Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Seventh in grisly gore franchise adds 3-D to the mix.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 18+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Saw 3D (Saw: The Final Chapter)
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 23 parent reviews
Based on 77 kid reviews
Kids say the movie features extreme gore and violence, often criticizing its lack of a coherent plot and unrealistic blood effects. While some find it a fitting end to the franchise, many others deem it overly brutal, inappropriate for younger viewers, and lacking the depth of its predecessors.
- gore overload
- weak plot
- inappropriate for kids
- divisive opinions
- disappointing finale
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In SAW 3D, Jigsaw's widow, Jill Tuck (Betsy Russell), begins by trying to kill Jigsaw's current disciple, Mark Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) -- but fails. She then agrees to provide the police with all the information they need in exchange for protection. Meanwhile, Jigsaw survivor Bobby Dagen (Sean Patrick Flanery) has published a successful book about his ordeal ... but the killer knows the truth, and so Bobby is tested with an elaborate series of gory traps involving his beloved wife and all his various handlers. For "fun," there are a couple of random, gruesome traps that have nothing to do with the rest of the plot. Chad Donella plays an internal affairs detective trying to solve the whole thing, and Tobin Bell appears in flashbacks as the original Jigsaw.
Is It Any Good?
In its defense, the seventh installment of the bloody Saw franchise does occasionally attempt to rise above the typical "torture porn" flick. The killers act out of a sense of duty, and all of their victims are "guilty" in some way of some transgression. Additionally, the series has built up a complex lore around the original Jigsaw and his followers. And the traps themselves are incredibly elaborate; it's difficult for viewers to predict just what they're going to do, so the movie does manage to create a certain amount of tension around them.
Unfortunately, Saw 3D also thrives on extreme, ghastly gore as its primary motivation, making all other concerns secondary; in essence, it's more an endurance test than it is a movie. Plus, the writing and directing are strictly "C"-level, and the acting -- with the exception of Cary Elwes -- isn't much better.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Saw 3D's extreme violence. How did it make you feel? What was your reaction?
How do the gory images in movies like this impact viewers, especially young ones? Why do you think there's been a trend toward these "torture porn" movies in recent years?
What draws audiences to movies like this? Why have the Saw movies been so popular?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 29, 2010
- On DVD or streaming : January 25, 2011
- Cast : Cary Elwes , Costas Mandylor , Sean Patrick Flanery
- Director : Kevin Greutert
- Studio : Lionsgate
- Genre : Horror
- Run time : 90 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : sequences of grisly bloody violence and torture, and language
- Last updated : September 29, 2023
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