Ranking the Saw Franchise

Now that I have watched, re-watched, and reviewed all of the Saw movies, it's time for me to rank these bad boys. 

#9: Saw 3D: This is probably the movie that has aged the worst for me in this entire franchise. I like some of the ideas. For example I like the idea of someone being placed in a trap just because that lied about being a Jigsaw survivor. But, forcing a completely innocent character into a trap, and then killing said character because her husband was a charlatan just doesn't sit right with me. Beyond that, this movie looks the cheapest in the franchise hands down. The twist ending was interesting, but they haven't done anything with it, at least, not yet. Oh, and the gore looks awful in this movie too. 

#8: Saw IV: For the longest time, this was my least favorite of the Saw movies. The biggest issue I have with it is that it's the first movie in the series that feels it's complicated just for the sake of it. This movie also reaffirms my feeling that Hoffman really isn't all that interesting to me as a villain. At best, this movie feels mediocre. At worst, I think it's trying to bite off more than it can chew. 

#7: Saw V: This is probably the movie in the series where I am the most invested in Hoffman as a character, and I like the cat and mouse game he has with Strahm throughout the movie. The flashbacks are also pretty solid in this one for me as well. The thing that really pulls it down is the characters in the trap plot. These are some of the most inconsistently written people in the entire franchise. These are characters that will kind of work together until one of them needs to die. All of the sudden, that character will become the most unlikable person you can imagine. 

#6: Jigsaw: I kind of like both plots going on in this film about equally. If I have to give the edge to one, I would say the cop plot, just because I like the sense of mystery around it. Tobin Bell is once again my favorite part of this whole movie without question. What drops it down for me is the twist ending. I don't hate it or anything like that, but it does feel like it's kind of old hat. It's a bag of tricks the Saw franchise has pulled from before. 

#5: Spiral: From the Book of Saw: Now, because this is the most recent movie in the series, I think smack dab in the middle is the perfect placement for this movie. As the franchise keeps going, this is the ranking that is probably the most likely to change over time. 

#4: Saw III: Saw III works really well as the end of a trilogy. That said, I do think it's a little too long, and I think Jeff is one of the worst characters in the Saw franchise. But, I also think this movie knows that Jigsaw and Amanda are the most interesting characters to watch. That's why I think those two are the ones who have the most heart to them and their story. I should also give props, because that can be a very tricky thing to do with a villain. 

#3: Saw VI: This one is so high because of how much I legitimately enjoy the trap plot. I like the idea of taking this insurance agent and forcing him to actually make life and death decisions, all the while it actually seems to hurt the guy to make these choices. That is twisted in a way I like. I also kind of like how Jill is used in this movie, it paints her in a light that makes you realize she's not as innocent as you might have originally expected. 

#2: Saw: I like that this movie is a bit more scaled back. Because this was the kick-off to a franchise, you kind of have to introduce the world. Therefore, the identity of the Jigsaw killer is a bit more of a mystery. Also, for me, nothing can quite top the twist ending of the original film.

#1: Saw II: But, if I'm being honest, I feel like Saw II is this series firing on all cylinders. Tobin Bell is put front and center for this movie, and he is awesome. I like the way this movie kind of plays with your expectations as well. This is a movie with multiple twists, and all of them actually work for me.  

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