Slasher Politics
Talk about product placement. It’s Horror-Show Obamism as “Saw VI” embeds a … health-care reform plug? Boston Herald:
Mr. Jigsaw goes to Washington in “Saw VI.”
The demented serial killer stumps for health-care reform in this odd political turn by the torture franchise.
John Kramer (Tobin Bell), the Jigsaw killer, slipped this mortal coil in “Saw III,” yet he continues to gobble up screen time.
In flashbacks, Kramer reveals that a battle with Umbrella Insurance over his cancer treatment is what created his blood lust.
There is something darkly comical about placing this hot-button issue at the center of a slasher film. And, in a twisted way, it works.
Jigsaw also has some anger toward greedy loan officers. The film starts with one of the bloodiest, most debauched scenarios yet. Two loan officers are asked to carve their own flesh to free themselves from a contraption designed to crush their skulls.
It is simply too horrific to watch.
Per Jigsaw’s instructions, turncoat Detective Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) shepherds the insurance company nitwits to their demise.
No reason why the ”Saw” franchise shouldn’t jump on the pop-culture Obama cheerleading train like everyone else in La-la with a little B-flick health-care advocacy. And with the loan officer thing, there’s something for everyone! One thing slasher fans may want to bear in mind, though. When your gaping, bloody saw wounds need to be stitched and stapled up, do you really want to wait in line for the lowest bidder?
Boston Herald’s Tenley Woodman gives Saw VI a “D.” No, not for the feel-good politics embedded in the middle of a feel-bad extravaganza.
… it is the depraved acts and gore that make these films objectionable.
Hate to quibble, but I think that’s what makes them marketable.
Posted by Jules Crittenden at 11:50 am on Saturday, October 24, 2009
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