Ongoing horror series are a dime a dozen, but come on, how many are really worth owning? Do they even try explaining how these guys keep coming back to life anymore? And if they do does it really make any sense? The day of the unkillable serial murderer is done even if attempts to reinvent them arise every now and again.

The "Saw" series takes a different approach. I would even go so far as to say that the way they have approached a continuing story as opposed to killing off the killer then reviving him for a fresh round of hunting was gutsy. Of course this is looking back with hindsight. At the time "Saw 2" came out we were dealing with a one-shot flick that did well enough to necessitate a grab for more cash. I liked the original Saw enough to be curious about where they would go with a sequel, but I really didn’t hold out hope for it being much good. I was surprised by what I got and count this one to be my favorite of the series as far as a stand-alone chapter goes.

First off, if you haven't seen the first movie you might not want to continue reading this review. I'll try not to give too much away, but I can't help but spoil some of the plot surprises which are a large part of what make the movie fun. If you think you might want to see it then you don't want to know too much about what happens. You've been warned.

The first movie touched on Jigsaw’s motives, and while I give the writers credit for trying to make a villain with real motives, the premise was thin. This sequel does a far better job filling in those gaps and expanding the story than I would have ever predicted. This might just be the best modern horror sequel I’ve seen (I say “modern” because it’s not even in the same league as Bride of Frankenstein).

As you know Jigsaw got away free and clear last time. He outsmarted the cops and all the players in his game. Not so this round. He gets caught by the police pretty easily, but the games aren’t finished, not yet. He has already trapped several people in a house full of deadly puzzles. They may live or they may die -- their futures are uncertain, but they aren’t the only ones playing a game. One of those unlucky players is the son of an investigator on the scene, Det. Matthews. Jigsaw goads Matthews into playing a game of his own with the life of his son as the prize.

What’s interesting is that Jigsaw goes into detail about his motives. He will soon no longer have a life to appreciate, and it’s maddening to him to watch people who don’t appreciate their own lives. By living through one of his puzzles they will recognize the importance of the life they almost lost. Jigsaw’s ultimate goal is actually admirable (I'll dissect that some more in the spirituality section), or would be except that it’s nothing more than a justification for sociopathic behavior.

The writers don't approach him as a killer, but ultimately, despite all he says about hating murder in later sequels, he is still putting people in harm's way. The best these people can really hope for is to come out of their situation traumatized and only slightly mutilated. If I shoot holes in your parachute and then throw you another one in hopes that you can get into it quickly enough to escape that sudden terrestrial impact, I'm still responsible for that unwanted plunge.

Consider, also, that while people faced with torture and violent death may feel more alive at that time than in the regular run of life, they are often doomed to live a traumatized life of nightmares and undeserved guilt. Such trauma often results in psychiatric treatment or turning to mind-altering substances for relief. Jigsaw is not offering these people a prize of a more abundant life, he’s condemning them to a life of psychological anguish.

What makes this work in the movie is that Tobin Bell comes across as believing he is doing something good. Sure serial killers like Ted Bundy kill for pleasure, but much of the evil perpetrated in the world is done by those that think they are doing the right thing. John Doe thought he was preaching a sermon that would benefit others, Adolph Hitler thought he was cleansing the world, Pilate wanted to appease the mob. None of them perpetrated evil for the sake of being evil, they did what they thought was the right thing to do at the time, yet that makes their actions no less wrong. I guess this is one of the big reasons I like the movie. It has incited me to think about the nature of evil in men and justifications for sin. I like movies that leave something useful in the mind, and that is this movie’s biggest redeeming quality.

The acting is better in this one than in the first. Donnie Whalberg (Matthews) and Tobin Bell (Jigsaw) are particularly good. The others do a fine job as well. It was a little weird seeing the 7th Heaven girl (Beverly Mitchell) in this kind of movie, but the timid character is a good one for her.

The story is a good one. There are several plot twists - some are there for shock value, but others are excellent developments and revelations befitting of strong literature. The nature of Eric’s life for one thing: as we find out who he really is (by that I mean in character not as in secret identity) his part of the story becomes much more than just a random entanglement. The shared links of the victims trapped in the house serve to strengthen the complexity of the plot nicely.

There are some tidbits for fans of the first movie. These will go on to help weave a more interconnected tale as the movies continue. There's a revelation about the location of the infamous bathroom for one thing. If you had any question about Adam's fate the answer here is definitive. Not so Dr. Gordon. You'll have to see the other movies for all the answers.

As far as horror/thrillers go this is a nicely done movie. As far as horror/thriller sequels go it far outperforms the norm. Certainly not a movie for the squeamish it still manages to go beyond the shock for some real plot and provoking thoughts about life, morality, and evil.