Saw IV

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Saw IV
Saw4final.jpg
Promotional poster
Directed by Darren Lynn Bousman
Produced by Mark Burg
Oren Koules
Gregg Hoffman
Screenplay by Patrick Melton
Marcus Dunstan
Story by Thomas Fenton
Patrick Melton
Marcus Dunstan
Starring Tobin Bell
Scott Patterson
Costas Mandylor
Betsy Russell
Lyriq Bent
Music by Charlie Clouser
Cinematography David Armstrong
Editing by Kevin Greutert
Studio Twisted Pictures
Distributed by Lionsgate
Release date(s)
  • October 25, 2007 (2007-10-25) (Australia)
  • October 26, 2007 (2007-10-26) (US and Canada)
Running time 91 minutes
Country Canada
United States
Language English
Budget US$10 million
Box office US$139,352,633[1]

Saw IV is a 2007 Canadian-American[2] horror film and midquel to 2006's Saw III. It was directed by Darren Lynn Bousman and written by newcomers Patrick Melton, Marcus Dunstan and Thomas Fenton. The film was released in North America on October 26, 2007. The film's North American release date followed the series' tradition that the films be released the Friday before or on Halloween of each year.

The film continues the story of the Jigsaw Killer and his obsession with teaching people the "value of their own lives". Despite Jigsaw being killed in the last installment, the film still focuses on his ability to manipulate people into continuing his work of trapping people. The story follows Daniel Rigg being put in a series of tests in order to try and let go of his obsession of saving everyone, whilst at the same time attempting to save his partner.

Contents

Plot [edit]

A wax-coated tape is found in John Kramer's (Tobin Bell) stomach during his autopsy. It is given to Mark Hoffman (Costas Mandylor), who learns that he will not walk away untested. The scene cuts to Trevor (Kevin Rushton) and Art Blank (Justin Louis), who awaken chained at the neck to a winch in a mausoleum. Trevor's eyes are sewn shut, as is Art's mouth, preventing communication between them. Trevor's panic activates the winch, and Art kills him after a brief struggle and takes the key to free himself.

Allison Kerry's (Dina Meyer) body is found by police four days after her death. Hoffman is met at the scene by FBI agents Peter Strahm (Scott Patterson) and Lindsey Perez (Athena Karkanis), who Kerry had previously contacted, after sending Lt. Daniel Rigg (Lyriq Bent) home. They believe that someone else set up Kerry's murder, as John and Amanda Young were physically incapable of putting Kerry in the harness (although how the FBI knew that Amanda Young was an accomplice of Jigsaw at this point in time remains unexplained). Strahm soon becomes suspicious of Rigg, who is convinced that Eric Matthews (Donnie Wahlberg) is still alive. Rigg is abducted in his home that night, and awakens to discover that Matthews is alive, that he and Hoffman have 90 minutes to save themselves, and that Rigg must undergo tests to discover "what it truly means to save a life."

Rigg saves Brenda (Sarain Boylan), a madam, in his first test, but is forced to kill her when she attacks him, as she believes he will imprison her if she doesn't kill him. In his next test, Rigg enters a motel and forces Ivan Landsness (Marty Adams), a serial rapist, into a trap where he must choose between blinding himself and dismemberment. Ivan fails to blind both eyes and is killed by the trap. In his third test, Rigg enters a school and finds Rex and Morgan (Ron Lea and Janet Land), an abusive husband and his wife, impaled together by spikes in a harness. Rex is dead, and Morgan has removed all but one spike; Rigg helps with the last spike, gives her the key to her harness, and pulls the fire alarm while leaving for his final test. Strahm and Perez alternate between investigating each test scene and interrogating Jill Tuck (Betsy Russell), John's ex-wife. While married to John, she had been pregnant with his baby, which he was to be named Gideon. Jigsaw's puppet and its tricycle were meant for Gideon. She miscarried when Cecil Adams (Billy Otis), a drug addict, was robbing her clinic. The agents also learn that the motel room was rented to Art Blank, who vanished two weeks previously, and that they are the next two targets.

Throughout Rigg's tests, Matthews and Hoffman are overseen by a man revealed to be Art. Matthews is held atop an ice block by a chain-noose, and Hoffman is strapped to a chair with an electrode at his feet. They are balanced by a seesaw: if Matthews falls after too much ice melts, he will be hanged and Hoffman will be electrocuted. At the third test scene, the agents learn that all three victims were represented in court by Art, who was also Jill's lawyer. After Perez is hospitalized by an exploding puppet, Strahm furiously questions Jill, now certain that Art is the accomplice. Jill recounts that John's depression following the miscarriage ultimately ended their marriage, as well as his property development work with Art. After his suicide attempt, John began his work and targeted Cecil first. Cecil was to push his face through several knives to hit a switch and release himself. The chair collapsed via freeing himself but Cecil died after falling into a tangle of razor-wire trying to kill John with a large piece of the chair. Strahm connects her story with the Gideon Meatpacking Plant, the location of Rigg's final test.

Strahm arrives soon after Rigg, but ends up trailing Jeff Denlon (Angus Macfadyen), who he finds in the sickroom and shoots in self-defense when Jeff mistakes him for his daughter's kidnapper. Rigg locates Matthews and Hoffman, who can be released by Art when the timer expires; if he presses the button beforehand, a pair of pincers will cut his spine. Unaware of this, Rigg breaks into the room with one second left just as Matthews shoots him, which releases two ice blocks that crush Matthews's head, killing him. Rigg kills Art, believing him responsible for the traps, and learns from a tape recorder that Matthews would have lived if Rigg had not interfered. An unharmed Hoffman releases himself, revealed to be the accomplice, and leaves Rigg to die. He seals Strahm in the sickroom before he leaves. The scene then cuts back to John's autopsy, which took place after the events of the film.

Cast [edit]

Production [edit]

The film's writer was Thomas Fenton.[3] There was also a hunt for the director of Saw IV before it was officially stated that Darren Lynn Bousman would direct the fourth installment, with creators and executive producers, James Wan and Leigh Whannell also returning.[4] principal photography took from April 16, 2007[5] to May 3, 2007.[6] The filming location was Toronto, Ontario,[7] the same place both Saw II[8] and Saw III[9] were filmed. Post-production period began on May 19.[10]

In an interview with Darren Lynn Bousman, he stated that the last work on Saw IV would happen in August to be able to have prints made.[11] At Comic Con 2007 it was revealed by Bousman and producer Mark Burg that the MPAA had given the film an NC-17 rating. They would have to figure out whether or not to cut the film to achieve an R Rating or release it as an NC-17 film.[12] (It was cut)[13]

Lionsgate held its fourth annual "Give Til It Hurts" blood drive for the Red Cross.[14]

Reception [edit]

Box office [edit]

The film grossed $63,300,095 in the United States and an additional $71,228,814 internationally, bringing the theatrical total to $134,528,909.[15] It is Lionsgate's sixth highest-grossing film in the United States and Canada.[16]

Reviews [edit]

Critical reception to Saw IV was negative. Rotten Tomatoes reports that 16% of critics gave the film a positive review, based upon 73 reviews, with an average score of 3 out of 10.[17] On Metacritic, the film has an average score of 36 out of 100, based on 16 reviews.[18] Scott Schueller from the Los Angeles Times called it "a film as edgy as a rubber knife" and said that "if the terrible craft of Bousman's film doesn't turn your stomach, the borderline pornographic violence will. It's disconcerting to imagine anyone enjoying the vile filth splashing the screen."[19] Frank Scheck from The Hollywood Reporter said "the famously inventive torture sequences here seem depleted of imagination", but added that "it hasn't yet jumped the shark like such predecessors as the Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th movies eventually did."[20] Peter Hartlaub from The San Francisco Chronicle called it "the Syriana of slasher films, so complicated and circuitous that your only hope of understanding everything is to eat lots of fish the night before and then watch each of the previous films, in order, right before you enter the theater."[21] James Berardinelli wrote that "Saw IV functions as a drawn-out, tedious epilogue to a series that began with an energetic bang three years ago with Saw, then progressively lost momentum, coherence, and intelligence with each successive annual installment. Saw IV is nothing short of a money-grab. Despite a couple of loose ends (that are tied up unsatisfactorily here), Saw III finished the story."[22]

A less negative review came from Scott Weinberg from Fearnet, who said that while it "is almost certainly the weakest of the series where stuff like plot, logic, and chills are concerned... there's still more than enough here to keep the fans intrigued, entertained, and squirming in their seats" and added that the "Saw-makers are to be commended for actually putting forth this sort of effort. I grew up in an era that offered little more than quick-cash, stand-alone horror sequels like Halloween 5 and Friday the 13th Part 7 — so the fact that these producers actually give a damn about narrative continuity (right down to the smallest detail) is fairly impressive."[23] Horror.com said that "with Saw IV, the pieces have all come together and [it's] the best of the lot."[24] Jamie Russell from the BBC called it "deeply unsettling; just like a horror movie should be."[25] Chris Hewitt from St. Paul Pioneer Press claimed that "Saw IV is a fluid film, as neatly constructed as the deadly puzzles Jigsaw creates to snare his victims." Film School Rejects said that "One of the things that is most intriguing to me about the Saw movies is how much I actually have enjoyed them" and claimed that "As far as fourth installments in a series, Saw IV is quite impressive." Linda Cook from Quad-City Times gave it a positive review also and said "The twists and turns are deadly, the 'lessons' are taught once again, and we have the perfect setup for Saw V."[26]

Awards [edit]

Award Category Result
Empire Awards Best Horror Nominated
Golden Trailer Awards Best Horror TV Spot Won
Best Horror Poster Nominated
Best Teaser Poster Nominated
Best Thriller Poster Nominated
Best Thriller TV Spot Nominated

Home media [edit]

The Unrated Director's Cut was released on January 22, 2008 in America and March 3, 2008 in the UK, on DVD and Blu-ray. The "Extreme Edition", which was released in the UK only, before the release of Saw V in October 2008[27][28] features a 95-minute running time of the film.

Extreme Limited Edition [edit]

This edition was only released in the United Kingdom.[27]

  • Exclusive automated spinning Saw with a sound clip packaging
  • A copy of the Saw: Rebirth comic
  • Two audio commentaries (One with director Darren Lynn Bousman and actor Lyriq Bent; the other featuring the producers.)
  • Video Diary of Darren Lynn Bousman
  • Traps of Saw IV
  • Props of Saw IV
  • "I.V." by X Japan music video

Trivia [edit]

  • Saw IV was originally rated R in Australia (Restricted to adults aged 18 and over) but it was re-rated on appeal to MA (Not suitable for people under the age of 15).[citation needed] This was due to the content being similar in the previous films and while the autopsy scene was done realistically, it didn't require legislative restriction for adult category. Saw IV was released also MA15+ rating for DVD/BD releases.

Soundtrack [edit]

Main article: Saw IV (soundtrack)

The soundtrack was released on October 23, 2007 by WEA/Warner Bros. Records.

References [edit]

  1. ^ "Saw IV (2007)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2008-01-04. 
  2. ^ "BFI Film & TV Database - Saw IV". British Film Institute. Retrieved September 19, 2011. 
  3. ^ Actual writer for Saw IV revealed
  4. ^ Bousman Returns to Direct Saw IV. ComingSoon.net, 2007-02-20. Retrievename="MObousman">Darren Lynn Bousman Interview, SAW 4. Movies Online. Retrieved 2007-06-22.
  5. ^ Date set for filming
  6. ^ "Production in Ontario 2007" (pdf). Ontario Media Development Corporation. Retrieved September 4, 2010. 
  7. ^ Location set for the filming of Saw IV
  8. ^ Saw II filming location MovieWeb retrieved 2005-27-10.
  9. ^ Saw III filming location MovieWeb retrieved 2006-04-17.
  10. ^ IMDb post-production period
  11. ^ Darren Lynn Bousman Interview, SAW 4. Movies Online. Retrieved 2007-06-22.
  12. ^ Saw IV Too Much for Comic-Con Retrieved on 2007-08-07
  13. ^ [1]
  14. ^ "American Red Cross Partners With Lionsgate on SAW IV Blood Drive". Red Cross. August 6, 2007. Retrieved September 12, 2011. 
  15. ^ "Saw IV (2007) - Box Office". The Numbers. Retrieved 2009-11-02. 
  16. ^ "Lionsgate All Time Box Office Results". Box Office Mojo. Amazon.com. Retrieved September 19, 2011. 
  17. ^ "Saw IV (2007)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2009-11-09. 
  18. ^ "Saw IV (2007): Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 2007-11-06. 
  19. ^ "Movie review: 'Saw IV'". Retrieved 2007-11-10. 
  20. ^ "Saw IV". Retrieved 2007-11-10. [dead link]
  21. ^ Hartlaub, Peter. "Review: The hunt for the Jigsaw Killer continues in 'Saw IV'". The San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2007-11-10. 
  22. ^ "Saw IV". Retrieved 2009-02-21. 
  23. ^ "Saw IV". Retrieved 2007-11-10. 
  24. ^ "Saw IV". Retrieved 2007-11-10. 
  25. ^ "Saw IV (2007)". Retrieved 2007-11-10. 
  26. ^ "Saw IV (2007)". Retrieved 2007-11-10. 
  27. ^ a b Coolest DVD Packing Ever For UK 'Saw IV' Release
  28. ^ SAW IV DVD Extreme Limited Edition - WHAT DOES THE DVD DO?

External links [edit]

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