Director: Kevin Greutert

Writer: Patrick Melton, Marcus Dunstan (Screenplay)

Starring: Tobin Bell, Costass Mandylor, Betsy Russell, Cary Elwes, Sean Patrick Flanery, Chad Donella, Gina Holden

Plot: As a deadly battle rages over Jigsaw’s brutal legacy, a group of Jigsaw survivors gathers to seek the support of self-help guru and fellow survivor Bobby Dagen, a man whose own dark secrets unleash a new wave of terror.

Tagline – The Traps Come Alive

Runtime: 1 Hour 30 Minutes

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

Verdict: The End That Works

Story: Saw VII opens as we learn how Doctor Gordon (Elwes) survived, we see how Hoffman (Mandylor) fixes himself after the betrayal he faced in the last film from Jill (Russell), we also see how Jill spills the beans to the cops about who was John’s (Bell) apprentice.

Meanwhile Bobby Dagen (Flanery) is touring a book about how he survived one of Jigsaw’s game, but this has made him a new target for the games. With Bobby needing to complete his tests with rest of his team that made up his story, while we also see Hoffman trying to get his hands on Jill to end it all but there might be more people at play here.

Thoughts on Saw VII

Characters – John is still dead, but we learn how he wasn’t impressed with one of the so-called survivors gaining his fame from the story of being involved in the game, he does have a much smaller role though. Hoffman is known fully as the man working with John, scared after escaping the bear trap, he is playing the last gang now while keeping one step ahead of the law. Jill is in hiding with the police after Hoffman escaped the trap she placed him in, worried for her life she is willing to spill on everyone involved. Dr Gordon is back and part of a survivors support group, the fans of the series have been waiting for years to see him return. Bobby is a man that has been making money off claiming to have survived one of the jigsaw games but not he is being forced into going through one with his team.

Performances – Tobin Bell does have a much smaller part but is the drawn in the film. Costas Mandylor for me is now the star of these franchise as he is the most interesting character now. Betsy Russell is good without being as believable this time around. Cary Elwes brings the class back as we had been waiting for years for his return. Sean Patrick Flanery is also good in his role as the latest man being tested.

Story – The Hoffman versus Jill storyline is the highlight of the film as now Hoffman is known by the police to be the bad guy he can do anything to anyone who gets in his way. The game does have a man that needs to be tested but the main victim he needs to save shouldn’t be in the game at all. This has been my problem for a while, the wrong people are being left in a place of choice. I will however praise how the film tied up at the end finishing the saga in a full circle.

Horror/Mystery – The gore is at the highest level in this film, the 3D effects even add more to the gore being used, but some of it is just pointless. The mystery once again is the highlight of the film as we are kept guessing to where the characters will go next and why Dr Gordon has returned.

Settings – The settings are a strange one here, the big game is normal location but the opening sequence is in broad daylight with the crowd running to see, not sure if this is designed to mock the fans that enjoy the torture porn general or not.

Special Effects – Can’t fault certain effects here but some are made just for the point of having 3D, when we didn’t need it.

Scene of the Movie – Game Over.

That Moment That Annoyed Me – The game is gore for the sake of gore.

Final Thoughts – While the game is poor, the conclusion of the story of who works for Jigsaw does work for this franchise that needed to end here.

Overall: Nice finish to the franchise.

Rating

Director: Antonio Margheriti

Writer: Antonio Margheriti, Dardano Sacchetti (Screenplay) Dardano Sacchetti (Story)

Starring: John Saxon, Elizabeth Turner, Giovanni Lombardo Radice, Cinzia De Carolis, Tony King, Wallace Wilkinson

Plot: Giovanni Lambardo Radice and John Saxon are Vietnam vets that bring back contagious virus that turn people into cannibals when bitten.

Tagline – When you think you’ve seen it all…think again.

Runtime: 1 Hour 36 Minutes

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

Verdict: Splatter Fest

Story: Cannibal Apocalypse starts as two men return from Vietnam Norman Hopper (Saxon) who returned to his family with the nightmares still haunting him and Charlie (Radice) who has been recovering from a virus he caught while over there.

While both have become infected by the virus which causes them to want human flesh, but keeping their human form, Charlie finds himself causing a siege in public, while Norman has the nightmares reminding him what happened and tries to talk Charlie down. As the virus the two have starts to spread the mayhem unfolds for the latest infected.

Thoughts on Cannibal Apocalypse

Characters – Norman is one of the soldier that returned from Vietnam, he was bitten by fellow soldier, but has gone back to his normal life apart from the seductive girl next door. Norman is one of the few people that has battled the virus without giving into it. Charlie was infected for longer and returns like an abandoned veteran, he is drawn to the cannibalism, as he starts to spread the virus. Mary is the neighbour of Norman that gets the school girl crush on him which leaves her facing the trouble of what he could become.

Performances – John Saxon is the big drawn in this movie, he is a popular horror actor and you can see why, best in an authority role and the captain of a unit works for the performance he must give here. Giovanni is good as the unhinged man trying to get used to the new state he finds himself in. both Turner and Carolis are good but this films never wrote the women to be strong.

Story – The story does offer a different spin on the zombie movie, we have the spread of a virus which turns people into flesh eaters, but they do keep their brains about them which is the unique take on the film. the film does also play into the idea that we never know what could have come back from a warzone in virus form. For the style of film the story works without being anywhere near testing for the audience.

Horror/Sci-Fi – Most of the horror comes from the gore, which is as gruesome for the time as you could imagine. The sci-fi elements come from the idea a virus could spread the way it does.

Settings – The setting show us how the virus spreads from the warzone to the big cities and how hard it would be to contain.

Special Effects – The effects are practical, they work for the gore shows the team could work with the budget.

Scene of the Movie – Who needs eyes

That Moment That Annoyed Me – The best gore moments are edited too much.

Final Thoughts – If you were a fan of the 80’s gore based movies, this one will be one for you, but if you want a deeper story you will not be enjoying this one.

Overall: 80’s Horror fans enjoy.

Rating