hard to try to pick out the little details in the film that all come together at the end, with all the time travelling that was going on.
I watched this just last night & had to immediately replay it to piece it together & figure out some of the different time frames.
Whilst we're trying to follow Detective Riggs play his 'game', we're also being sent back through John Kramers past via his ex-wife, being shown past events in Riggs' career, seeing flashbacks to previous films & trying to follow Agents Strahm & Perez solve the 'who else is involved?' question.
Whilst much of this time travel is necessary to the story, a lot isn't & just makes for confusion. I still don't get it all - & to be honest - the thought of watching it again to fill in the pieces is just too much like hard work!
Moving on...
The film certainly isn't short on gore. The traps are just as evil as ever, with nothing left to the imagination. Definately not for the squeamish, but then none of the Saw series is!
I was very pleased to see Tobin Bell still had a huge role in the film. Obviously this was necessary due to the amount of John Kramers history we were shown, something i believe we should have been allowed to see into more in previous films.
Saw V is due out later this year i believe &, as far as i can assertain, won't have Tobin Bell in it.
I'm dubious as to how well the Saw franchise will hold up without him. He IS Jigsaw... he IS Saw.
Much of the production team remains, notably Director Bousman has been replaced by David Hackl who was Production Designer. Maybe this change in direction will breath some new life into the series - something i think it will desparately need to ensure it survives the death of Jigsaw.
If you've seen the first 3 films then this is really worth watching, if only for the insight into John Kramer pre-Jigsaw.
If you haven't seen any of the others then i really don't recommend this one to start with.
Mmmmm March 23, 2008
C. W. Rix (Exeter, Devon, UK)
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
An acceptable film but certainly not up to the previous Saw series of films. Watchable!
Weird March 16, 2008
Atomic Rooster (Hastings, England)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
In my opinion, as the series has progressed, the Saw films have gone down hill in quality. The first Saw was a great film packed with gore, tension, drama, suspence and a good story. Saw 2, I feel, was let down by the fact that it was a group of captives. The first was very good because there was a sense of gritty and dark isolation. A large group of people playing Jigsaws games just didnt work. But the film did have the best ending out of all the installments. Three is where you could tell that the writers were having a tough time keeping the series going. It replaced the essence of story that made the first two good, and replaced it with over the top gore. Still a good film, but anyone could see how they were getting worse.
Onto Saw 4. After a very promising start, things took a turn for the worst. Again, like 3, this one is very gory and quite sickening, but three still holds pole position as the most gruesome. Four has some of the best games of the quadrilogy. Two and three have some very creative ones, but four is back up with the first film in the sense of some very interesting challenges.
The story follows the path of SWAT Commander Rigg, who you would recognise from two and three. Rigg is obsessing over the fact that all detectives, who have been on the path of Jigsaw, keep getting caught up in his sick and twisted games. Riggs challenge is very similar to number three. Thats all Im going to write, because I dont want to be a plot spoiler.
The film starts to go rotten about 30 minutes in. There is a lot of jumping between tenses. It is hard to tell when the film is in the present and the past, except when Kramers story is being told. I found myself quite lost at the constant changing of time.
All films, except this one, have all ended very well. However this leaves you very puzzled. The first three all closed, leaving you understanding and awaiting a sequel. But four leaves you very confused. Perhaps Im being stupid or missed something, but for me the questions of the film werent answered. And if they were, they were answered very poorly.
If youve seen all the other Saw films, then you must watch this. It is enjoyable and definitely has its strong moments. The writers tried to bring back the strong story, but this is the first installment that is actually confusing.
Good not great.
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