My enjoyment of the Saw franchise has been on a slow decline since the 2nd film. That's not to say I haven't enjoyed each addition since then, just that none of the sequels have matched the experience of the first in my mind. With Saw VI comes the continuation of this seemingly endless story told through copious amounts of blood and entrails. Though the series may have lost some of its spark, the story itself (which seems to be secondary at this point) is still holding strong.

Jigsaw (Tobin Bell, Saw 1-5) is still dead, but the "games" continue. Agent Hoffman (Costas Mandylor, Beowulf) is the remaining member of Jigsaw's team and is trying to finish his last wishes as soon as possible. After reviewing the contents of the mysterious box that Jigsaw's wife received in his will, the two set out to finish what was started years ago.

Unfortunately for an insurance company VP, played by Peter Outerbridge (Lucky Number Slevin), those final plans involve him. With a history of denying the claims of his clients, this man was destined to be a part of a Jigsaw game. He has one hour to pass 4 tests or else remote explosives on his arms and legs will detonate. These tests all involve the same type of life or death choices he makes everyday with his clients, but with a personal touch. At the same time, a woman and her son wake up in a cage with no way of escape. All they know is that their predicament is somehow related to a larger game being played.

As I mentioned earlier, the story behind the franchise is still strong in Saw VI. This entry reveals more about Jigsaw's past as well as the imminent future of the remaining players. Questions raised in past films are slowly being answered and replaced by a few more. The story behind those participating in the games this time around is quite interesting as well. For a film that was supposedly written years ago, this one is quite topical revolving around health care (though I imagine some rewrites took place). The usual twists are present, though many of them are predictable if you have stuck with the films over the years. Saw VI should keep die hard fans hooked for another year.

On the other hand, this film does not really keep its premise fresh. The franchise is well known for its signature man-made death traps, but Saw VI fails to impress with its "games." Simplicity seems to take precedent over intricacy this time, which is very disappointing. The production team kicked up the gore a notch or two in some scenes but it's not an equivalent substitute. There is enough of a dedicated following to keep the series going to the end, but it wouldn't hurt to go back to basics or bring the genuine surprise back to the series.

The Saw franchise has reached the plateau where people either love it or want it to go away forever. I'm still getting some enjoyment out of these films, but who knows for how long. If you are over the Saw hype then nothing I say will change you mind, and if you have never seen a Saw film this is a terrible place to start. If you are a fan of the series, however, Saw VI keeps everything going and should leave you satisfied for another year.