There’s a lot of potential in here that the movie actively seems to squander. Instead of using the readymade protagonist- a female detective who’s been there from the start of your movie- they kill her off for shock value. Instead of focusing on the surprising chemistry of Lynn and Amanda- two people who mix like water and vinegar and are forced together in a hellscape by Jigsaw’s game to fuel some sort of twisted codependency- they focus more on. Jeff. A lethargic in both action and acting asshole who’s manpain dooms several people. Maybe it’s directing, but his actor cannot save this melodrama or make it affecting, instead making him seem petulant and almost reveling in taking his time.

It takes the fun out of the traps, with the least deserving trio of victims under the series’ logic yet, but who get no say in their own fate. And the ending offers no fun nor catharsis as the tragedy it’s going for since the film was reworked from a conclusion into sequel bait. The trio of John, Amanda, and Lynn are strong here. There’s a better movie somewhere in here. But it lacks the DIY scrappy charm of the first film, and the self aware slasher fun of the second. Instead of the fitting ending of a trilogy, Saw 3 is the true beginning of a game that will never end even when the rules say it should have a long time ago.

Just finished watching for at least the third time (?); watching it this time - especially with the "X-Ray" trivia to accompany it (courtesy of Amazon Prime Video) was especially enjoyable...moreso than the other times. The traps in _Saw III_ are especially gruesome, some of my favorites and I thought it interesting to read that the "Pig Trap" was Tobin Bell's favorite, as well. No spoilers here but if you start to wonder (as I did) throughout the film about certain aspects of the story as they unfold, rest assured you'll get your answers at the conclusion. What I suspected from early in the story turned out to be true so at least it wound up making sense. I still think the original _Saw_ was the best, especially from a psychological thriller standpoint but this was a great follow-up film…better, IMO, than the original sequel _Saw II_ . I continue my journey through the entire franchise as we build up to Halloween 2023 (not that I'm a big observer of Halloween; it's just that this year I decided to indulge my horror movie appetite as a lead-in). Definitely recommend this one, although it is **NOT** for the faint of heart nor those with a squeamish stomach. [spoiler] Although it's not mentioned in the Amazon "trivia" section, I thought it was worth mentioning that, in spite of the extreme cold/freezing temperatures in the "Freezer Trap", the victim's nipples were not erect at any time (that you could see, anyway). Kind of a tell-tale sign that she was NOT "cold"... but still a totally brutal scene![/spoiler]

>*"Death is a surprise party. Unless, of course, you're already dead on the inside."*

Just as good as *Saw II*. This one has the most interesting characters in comparison to the previous two. Amanda was the best part, I like what they did with her and great interactions with Jigsaw. Jeff going through these trials was pure horror on an emotional level, so depressing. Lynn was unlikable in the beginning but she eventually redeemed herself.

Once again the kills and the gore were top notch. Forget what I said about the needles in *Saw II* being the most terrifying scene in the franchise, the drill scene and The Rack are even worse! Holy shit! I looked away a few times.

The third act and twists are good on paper but the execution could have been better, there's just too much back and forth, slow motion, over-explaining and they keep recaping stuff that happened minutes ago. It gets frustrating. It ends on a cliffhanger, seriously?

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**Traps Ranked** (worst way to die order):

[spoiler]1. *The Rack* - that's the worst in the franchise yet! Atrocious pain
2. *The Drill Operation* - not really a trap but it's the hardest sequence to watch. At least there was painkillers
3. *Freezer Room* - I hate cold, that looked awful
4. *Classroom Trap* - he had a ring in his jaw! I wouldn't be able to pull that one out
5. *Angel Trap* - hurts like hell but you die almost instantly
6. *Pig Vat* - yuck! Can't imagine drowning in that stuff
7. *Shotgun Collar* - you die instantly[/spoiler]

Making the games unwinable takes a lot of the fun and unpredictability out of it all.

The detective woman could have played an interesting dynamic in her investigation of Jigsaw, continuing from the previous film. Being one of the people closest to understanding and possibly catching him. But no they just kill her off in the beginning. There's another detective who is in the beginning and then never seen again.

Most of the time (part of the inconsistency of Saw) Jigsaw usually targets people who have done bad things. The detective woman didn't.

Why is Amanda making some of the games unfair. When the fair games are what actually changed her. And the fair games are what John wants. It's all because of her obsession with John and him not wanting another apprentices? Meh.

Where was the lock for Jigsaw's "Favorite" trap?

Jigsaw's wife is not elaborated on.

I don't like how there's no discussion or self-reflection by the victims about what Jigsaw is going. There's only Jigsaw's monologues and Amanda's erratic and rarely reflective behavior, which are nice but i want much more of that and other things and just a generally deeper experience. Though i partially like that part of all this was a test for Amanda. I want discussions from different kinds of people and media about the meaning of what Jigsaw is doing, and discussions by the victims. We don't get any of that.

It doesn't make enough sense the guy at the end would kill Jigsaw and not help his wife or get an ambulance. Meh. Ending is meh. I don't care about the character at the end playing another game in the next movie. And with Jigsaw knowing he could die in this movie, his plan for the next movie for this character seems too small scale, and he would have already done his plan for him in this movie.