Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Scott Patterson

Detective Hoffman and Agent Strahm clash as they each investigate the apparent continuation of the Jigsaw murders.

Flixster Users

65% liked it

47,035 ratings

Critics

15% liked it

61 critics

R, 1 hr. 28 min.

Directed by: David Hackl

Release Date: October 24, 2008

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: January 20, 2009

Get It:

Stats: 9,805 reviews

Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Your Rating



clear rating
Share on: Facebook Twitter

Flixster Reviews (9,805)


  • November 1, 2009
    I thought this was better than Saw 4 and one of the better ones overall. The fourth was a bit confusing with the timeline overlapping much of the third film, even two of the actors looked similar! This reveals even more going right back, although very briefly, from the first and ...( read more)through all the previous films to shed a bit more light on what happened and why. You really need to have seen the other films in order and maybe refresh your memory a bit before hand by watching the last one again before this. Not quite as grusome and gory overall as the previous films but still plenty for gore fans. Hope it isn't dragged out too much longer though!
  • October 27, 2009
    In what is only the fifth film of the Saw series released over its five year Halloween run at the box office, this latest installation suffers from the same detrimental qualities that made number four slightly disappointing for fans and casual audiences alike. Making his director...( read more)ial debut here, all eyes are cast upon David Hackl to see if he can either bring something new, or at least keep the momentum going for the popular franchise. The good news for some is that Saw V feels natural and consistent to its recent predecessors helmed by Bousman, yet for many others this won't be something to get excited about. Insofar as the movie itself goes; this is mostly typical Saw material throughout, going through the motions almost. This of course will please those looking for a continuation of the previous instalments, but it will undoubtedly feel too stagnant and jaded to interest anyone else. Nevertheless, for his first feature film at the reins, Hackl proves he can live up to Bousman's style that has been engrained in the series thus far, creating yet another engaging and loyal sequel that will be sure to cater to those craving more twisted games.

    For many fans and casual watchers of the series, Saw figuratively died when lead character and focus for the film Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) eventually succumbed to his cancer in film number three. Yet just as instalment IV managed to incorporate the mastermind into its story, as does V in the same manner; through flashbacks. Playing a game of two sides and narratives that eventually collide, Saw V first and foremost continues on where we left from IV, detailing the continuation of Jigsaw's work through forensics expert Hoffman and how he eventually has to tie up all loose ends regarding the deaths of those in III and IV. This narrative, although a little tiresome in its approach of filling in every detail and hole in previous features, nevertheless provides as the real meat of the script. Characters are again rather shallow, and motives are less than clear, yet much of this goes out the window when Mr. Bell graces the screen with his presence. As he has proved time and time again, it is within the character of Jigsaw that Saw's real heart lays, and with plenty of reminiscing going on here in regards to numbers I-IV, there's enough material and characterisation work here to satisfy hardcore fans of the series.

    On the other side of the pitch however is a much less character/dialogue driven narrative which focuses solely on another unlucky five as they work their way through the latest of Jigsaws traps, this time set up by successor Hoffman. For those who attend screenings of the latest Saw movies only to watch people get their comeuppance through a series of bloody and grisly tests, then this will be where your thirst is quenched. Taking on a tone that is strikingly similar to instalment two, the challenges presented here are graphic and extremely cerebral, shot in the same berserk ways so far explored in the series (although, the blending scene segment style incorporated in IV is gone) which add to the movie's intense ability to draw you in.

    A consistently forceful element of the series, cinematographer David A. Armstrong here follows the movie's mantra of "don't fix what isn't broke", and the film's sense of coherency and embodiment of the script's themes works just as well here as it did in previous features. Sure enough, Saw wouldn't be Saw without its morally challenging undercurrent squirming underneath all the corpses and violence, and in this regard V does well to incorporate the same subtext. Of course as has been the case with all the sequels thus far, the message isn't quite as clear here as it was in the original, and the ideas always seem to be justifying the gore rather than the other -more appropriate- way around, but there's enough here to stop the whole ordeal boiling down to a silly slasher flick with no fibre to it at all.

    Needless to say there are many audiences out there who outwardly oppose everything the Saw series stands for, be it involving the gore, the message, or just the tacky horror-movie-sequel feel in general. Yet as I have been witness to many the genre has to offer so far this year I can safely say that while Saw V is by no means a masterpiece nor as significant as its first production, it still beats out most of the competition by quite some distance.

    In the end, the entire ordeal feels more like an add-on; a tid-bit of flavour designed to tie up the loose ends left dangling from all the other features, and in this respect V will feel a little underwhelming; even to rabid fans of the series. And yet, it's the fans that will make up most of Saw V's audience. I recommend V, but only to fans, and only because there's hope that VI (which the door is left wide open to here) might get the ball rolling again and begin to tell a new story. So by all means, if you can appreciate the series' unmatched ability to make you squirm, to have you question your moral code, and to fascinate you with its lurid, engrossing world made of cogs, puzzle pieces and of course, saws, then you can't go wrong here. Saw V is everything that fans of the series as a whole will want, but a lack of progression in narrative and its disregard for relevancy to anyone outside of its core audience inevitably cuts it short; not enough for anyone else, but fans should enjoy it for the most part.
  • October 25, 2009
    Not too engaging. It's primarily a crime thriller with gorey deathtraps thrown in. I liked the group trap situation reminiscent of Saw II. It's somewhat interesting to flashback to the earlier Saw movies and see how some of the traps were set up. It's also nice moving the story f...( read more)orward into the current timeline. More questions are raised about a box and a letter. I didn't guess the twist ending, but it didn't have much of an impact. Detective Hoffman and Agent Strahm look and act much alike, causing a bit of confusion. I like being behind the scenes of the trap-operator for a change. This movie gets better on re-watching, but still the weakest Saw movie.
  • September 11, 2009
    Is this the last? What is it about the Saw fanchise that still has us viewing? It?s long debated, how far it will go? When will it stop being watchable?

    Well it?s already showing signs of an over milked storyline, yes theoretically, the traps and motives could go on forever...( read more), but it has perhaps hit a point where the gore is no longer shockable and the twists and surprises aren?t really that surprising any more.

    Watchable, but a definite drop in standard.
  • March 13, 2009
    i actually read what was going to happen in the storyline section of IMDB before i watched this film which actually made the film even better cause i could follow what the contenders were doing wrong, lol. Same kind of movie as previous ones, not essential to watch other movies f...( read more)irst. Quite good.
  • November 2, 2009
    When watched from beginning to end, the Saw films make much more sense, and are good horror fun. The sequels, such as this, cover the numerous plot holes from the first, while still managing to maintain some nice twists, and a sense of irony. If you skipped any of the other fil...( read more)ms (or haven't seen them in a while), this one will make little sense and turn into a confusing gore fest.
  • November 1, 2009
    Saw is just amazing!!!! The ending is so amazing!!!!
  • October 27, 2009
    Oh my god. this is the best movie ever!!!

    The best Saw movie yet, i think, and i absolutely can not wait for the next one!!
  • October 26, 2009
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic
  • October 23, 2009
    Disappointing. The twists and turns in the plot were rather predictable. Certainly has not got the impact of Saw 1,2 and 4

Critic Reviews


October 30, 2008
Claudia Puig, USA Today

Saw V is a terrible combination: grisly and tedious. Let's just call it bloody dull. full review

October 27, 2008
Scott Mendelson, Film Threat Hollywood's Indie Voice

I predict in Saw VI that Jigsaw will be punishing people for tilting pinball machines, loving their children too much, and driving in the carpool lane unaccompanied. full review

October 24, 2008
Nick Schager, Slant Magazine

Deadly traps may remain the bread and butter of the Saw series, but the real trick has become keeping these fetid sequels moderately fresh. full review

View more Saw V reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • beatlehead5
    October 11, 2009
    The lush Hawaiian locales lend a welcome element of romance to this outing.
  • starlimitz2
    May 1, 2009
    They're going up to 7, just to let you all know.
  • Irince
    April 22, 2009
    i haven't seen saw V yet but the other parts are great.i can't wait to see it.
  • 4sauce4
    March 8, 2009
    I didn't know there was going to be a VI. I thought V was the end.
  • Muktidaya
    March 1, 2009
    hehehee very good!!
  • tweet1971
    February 2, 2009
    I LOVED THIS MOVIE!! I HAVE SEEN EVERY ONE OF THEM AND CAN'T WAIT FOR SAW VI TO COME OUT!!
  • wolfchildflame
    November 23, 2008
    I cant wait to see saw V the trailer looks awesome! I also wonder if its gonna bigger and badder than the rest...hehehe....it better be i love scary movies it drives my folks insane lol
  • xxrockprincessxxx
    November 8, 2008
    its so cool love it
  • neelvparmar
    November 7, 2008
    ooooo saw 5!!!!!!! i cant wait to see it!! i am a big saw fan! and jason and freddy never had this much imagination!! ingenous!!!!i hear it is an anthology !? will be biting the bit waiting on october excellent month to be releasing in right before halloween!!!!neel.
  • thedoctor2k7
    October 27, 2008
    looks gd

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Official Trailer

More Like This


Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Saw II
    Saw II (88%)
  • Saw
    Saw (95%)
  • Saw III
    Saw III (97%)
  • Philosophy of a Knife
    Philosophy of a Knife (0%)

Theater Showtimes & TV Listings


Saw V Trivia


  • In Fat Albert, why did the gang come out of the t.v?  Answer »
  • In capricorn one,why were they being chase?  Answer »
  • true or false??? in a preview on t.v. of high school musical 2... they got the roller coaster move b/c the director ~kenny ortega~ saw them on the floor in a shoulder masashe line???  Answer »
  • Police made it to what warehouse in Saw V ?  Answer »

Most Popular Skin