My Review of Jigsaw (2017)

 

Written by Josh Stolberg And Peter Goldfinger

Directed by The Spierig Brothers

Jigsaw: "The truth will set you free."

With the first seven months having a group of recurring writers and directors and being released between 2004 and 2010, this franchise certainly needed a new coat of paint. To it's credit, Jigsaw tried to do exactly that.

There's no recurring characters like Hoffman anymore. In fact this movie arguably operated as both a prequel to the first one (through some flashbacks) and a standalone sequel of sorts. I should point out that once again, Jigsaw/John Kramer (Tobin Bell) isn't alive in this one.

Saying that, his bloody acts of violence under the pretext of justice were an inspiration for yet another copycat/protégé killer. This time that was Logan Nelson (Mark Passmore). Logan claimed to speak for the dead and he certainly added to the Jigsaw legacy body count.

There were many victims in this movie but most were selected from the criminals that Detective Halloran (Callum Rennie Keith) let slip through his fingers. Needless to say as the movie drew to it's bloody conclusion this would be a decision that Halloran wouldn't live to regret.

Like Hoffman before, there's an attempt to humanise Logan. Logan's anger came from a man named Edgar (Josiah Black) killing his wife. It certainly explained why Logan worked through a list to eventually get to Halloran and frame him for the new Jigsaw crimes. It's sound enough as a motive.

As for the flashbacks, more victims of Kramer themselves were revealed. This included a grieving mother named Anna (Laura Vandervoort). She had lost her baby and had a prior connection to John Kramer. Then there was Mitch (Mandela Van Peebles) who caused the death of John's nephew and Ryan (Paul Braunstein), who also caused a death. Those three had a lot of focus on them and it didn't end well for them.

- Other victims in this movie were Carly (Brittany Allen), fangirl Eleanor (Hannah Emily Anderson) and of course, Edgar himself.

- Logan was responsible for mislabeling John's X-Rays, causing his tumour to be undiagnosed.

- Standout music: Great American Canyon Band's Never Fade Away.

- Chronology: Ten years since the events of the last movie.

Jigsaw felt like a much needed shot in the arm for the franchise. While this franchise will never be able to escape from the ghost of John Kramer, I do think this felt like a fresh chapter for the franchise after the Hoffman heavy series of movies. I really liked this one.

Rating: 7 out of 10 

My Review of Saw 3D (2010)

 

Written by Patrick Melton And Marcus Dunstan 

Directed by Kevin Gruetert 

Dr. Gordon (to Bobby): "Bravo! To be able to sustain such a traumatic experience and, uh, and yet find a positive in that grizzly act. It's a remarkable feat, indeed. Remarkable... if not a little perverse."

Otherwise known as Saw: The Final Chapter. Yup, this really should've concluded this franchise but there would be three movies to come. Everything about this movie really felt like an ending.

For example, our main focus was on a survivor named Bobby Dagen (Sean Patrick Flanery). He wrote a book about escaping Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) and even held a support group for former victims. Except that there's a problem with Bobby.

The problem being that Bobby was never a victim of Jigsaw's in the first place. In flashbacks, it was revealed that he was something of a loser who pretended to be a victim in order to reshape his life for the better. Unbeknownst to Bobby, he actually did meet the real Jigsaw but that was something he'd come to realise much later in the movie.

The consequences of Bobby's deception however did put him in the firing line. He was tested by current successor, Mark Hoffman (Costas Mandylor). Yes, the latter survived Jill Tuck (Betsy Russell) trying and Marl wanted revenge on the former Mrs Kramer. That didn't stop him from making Bobby's life a living hell.

Bobby's suffering came at being unable to save his publicist Nina (Naomi Snieckus), lawyer Suzanne (Rebecca Marshall) and best friend Cale (Dean Armstrong). There was also Bobby's unfortunate wife, Joyce (Gina Holden). Yet again, it ended badly for everyone involved.

However the best part of this movie was of course Mark vs. Jill 2.0 with the former subjecting the latter to what she did to him. Except she actually died and then Mark got bested by Dr Lawrence Gordon (Cary Elwes). I was surprised to see Gordon back into the mix but again, it also felt like a full circle moment for this horror franchise.

- The opening kills were a public event with a love triangle between Ryan (Jon Cor), Brad (Sebastian Pigott) and Dina (Anne Greene). It didn't end well for Dina.

- Another kill sequence involved a group of white supremacists, one of whom was played by Linkin Park's Chester Bennington.

- Standout music: Ozzy Osbourne's Life Won't Wait.

- Chronology: From where the previous movie left off.

Saw 3D really should've been the one to have ended this franchise. It's not perfect by any means but it felt like a good place to end things for Jigsaw and his successors. Oh well.

Rating: 6 out of 10 

My Review of The Beauty: "Beautiful Living Rooms"

 

Written by Ryan Murphy And Matthew Hodgson 

Directed by Michael Uppendahl 

Byron: "Happy endings. They get me every time."

Can a billionaire actually show some genuine benevolence? No, let's be honest, not really. Unless it's Bruce Wayne and he's fictional. Also Byron Forst ain't no Bruce Wayne.

Even when Byron showed some compassion, it's because he wanted something in return. For Agent Meyer Williams (John Carroll Lynch/Patrick Luwis), all he had to do was lure Cooper and Jordan into an obvious trap and his family would be whole again. Of course, Meyer agreed to Byron's request.

It's hard to blame him though. His wife Juliana (Kelli O'Hara/Hazel Graye) hated his guts and both of them blamed the other for their daughter Joey (Kaylee Halko/Augusta Liv) having progeria, which was on the verge of killing her. By the end of this episode, the Williams family were reset and Byron seemed oddly touched that he could help them. For a nanosecond, he almost came across as human.

Then I thought about the rest of the episode. We got a needed backstory for Antonio/The Assassin as the latter trusted Jeremy enough to fill him in on the details of his own transformation (Teddy Canez). Yet again, the show struck gold with Anthony Ramos and Jeremy Pope because the two of them play off each other so well here. I really like this pairing.

More interesting in their scenes together was the new found sense of awareness that Jeremy had about himself and incel culture. He kind of pointed out some of Antonio's toxicity, was philosophical about his father. Jeremy even asked sone relevant questions about his transformation that Antonio managed to give answers to.

Then there's Cooper and Jordan. Aww, they love each other. I don't think that's particularly shocking but I found it funny how being captured by Jeremy and Antonio really drove the point home for them. Will Byron succeed in killing Jordan and Cooper or will he find some other way to keep them in line? Assuming they don't escape first that is.

- There was mentions of The Bear, John Cena, Charli XCX, Dr. Oz, the Make-A-Wish Foundation and football talk in this episode.

- Juliana was 30 when Meyer was 45. Joey's 15 but her progerie gave her the heart of a 90 year old. Juliana also was an editor at a fashion magazine and battled cancer.

- Manny reappeared in this episode to be killed off and used as a human shield during Cooper and Antonio's fight scene.

- Chronology: Not long from where the last two episodes left off.

Beautiful Living Rooms provided a few more answers, back stories, love declarations and alliance shifting. It's another strong episode and the last of the single ones. Next week onwards, we're in double bill domain.

Rating: 7 out of 10 

My Review of Saw VI (2009)

 

Written by Patrick Melton And Marcus Dunstan 

Directed by Kevin Gruetert

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

I thought upon reviewing the fifth movie that it was a the middle part of a trilogy but perhaps it was the second instalment of a quadrilogy. I said that because this wasn't the ending to the Mark Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) era that I thought it would be.

Yup, Hoffman's cruelty has intensified and he's roping more people into his legacy killings as John Kramer/Jigsaw's (Tobin Bell) successor. The problem being that Hoffman had a few obstacles in his way. Ones that even he struggled to properly deal with.

The movie opened with the gory death of Agent Strahm (Scott Patterson) but much to Hoffman's annoyance, Agent Perez (Athena Karkanis) actually survived and was getting close to exposing Hoffman's crimes. In fact, Hoffman's voice was exposed and he murdered everyone, including Perez. Gone was any sympathy this film might have had for him.

Then there was Jill Tuck (Betsy Russell). Her role here was somewhat more expanded on than before. It turned out that Kramer had given her instructions to take out Hoffman and the movie ended with the latter in a classic trap. This really should've ended the character but erm, there's another movie to get through with him.

As for the rest of the movie, the focus on Hoffman's brutality was William (Peter Outerbridge). He was the one who denied Kramer the insurance to help him and throughout the movie, William found himself having to try and save some employees (he failed) as well as Tara (Shauna McDonald) and Brent (Devon Bostick). Oh and there's William's sister, Pamela (Samantha Lemole).

Yup, there's certain moving parts in this movie. I'll admit the flashbacks to previous movies worked here along with the Mark vs. Jill subplot. William's not a particularly sympathetic character, which was why his comeuppance was a bit satisfying to watch here.

- Flashbacks included Hoffman blackmailing Amanda into killing Dr Lynn along with John and Jill's connection to William.

- The opening kills/tortures involved predatory lenders Eddie (Marty Moreau) and Simone (Tandra Howard).

- Standout music: The James Brothers More Than A Sin.

- Chronology: Not long from where the previous movie left off.

Saw VI felt like it could've been another finale to this whole saga had Hoffman actually died. I personally think he shouldn't have made it out of this movie alive but that man refuses to stay dead.

Rating: 6 out of 10 

My Review of Saw V (2008)

 

Written by Patrick Melton And Marcus Dunstan 

Directed by David Hackl

Jigsaw (to Hoffman): "Everybody deserves a chance."

I'm halfway through this franchise and it's incredible that for the main character still being dead, they keep finding ways to make him relevant to the plot. Jigsaw/John Kramer (Tobin Bell) - the post death hold you've got on this series should be studied.

Anyways, the previous movie established that Detective Mark Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) was an apprentice/wannabe successor to Jigsaw and we got his origin story in this one. Is he worthy of Kramer's mantle? The obvious answer would be no of course.

The movie opened with a grisly death of killer Seth Baxter (Jordan Jarsky). Let's just say that Edgar Allen Poe inspired the means of Seth's demise but it was credited to Jigsaw. However, it was Hoffman's doing and Jigsaw wasn't pleased about being credited for such a sloppy opening kill.

Anyways Hoffman's motives for murdering Seth were down to the latter killing his sister. I suppose I should give the movie points for trying to make him a bit more sympathetic but it's clear his values are different. With Kramer, there's that warped sense of justice/trying to get people to be better versions of themselves. Like Amanda, Mark clearly just wanted to kill and make his victims suffer before they die.

Speaking of victims, we've got five connecting ones here. Ashley (Laura Gordon), Brit (Julie Benz), Charles (Carlo Rota), Luba (Meagan Good) and Mallick (Greg Bryk). All of them have different professions but all of them played the role in some recent deaths (though not intentionally). To the movie's credit, there's a decent attempt to flesh out these characters before they're all taken out of the mix.

As for the rest of the movie, I was surprised that Agent Strahm (Scott Patterson) actually survived the previous movie. Granted, he still had to make a sacrifice and his attempts to catch out Hoffman ended badly for him. He's a decent foil for Hoffman until he wasn't.

- There's more flashbacks to Kramer bequeathing a mystery box to his ex-wife Jill. The latter was also being stalked by Strahm.

- There's brief appearances from Amanda, Eric, David and Agent Perez in this movie.

- The film didn't end with "Game Over" like previous movies did.

- Chronology: Shortly after the events of the fourth movie but some flashbacks included the third as well.

Saw V made for an okay addition to the franchise. It's very much the middle part of the Hoffman trilogy, giving him a needed backstory. It also separated him from Jigsaw, making him into a more conventional sadist compared to his deceased mentor.

Rating: 6 out of 10 

My Review of A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms: "In The Name Of The Mother"

 

Written by Hiram Martinez And Ti Mikkel And Ira Parker

Directed by Owen Harris 

Baelor: "Be vigilant. Don't die."

That's perfectly sound advice. Then again, when you're taking part in a Trial by Seven, it's also advice that's hard to take. Oh and as it's a penultimate episode, a sympathetic character had to die. Baelor, we barely knew you.

The consequences of Baelor choosing Team Dunk meant that his own brother inadvertently killed him. Maekar struck a fatal blow and Baelor made a point of telling Dunk that the realm needed good men. Bertie Carvel might not have had a lot of screen time this season but he made the most of what he was given.

As for the battle itself, I love how green Dunk truly was as a wannabe knight. He looked completely out of his depth and it took very little for Aerion to actually incapacitate him. It also led to the majority of this episode being rather flashback heavy for Dunk.

In flashbacks we saw a younger Dunk (Bamber Todd) and his friend Rafe (Chloe Lea) trying their best to get out of Flea Bottom. This meant stealing from dead nobles but it also resulted in getting on the wrong side of Alester (Edward Davis), resulting in the death of Rafe and Dunk going with Ser Arlan.

As flashbacks, they're good and did add a bit more to Dunk's backstory. In the present though, things got even more vicious between Dunk and Aerion with the former forcing the latter to yield. I can't see Aerion letting that public humiliation slide in the future.

Last but not least, there was also Egg. His role was smaller in this episode but Dunk kept him on as a squire and Egg panicked when he thought Dunk was dying. Egg also was clearly upset when he realised that Baelor had also died by the end of this one.

- A few moments where characters were sick in this one to add to the bodily fluids list for this season.

- Beesbury and Hardyng seemed to be the other deaths of the episode, though Raymun took a battering as well.

- Aerion's dragon armour looked fantastic on the battlefield. It really did say a lot about his character.

- Chronology: The flashbacks said it was after Daemon's rebellion. 

In The Name Of The Mother was another triumph as an episode. Great use of flashbacks, brilliant battle moments and a death that genuinely impacted in spite of being telegraphed. I really hope the finale sticks the landing.

Rating: 9 out of 10 

Silver Ladies, Superhero Revivals And No Ninth Episodes

And here's my first TV Jumble Blog of 2026. There's still some shows that I need to catch up but here's a look at what I've seen so far.

Bridgerton: And we're back. Netflix are committing to this split season idea as the fourth season has Luke Thompson and Yerin Ha front and centre. Yes, Sophie Baek is the Lady In Silver and Benedict (our diamond this season), lovestruck as he might be hasn't figured that out in four episodes so far. What else this season? Oh, Sophie's stepmother isn't a nice person, Lady Danbury was trying to prime her own successor for the Queen so she could leave the country, Francesca couldn't reach the pinnacle and Penelope seemed to be struggling with being publicly known as Lady Whistledown. Oh and maid wars.

Stranger Things: New Year's Day for everyone outside the US saw the end of this long running show. Don't worry there's an animated spin off coming soon. Anyways, we got two hours and a lot of characters and arcs to resolve. To get the elephant out of the room, there wasn't a secret ninth episode and that's not a bad thing. I didn't love this finale but I didn't hate it either. I think it did the best it could to give the most important characters satisfying endings. As for Eleven, I have my own belief that she didn't totally perish. 

The Night Manager: I slept on this show for nearly a decade and in the space of a month, I watched both seasons back to back. For the most part, I think I preferred the first season to the second but even the latter was still mostly good. Tom Hiddleston's on fine form as Jonathan Pine and the many aliases he's taken in the show. His best scene partners were undoubtedly Hugh Laurie as Richard Roper and Diego Calva as Richard's estranged son, Teddy. There's some strong supporting roles for both Olivia Colman and Indira Varma to boot.

The Seven Dials Mystery: Normally, I'd assume this would have been a BBC production, considering that they've been the ones adapting Agatha Christie stories for a while now. However, Netflix got this one and made it into a three episode miniseries. It was also written by Chris Chibnall and it's pretty decent. Mia McKenna-Bruce, Martin Freeman and Helena Bonham-Carter are all on fine form. However like a lot of the BBC adaptations of late, it did lag a little bit. Still watchable though.

Wonder Man: I'm not gonna lie - my expectations for this show were low. The trailers were underwhelming and the fact that Disney+ released it all in one day didn't inspire confidence. Then I watched the show and witnessed a brilliant double act with Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Ben Kingsley and I couldn't have been more wrong. I need more scenes with Simon Williams and Trevor Slattery. This eight episodes series was really enjoyable. I thought the MCU version of The Studio couldn't work but I was wrong. This show definitely is worth watching.

• Stephen Amell has been cast as Hobie Buchannon for the upcoming reboot of Baywatch for FOX.
• HBO Max will launch in the UK/Ireland from March. Sky are also offering a package next month that will include Netflix, Disney+, Hayu and HBO Max.
• David Boreanaz has been cast in the lead of The Rockford Files for NBC.
• Terminator Zero has been cancelled after one season by Netflix.
• NBC have ordered a comedy pilot titled Newlyweds, co-created by Jamie Lee Curtis and starring Tea Leoni.
• Hulu have ordered a legal drama, Conviction, which will star Elisabeth Moss as the lead.
• The 90 minute wrap movie of Good Omens will premiere on Amazon Prime from May 13th.
• Elizabeth Banks and Matthew MacFadyen's The Miniature Wife will premiere on Peacock from April 9th.
• Baldur's Gate 3 is in the works as a series for HBO.
• Ray Romano and Joshua Jackson have been cast in How To Survive Without Me for HBO Max.
• Spider-Noir will premiere on Amazon Prime from May 27th.
• Stranger Things: Tales From 85 confirmed for April 23 on Netflix.
• The second season for FX's Shogun has also begun.