Saw VI (2009 film)

You think it's the living that will have ultimate judgment over you, because the dead will have no claim over your soul.  But you may be mistaken. - Jigsaw

We're nearing the end of our journey, with Saw VI, one of the best of the series.  From start to end this film twists and turns, not unlike the maze our game protagonist finds himself in.  But this isn't just about our player.  Some unavoidable spoilers to previous films will unfortunately be included in here.

After the obligatory opening game, we see how the last film ended, with the apprentice getting away scott free.  Most of the rest of the film is him trying to tie up loose ends and keep the frame-up going that he started in the last film.  But will a plan from Jigsaw himself get in his way?

The game of the film is run by William Easton, an insurance executive who more or less doomed Jigsaw when he denied him an experimental treatment.  Forced to run a maze, he encounters employees and coworkers, people he knows and works with on a daily basis, and is forced to make some hard choices.  What awaist him at the end of his game?

So, in addition to the returning cast of Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Shawnee Smith and Betsy Russell, we get a new cast of characters.  Peter Outerbridge played William, and he played him well.  You could feel the tension involved in having to make every decision he's forced into.  Mark Rolston portrayed FBI agent in charge of the Jigsaw case Dan Erickson in this film and the previous one.  He's had a long career in several well-known movies: Aliens, Robocop 2, Lethal Weapon 2, The Shawshank Redemption, and Rush Hour.  Darius McCrary played Dave, one of Easton's "Dog Pit" of investigators, trying to weed out people that might be cheating their system.  He played Eddie on Family Matters, probably his best-known role, but he was also in Vampires: Los Muertos and Transformers.

The movie builds up to the usual twist ending (a double, this time), setting up for the next, final movie.  The effects are great, the traps believable, the acting's good.  I really enjoyed all aspects of the film and give it a 5 out of 5.  Tomorrow's the Final Chapter.  Once we're past that, I'll have a little more variety for you.  Until then, take care and this is Red Hawk signing out!