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MOVIE: Saw V

STARRING: Scott Patterson, Costas Mandylor

DIRECTOR: David Hackl

RUNNING TIME: 92 mins.

RATING: R

REVIEW:

It’s hard to say which is more disgusting: blood and guts or cheesy acting.

If you like both, you might be one of the few people to enjoy “Saw V.”

The latest film in the series ties together the loose ends left by its predecessors. It establishes a deep back-story for Detective Mark Hoffman (Costas Mandylor), who was revealed to be a second apprentice to the criminal mastermind Jigsaw (Tobin Bell), who has since died.

Pursued by FBI agent Peter Strahm (Scott Patterson), a private investigation reveals a history between Hoffman and Jigsaw reaching as far back as the original movie.

It takes a lot for writers to create such an intricate, complex series.

Because more details are revealed in every installment, the audience is encouraged to think back to previous films and piece the story together.

In “Saw V,” however, the story seems more straightforward. Hoffman’s past with Jigsaw doesn’t really add any new substance to the story, other than telling us he’s been at it for a while.

Other than that, the flashbacks might be there just as a reminder that Hoffman is, in fact, the bad guy, but it seems redundant to keep pointing out to the audience, “Hey, see this guy Hoffman? Yup. He’s the bad guy. Do you remember that?”

As is typical with many horror movies, the acting is sub-par, especially from the newest batch of victims.

The actors take their emotions to extremes without any gray area, resulting in hysterical bits of screaming that are sure to cause some eye-rolling.

The movie even insults the audience with soliloquies from Strahm, who pieces the entire story together.

Out loud. By himself.

It gets pretty annoying when a character repeats what the audience already knows, and for what? Plot development? Character depth?

Neither seem like viable excuses for poor writing.

If you want a good scare, however, “Saw V” will certainly provide.

Not just for the blood and gore content, but for the knowledge that someone actually has to think up these traps.