Saw III (Director's Cut) Review

Written by: alex1176   

Director Darren Lynn Bousman’s original version of “Saw III” runs exactly two hours long, but is well worth watching. It includes two additional scenes not shown in theatres as well as an alternate ending. And while none of the “new” stuff adds anything pivotal to the storyline, it does make the movie just a tad bit more intriguing. The new DVD also includes a commentary track with Tobin Bell (Jigsaw) and Shawnee Smith (Amanda). So, if you’re a big fan of the movie, than you’ll certainly find the director’s cut to be worthy of purchase.

Let it be known that I did like "Saw III" more than I did part IV, but not nearly as much as I liked the original. However, the more I see it, the more I think it ranks up with part two in terms of pure horror entertainment. "Saw III" is absolutely filled with iconic setpieces. Amongst them is an early grisly sequence inspired by "Hellraiser", a bloody brain surgery scene and a flashback which shows Jigsaw mentoring his wannabe-apprentice Amanda.

The movie tells two stories: one concerns Jeff, a man who is given a chance to either avenge or forgive, while the other fleshes out the relationship between Jigsaw and Amanda. Both are balanced out rather nicely and I loved the final tense-filled moments of the film when the plot threads come together; right before the demise of both villians. Actor Angus MacFadyen's terrific performance as Jeff helps elevate the film's quality as does the performance by Bell as the dying psychopath known as John Kramer (a.k.a Jigsaw).

I believe the movie does a good job of ending the "first trilogy" of "Saw" films. It's a good movie that most fans of the genre should enjoy. Now that part IV has been released, I can only hope that the next two films will do better justice to the franchise's concept.