Saw V

Jigsaw is dead, but his work continues. Saw V picks up right after the events of Saw IV, with Detective Mark Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) basking in the glow of a hero's commendation for supposedly bringing down the killer. FBI Agent Peter Strahm (Scott Patterson) isn't buying it. His investigation into Hoffman's past becomes the spine of the film, while a separate group of strangers wakes up in a warehouse and must survive a new set of traps to earn their freedom. Director David Hackl, who worked as a production designer on earlier entries, keeps the grimy, industrial aesthetic intact, and the screenplay by Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan ties the dual storylines together with the series' usual flashback-heavy structure. Tobin Bell returns as John Kramer in extended flashbacks, and Betsy Russell appears as Jill Tuck, adding another layer to the franchise's tangled backstory. The cast also includes Julie Benz, Meagan Good, and Carlo Rota as the latest subjects of Jigsaw's posthumous games. Produced by Twisted Pictures and Mandate Pictures for a reported $10.8 million, the film pulled in $118.2 million worldwide, proving the series still had plenty of life left in it. Critics were mixed, and the 6.2/10 user rating on IMDb reflects a franchise that knows exactly what its audience wants: clever kills, convoluted timelines, and a final twist.[edit]