Saw V (2008)

Director:

David Hackl

Writers:

Patrick Melton (screenplay) &
Marcus Dunstan (screenplay)

Release Date:

24 October 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

You won't believe how it ends.

Plot:

Following Jigsaw's grisly demise, Mark Hoffman, the final apprentice to the serial killer is deigned a hero. Meanwhile, Agent Strahm is tested and follows all the leads he can get until it boils down to a gruesome and bone-crushing finale. |

Plot Keywords:

Serial Killer | Jigsaw | Decapitated Body | Flashback | Death Of Sister

Cast

Tobin Bell	...	Jigsaw / John Kramer
Costas Mandylor	...	Mark Hoffman
Scott Patterson	...	Agent Peter Strahm
Betsy Russell	...	Jill
Julie Benz	...	Brit
Meagan Good	...	Luba
Mark Rolston	...	Dan Erickson
Carlo Rota	...	Charles
Greg Bryk	...	Mallick
Laura Gordon	...	Ashley
Joris Jarsky	...	Seth
Mike Butters	...	Paul
Al Sapienza	...	Chief of Police
Mike Realba	...	Detective Fisk
Lyriq Bent	...	Rigg
Sheila Shah	...	Special Agent Cowan
Samantha Lemole	...	Pamela Jenkins
Jeff Pustil	...	Bernie
Athena Karkanis	...	Agent Perez
Justin Louis	...	Art
Donnie Wahlberg	...	Eric Mathews
Danny Glover	...	David Tapp
Dana Sorman	...	Law Office Receptionist
Shawnee Smith	...	Amanda Young
Bahar Soomekh	...	Lynn Denlon
Niamh Wilson	...	Corbett
Angus Macfadyen	...	Jeff Reinhart
Lisa Berry	...	EMT
Bill Vibert	...	Officer
Tony Nappo	...	Gus
Brandon McGibbon	...	Hank
Tim Burd	...	Obi
Natalie Brown	...	Heather Miller (scenes deleted)
Quancetia Hamilton	...	Person w / Dog
Lorraine Foreman	...	Old Woman
Sarah Power	...	Angelina
Cory Lee	...	Jasmine (scenes deleted)
David Gale	...	Additional Voice Talent (voice)
Catherine Rix	...	Additional Voice Talent (voice)
Michael Miranda	...	Additional Voice Talent (voice)
Stephen Sparks	...	Additional Voice Talent (voice)
Jennifer Donison	...	Additional Voice Talent (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Wayne Curnew	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Alex Revan	...	Grayson Blood (uncredited)

Directed by
David Hackl

Writing credits
Patrick Melton		(screenplay) &
Marcus Dunstan		(screenplay)

Produced by
Troy Begnaud	....	associate producer
Peter Block	....	executive producer
Mark Burg	....	producer
Jason Constantine	....	executive producer
Daniel J. Heffner	....	executive producer
Oren Koules	....	producer
Stacey Testro	....	executive producer
James Wan	....	executive producer
Leigh Whannell	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Charlie Clouser

Cinematography by
David A. Armstrong

Film Editing by
Kevin Greutert

Casting by
Stephanie Gorin

Production Design by
Anthony A. Ianni		(as Tony Ianni)

Art Direction by
Elis Lam		(as Elis Y. Lam)

Set Decoration by
Liesl Deslauriers

Costume Design by
Alex Kavanagh

Makeup Department
Iantha Goldberg	....	assistant makeup artist
Stephanie Ingram	....	key hair stylist
Colin Penman	....	makeup department head
Sean Sansom	....	special makeup effects lab technician
Cathy Shibley	....	assistant hair stylist

Production Management
Matt Cahill	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sarah Buell	....	second assistant director
Greg Edmunds	....	third assistant director
Sam Lennox	....	assistant director
Steve Webb	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Sam Agro	....	storyboard artist
Ronald Bunt	....	carpenter
Ed Butkus	....	painter
Douglas Catty	....	carpenter
John J. Fitzpatrick	....	head laborer
Ian Kuter	....	carpenter
Alan Letts	....	construction coordinator
Francis Livingston	....	carpenter
Jason Lunn	....	leadman
James R. Murray	....	property master (as Jim Murray)
Melissa Olson	....	on set dresser: second unit
Frank Perna	....	painter
Sorin Popescu	....	assistant art director
Sean Scoffield	....	graphic designer
Blair Slopek	....	carpenter
Adam Smith	....	specialty prop fabricator
Jay Sonderer	....	painter
Cherie Spencer	....	set dresser
Rob Valeriote	....	head carpenter
Ian C. Harris	....	daily construction laborer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Steve Baine	....	foley artist
Pat Cassin	....	boom operator
Bill Devine	....	adr mixer
Keith Elliott	....	sound re-recording mixer
Mark Gingras	....	supervising sound editor
Jamie Gould	....	sound re-recording assistant
Katie Halliday	....	second assistant sound editor
Jimmy Lifton	....	adr facility
Colin McLellan	....	adr recordist
Geoff Raffan	....	dialogue editor
John Douglas Smith	....	supervising sound editor
Aran Tanchum	....	adr mixer
Andrew Tay	....	sound re-recording mixer
Mark Zsifkovits	....	sound re-recording mixer
Steve Neal	....	adr stage assistant (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Jim Peacock	....	special effects shop key
Jeff Skochko	....	special effects supervisor
Steve Skochko	....	special effects technician
Brodie Spaull	....	special effects technician
Jason Detheridge	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
David Alexander	....	CGI artist: Switch VFX
Kemal Ally	....	boujou tracking: Switch VFX
Don Asido	....	data technician: Switch VFX
Jon Campfens	....	visual effects supervisor
Peter Denomme	....	visual effects producer: Switch VFX
Amir Eftekhari	....	digital compositor: Switch VFX
Gudrun Heinze	....	digital compositor: Switch VFX
Jason Kozsurek	....	digital compositor
Jef Lonn	....	digital compositor: Switch VFX
Seth Martiniuk	....	digital compositor: Switch VFX
Beau Parsons	....	digital compositor
Beau Parsons	....	visual effects coordinator: Switch VFX

Stunts
Shelley Cook	....	stunt coordinator
Susan Horton	....	stunt double
Blair Johannes	....	stunt double

Camera and Electrical Department
Steve Ferrier	....	electrician
Brian Gedge	....	camera operator
Kevin Michael LeBlanc	....	first assistant camera
Robert McRae	....	gaffer
Monty Montgomerie	....	key grip
Matthew Napier Andrews	....	camera trainee
Mike Ohorodnyk	....	grip
Derek Parkes	....	best boy grip
Jeremy Settles	....	camera operator
Steve Van Denzen	....	grip
Steve Wilkie	....	still photographer

Casting Department
Misha Rasaiah	....	casting assistant
Jane Rogers	....	extras casting
Karen Williams	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ciara Brennan	....	key costume breakdown artist
Roslyn Hanchard	....	costume buyer
Leslie Kavanagh	....	costume set supervisor
Stephanie Lees	....	assistant costume designer
Susan Nycz	....	assistant costume set supervisor

Editorial Department
Andrew Coutts	....	associate editor
Rui Martins	....	rushes telecine operator
Dave Muscat	....	assistant digital intermediate editor
Chris Wallace	....	digital intermediate colorist
Motassem Younes	....	digital intermediate editor

Music Department
Rob Bertola	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Ben Cekuta	....	driver
Michael Gabourie	....	driver
Roland 'Buddy' McGrath	....	transportation captain
Susan McGrath	....	driver

Other crew
Claire Adamson	....	stand-in
Beverley Bremner	....	key craft service
Cristin L. Cornett	....	production coordinator
Ashleigh Dac	....	production assistant
Cynthia Hiley	....	assistant to director
Kaleigh Kavanagh	....	assistant to executive producer
Tom Mayclim	....	scan operator
Travis McConnell	....	set production assistant
Amina Nathoo	....	key craft service
Barbara Pecs	....	production accountant
Jeremy Pinard	....	stage manager
Alicia Pleasence	....	assistant production coordinator
Nate Richmond	....	production assistant
Erick Salomon	....	assistant: producers
Nadia Sojak	....	payroll accountant
Carla Spizziri	....	first assistant accountant
Charles Taylor	....	head armorer
Elizabeth Tremblay	....	script supervisor
Dave Wood	....	production assistant
Kris Wood	....	playback coordinator

Production Companies

• Twisted Pictures (presents)

Distributors

• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2008-2009) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Asmik Ace Entertainment (2008) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Benelux Film Distributors (2009) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Cascade Film (2008) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Eastern European Acquisition Pool (EEAP) (2008) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Hoyts Distribution (2008) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Lionsgate (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Maple Pictures (2009) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Shaw Organisation (2008) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Viva International Pictures (2009) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• Deltamac Entertainment (2008) (Hong Kong) (all media)
• Discovery Film & Video Distribution (2008) (Croatia) (all media)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD) (2-disc unrated director's cut)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (unrated director's cut)
• Eagle Films (2008) (non-USA) (all media) (Middle East)
• Gativideo (2009) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Kino Swiat (2008) (Poland) (all media)
• Lionsgate (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (2-disc unrated director's cut)
• Lionsgate (2009) (USA) (DVD) (unrated director's cut)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (2008) (France) (all media)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2008) (Finland) (all media)

Special Effects

• Switch VFX (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Deluxe Post-Production  post-production facilities
• Got Films  camera equipment provided by (world premier)
• Kallista Marketing & PR  international publicity
• Movie Armaments Group  weapons supplied by

Also Known As:

Décadence V (Canada: French title) (dubbed version)

MPAA:

Rated R for sequences of grisly bloody violence and torture, language and brief nudity.

Runtime:

92 min | 95 min (unrated director's cut)

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS | DTS (Dolby 5.1)

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #44624) | UK:18 | Australia:MA | Singapore:R21 | Ireland:16 | Canada:18A | New Zealand:R18 | Hong Kong:III | France:-16 | Norway:18 | Argentina:16 | Brazil:18 | Belgium:KNT | Portugal:M/18 | Switzerland:18 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:18 (canton of Vaud) | Sweden:15 | South Korea:18 | Japan:R-15 | Australia:R (director's cut) | Australia:R (DVD) | Germany:18 (uncut) (theatrical release) | Netherlands:16 | South Africa:16LV | Ireland:18 (DVD rating) | Philippines:R-18 (MTRCB) | Finland:K-18 | Germany:18 (cut) (DVD release) | Germany:Not Rated (SPIO/JK) (unrated version) (uncut) | Germany:Not Rated (SPIO/JK) (uncut) (DVD release) | Austria:16 | Iceland:18

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Twisted Pictures

Trivia:

When Agent Erickson talks to Jill Tuck, the picture on his desk is a real photo of actor Mark Rolston and his wife.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: In the scene when Jill (Betsy Russell) is talking to the FBI Agent in the Office, a huge boom shadow can be clearly seen above their heads

Quotes:

Agent Strahm: [last lines - to Hoffman] *I KNOW WHO YOU ARE! I KNOW!*

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Fatal Five (2009) (V)

A review of mixed feelings...

The Saw series has always been a standard of sorts. After what I felt was an iconic debut, the series has always remained consistently interesting, with one of the most compelling and ever expanding plots in film history. People may complain that the series is in decline, but what people need to realize is that each part is astronomically better than the corresponding parts of other horror series (for example, Saw IV is better than Halloween IV, or the 4th Nightmare on Elm Street film). The same holds true for Saw V, though the film definitely shows that the series is in decline and needs to end soon before it descends into pure absurdity.

A universal truth of the Saw series is that every entry, no matter who does it, will always be well written and contain a plot twist or two at the end. Again, Saw V continues the tradition of revealing the 'huge' (if you could call it that) twist whilst "Hello Zepp" by Charlie Clouser plays in the background. The film answers as many questions as it raises, and serves as more of an origin movie, like Saw IV did. Only this time, the origin doesn't focus on John Kramer/Jigsaw, and therein lies the problem.

Why does Saw V fail to impress me? Simple. Not enough Jigsaw. Tobin Bell, who has managed to create an iconic villain over the last 5 years, delivers another sublime performance that is not to missed in the world of horror as perhaps the greatest villain of the decade. It really amazed me how Saw IV had the best acting of the series, but just one movie later, pretty much every performer falls flat on their face. This is especially sad considering most of the cast are returning characters, except your typical "why is this happening to me! AHHH!" type characters (which got unbearably annoying, considering they killed off the two least annoying ones first). Meagan Good and Costas Mandylor are acceptable in their roles, however.

Back to the lack of Jigsaw. Tobin Bell really doesn't physically appear that much in the movie, and that is far and away its biggest flaw. The film is similar to Saw II more than the others. To get my drift a little better, imagine the second film, except reduce Jigsaw's screen time by about half. Yeah. This is the only weakness of the screenplay for me, which appears to have matured from the over the top torture porn in Saw III and the ridiculous attempt to run Saw IV concurrently with its predecessor. The film's biggest flaw is in the acting and lack of Jigsaw. Besides this, I really felt that it fit the mold as a worthy entry to the series.

After watching this, however, I no longer feel that Saw is the standard of excellence in horror as it once was. That said, the film has the advantage of being short and never dragging. It's well paced and will more than deliver the thrills. Another thing I feel obligated to mention is that this is the least scariest film in the series, which is okay, because unlike every other cheap horror film, Saw V doesn't try to be scary. It's more of a thriller with some gruesome images (like the first film) than a full blown horror movie (like parts II & III).

In the end, what it comes down to as far as your ability to enjoy the movie, you have to ask yourself this question: "why do I watch the Saw series?". If you watch it for the story and plot twists, you should be at least satisfied, if not entertained. If you watch the series for pure shock and awe and disgust, you'll be disappointed, because Saw V does not try to be a horror film outside of a few scenes. It's a decent entry to the series that is tolerable, despite a lack of the iconic Jigsaw, horrid acting, and a somewhat predictable plot twist (easily the most predictable of the series).