Ten years after the death of John Kramer, a new game begins with
​signs that point to Kramer himself being behind it all once more.

HORROR

Jigsaw (2017)

Directed by Michael Spierig and Peter Spierig

Written by Pete Goldfinger and Josh Stolberg

Starring Tobin Bell, Matt Passmore, Callum Keith Rennie,
​Laura Vandervoort, Hannah Emily Anderson, Paul Braunstein, 
​Clé Bennett, Josiah Black, Mandela Van Peebles, Brittany Allen

Sequel to 2010's Saw: The Final Chapter

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Connor Eyzaguirre

October 28, 2017

8/10

For horror buffs like myself, the long-awaited eighth installment in the always entertaining Saw franchise was one of the most exciting things to look forward to this year. Jigsaw was clearly a franchise entry made by fans for fans. It continues the saga of the Jigsaw Killer and his many apprentices, never once attempting to reboot or retcon the seven films that came before it. It does justice to the series and delivers a film that celebrates the franchise as a whole as well as looks to the future for new possibilities.

The story revolves around a new string of bizarre murders tied to an elaborate game. Being that it's the same M.O. as John Kramer, the Jigsaw Killer, the police dig deeper and find his blood on one of the bodies. Now the question becomes whether or not Kramer is really dead. The film does a great job keeping the audience in the dark for just the right amount of time, until the franchise's trademark twist ending comes along and brings us all into the light. When Charlie Clouser's now iconic theme starts playing, every horror fan will get a shiver down their spine and rejoice that Saw is back for Halloween once again.

Jigsaw is one of the best entries in the franchise because it remembers where it came from. It keeps the game interesting and gives us a host of victims we don't really feel sorry for because they're horrible people. It's what we've all come to expect from this franchise and frankly, it's good to have it back. In the age of reboots, it's refreshing for a long-standing horror series to continue one ongoing story instead of scrapping everything with a hard reimagining. More horror franchises could learn from Saw. I'm looking at you, Texas Chainsaw. Jigsaw is an old friend you haven't seen in a while, but have so many fond memories with. Enjoy, horror fans.