Finally got around to watching the movie today and so I sought out this thread as I didn't want to read it until I'd seen it. I don't want to jack the thread again but I do want to say that Identity and High Tension are both hateful movies with rubbish "get out clause" twists. High Tension's twist is especially problematic as it's blindingly obvious very very quickly what's going on. Anyhoo.....
Saw I was much villified for it's appalling acting. Fine, but remove the bad performances and I think there's a lot to admire about it in terms of horror movies. It's inventive, for one thing and there are several edge of the seat sequences (Leigh Whanell searching his apartment using his camera, the hiding in the closet sequence and so on) and it has the bleakest, nastiest, most downbeat ending since Kevin Spacey told Brad Pitt to become wrath. The stark reality of that ending was underlined in the sequel, just in case we missed that.
So on to the sequel. They obviously felt the need to up the stakes and go all out with the gore. Sadly, for the most part, they did so at the expense of suspense and disquiet. There were some truly unsettling sequences (the opening, the pit of syringes) but the outcome of most character's fate was sadly predictable. And some of their motivations seemed to come out of nowhere. And other characters were annoying, the main culprit being Donnie Wahlberg's police detective. Which isn't good when you're supposed to be caring about his and his son's fate.
Was it inventive? Yes, but it reminded me of that line in Silence Of The Lambs about the random pattern seeming desperately random. It was all a little too much. It seemed desperate. And the bleak ending was clever and sure explained the lack of tears from Shawnee Smith. But on the whole there was just something I couldn't take to in the film and I don't know what it was.
Nothing precious, plain to see, don't make a fuss over me. Not loud, not soft, but somewhere inbetween. Say sorry, just let it be the word you mean.
