RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
RT's Blu-ray HQ
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / Saw V
Saw V

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Get this Movie
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Visit Official Site External Icon
Bookmark and Share

Saw V (2008)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
15 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:62

Fresh:9

Rotten:53

Average Rating:3/10

Consensus: If its plot were as interesting as its torture devices, or its violence less painful than its performances, perhaps Saw V might not feel like it was running on fumes.

Rated: R [See Full Rating] for sequences of grisly bloody violence and torture, language and brief nudity.

Runtime: 1 hr 32 mins

Genre: Horror/Suspense

Theatrical Release:Oct 24, 2008 Wide

Box Office: $56,729,973

Synopsis: Continuing on with its story despite the death of namesake killer Jigsaw in the third installment, SAW V concerns itself with detailing who will carry on with his bloody work. Director David Hackl,... Continuing on with its story despite the death of namesake killer Jigsaw in the third installment, SAW V concerns itself with detailing who will carry on with his bloody work. Director David Hackl, the production designer on the previous three films, retains their familiar charnel house look. Though there are fewer grisly death sequences, faithful viewers will enjoy the creative plot twists. The film opens with a man strapped to a table above a pendulum. As the sharp blade begins swinging over his stomach, he has only a minute to stop it by inserting his hands into a device that will crush them. When the machine malfunctions, it's clear that it wasn't the work of the meticulous Jigsaw. Meanwhile, FBI Agent Strahm (Scott Patterson) continues the investigation he began in the previous film, only to wake up to find himself wearing a glass helmet filled with water. With a minimum of self-mutilation, he escapes and continues his investigation with the hunch that Detective Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) is somehow involved in the new rash of killings. Before long, a new group of strangers wakes up in Jigsaw's lair to face a series of brutal tests, and Jigsaw's ex-wife, Jill, is given a mysterious box at the execution of his will. An enormously popular and critic-proof series, SAW gives its fans what they want--creatively executed blood and guts. The fifth installment in as many years, SAW V is more subdued in that department, but the sequences it does contain deliver the goods. Several lengthy flashbacks also allow Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) to make a few appearances. While SAW V isn't the place for beginners to start, those who have stuck with the story this far will find it a fitting entry, happy that SAW VI is just around the bend. [More]

Starring: Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Scott Patterson, Betsy Russell

Starring: Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Scott Patterson, Betsy Russell, Mark Rolston, Carlo Rota, Julie Benz, Greg Bryk, Laura Gordon, Meagan Good

Director: David Hackl

Director: David Hackl
Screenwriter: Patrick Melton, Marcus Dunstan
Producer: Mark Berg, Oren Koules
Composer: Charlie Clouser
Studio: Lions Gate Films

[See More Credits]

  • Trailers
  • Pictures
  • Teaser Trailer
    >
1 of 1

See More Movie Trailers & Pictures

Get This Movie

Rent DVD
 
 

Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.

 
 
Buy DVD
 
 
Release:

Jan 20, 2009

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for Saw V

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date)
Bubble View | 1 2 3 4 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 
Reviews
Tomatometer Critic Review Category
splat
1.5/4

Wesley Lovell

A disappointing film that breaks all of the series' own rules.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 31 2009 02:11 PM

Oscar Guy

N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Aug., 19 2009 03:17 AM

Deseret News, Salt Lake City

N/R

Tom Meek

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Apr., 23 2009 03:16 AM

Boston Phoenix

splat

Rob Humanick

An insult to fourth-rate ripoffs of Se7en, and even that may not be harsh enough.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jan., 20 2009 09:59 PM

Projection Booth

splat
1/4

Michael Dequina

Being the fifth annual go-round for this durable splatter franchise, this film has really no power to change any minds.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Dec., 30 2008 03:09 PM

TheMovieReport.com

tomato
2.5/4

David Nusair

...hardcore fans of Jigsaw's exploits will probably find something here worth embracing.

Full Review Source: | comment 2 Comments | Dec., 15 2008 08:43 AM

Reel Film Reviews

tomato
2.5/4

John Beifuss

A cut above its pretentious predecessors; the graphic set-pieces -- including an opening inspired by Poe's 'The Pit and the Pendulum' -- deliver the gory goods.

Full Review Source: | comment 2 Comments | Nov., 21 2008 07:09 AM

Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)

splat
3/10

Tim Brayton

Square in the middle of the series, quality-wise: though the new film has some unabashedly dumb moments, its plot lacks the pathetic contortions that we saw in Saw IV

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 31 2008 11:20 PM

Antagony & Ecstasy

splat
1/5

Kevin Williamson

Saw V or High School Musical 3? Make your choice. All of a sudden, picking between self-mutilation and disembowelment doesn't sound so frightening, does it?

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 31 2008 12:39 PM

Jam! Movies

splat
2/4

John Wirt

Saw V may still have the power to make audiences squirm, but only for the most obvious reasons.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 31 2008 09:46 AM

Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA)

splat
C

Mark Ramsey

Nails? Where else but in a Saw movie can a puzzle-minded sadist cobble together elaborate torture contraptions from the same Home Depot that provides his replacement windows and his garage storage solution?

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 31 2008 05:50 AM

MovieJuice!

splat
0/5

Jeffrey Lyles

The blade is oh so dull on this Saw.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 30 2008 07:20 PM

Gazette (MD)

splat
1/4

Claudia Puig

Saw V is a terrible combination: grisly and tedious. Let's just call it bloody dull.

Full Review Source: | comment 1 Comment | Oct., 30 2008 04:14 PM

USA Today

splat
.5/5

Ken Hanke

The ad campaign for Saw V assures the viewer, 'You won't believe how it ends.' This is true, because you won't believe it could possibly be this lame.

Full Review Source: | comment 2 Comments | Oct., 30 2008 10:29 AM

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

tomato
3/4

Linda Cook

Yes, it's more of the same. But if you've been 'Saw'-ing away for the last four years, why not take in 'Saw V?'

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 29 2008 09:12 PM

Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)

splat
D-

Alex Markerson

The death of nearly every character in the franchise isn't enough to prevent the makers from grinding out another edition of Saw. Could they just finish the job?

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 29 2008 11:31 AM

E! Online

splat
2/5

Matthew Turner

The law of diminishing returns is in full effect here.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 29 2008 03:15 AM

ViewLondon

splat

Mark Palermo

The Saw movies have a convoluted storyline for the same reason Playboy has articles. It gives the consumer an easy excuse.

Full Review Source: | comment 7 Comments | Oct., 28 2008 04:14 PM

Coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia)

splat

Mike Ward

The Saw franchise cut its teeth with macabre MacGyver gimmicks and buckets of bloodshed. Acting was never a consideration. And when you're racking in millions upon millions with next to no budget, why start vying for Oscars now?

Full Review Source: | comment 1 Comment | Oct., 28 2008 11:28 AM

Richmond.com

splat

Maitland McDonagh

Beyond entertaining fans with variations on the life-or-death challenges that seemed so startlingly fresh a mere four years ago, Saw V's primary purpose seems to be setting up a new series of films featuring Hoffman as the evil puppet-master. Wheth

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 27 2008 12:56 PM

Film Journal International

 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date)
Bubble View | 1 2 3 4 >> >|
all

Latest News for Saw V

October 21, 2009: See Saw with Alex, Day 5: Saw V
There was no sense of accomplishment after watching Saw V, that little satisfaction of having finished a movie that follows you for the rest of the day. Right now, it just feels... More...

January 19, 2009: RT on DVD: Max Payne, Saw V, King Kong on Blu-ray
Mark Wahlberg brings maximum pain to DVD this week in the critically-punished Max Payne, although new horror titles Saw V and Repo! The Genetic Opera didn't fare much better on... More...

October 27, 2008: Saw Becomes Most Lucrative Horror Franchise Opens in new window
Thanks to its $30 million weekend gross, "Saw V" has officially made "Saw" the most lucrative horror franchise in movie history. More...

October 23, 2008: Box Office Guru Preview: Kids to Flood Multiplexes for Senior Year
Rarely does Hollywood release two films on the same day that are as opposite in every way as this Friday's pair of new openers. Disney promotes a hit TV franchise to the big... More...

See All

More DVDs

Close
Top Rentals
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
44% 44% Night at the Museum: B…
32% 32% Terminator Salvation
36% 36% Angels & Demons
95% 95% Star Trek
25% 25% Four Christmases

More Rentals…

New On DVD This Week
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
88% 88% Inglourious Basterds
78% 78% The Hangover
49% 49% Taking Woodstock
26% 26% The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard
47% 47% The Girl From Monaco

More New Releases…

See All

RT On Current TV

The Rotten Tomatoes Show on Current TV

DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...

Learn how you can be part of the show

More...

What’s Hot On RT

Sam Worthington

Sam Worthington

A video interview with the Avatar star!

Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland

Check out the brand new trailer now!

Golden Globes

Golden Globes

Up in the Air leads with 6 noms!

Nominee Gallery

Nominee Gallery

See who got nominated for Golden Globes!

Other News

Close
  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • How Avatar Happened: The Path to Innovation Source: CinemaBlend.com
4
  • Rob Marshall Says Pirates 4 Is Still a Maybe Source: ComingSoon.net
18
  • ET Teases Iron Man 2 Teaser Source: Collider.com
14
  • Tobey Maguire Refutes Hobbit Rumors Source: Hollywood Reporter
7
  • Prince of Persia Featurette Posted Source: Yahoo! Movies
2
  • Trailer Bulletin: Robin Hood Source: ComingSoon.net
55
  • Mel Gibson Plans a Mexican Vacation Source: Variety
8
  • New Iron Man 2 Clue Posted Source: Screen Rant
26
  • Gibson and DiCaprio are Going Norse Source: HitFix
75
  • Lord of the Rings Coming to Blu-ray April 6 Source: Hollywood Reporter
8
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Tomatometer Watch: Will Avatar Live Up To The Hype?
236
  • Awards Tour 2009: Golden Globe Noms Here!
119
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Girlpower Rules Again with Princess at #1
70
  • Awards Tour 2009: Inglourious Basterds Lead Critics Choice Noms
43
  • Awards Tour 2009: Avatar Best Picture at NYFCO!
38
  • The Gimmicks That Changed Cinema: Part 1
37
  • Weekly Ketchup: James Cameron Plans a Fantastic Voyage
33
  • The Effects of Where the Wild Things Are
30
  • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
21
  • Critics Consensus: Princess, Invictus Are Certified Fresh
21
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
21
  • Director Ruben Fleischer Talks Zombieland
2
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
17
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
12
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
23
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
8
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
15
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
23
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
9
  • Wolverine Creator Len Wein Talks About the Film
28
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • Saw V at Rotten Tomatoes
  • Saw V at IGN

Fresh Links

Featured
Best Sci-Fi This Decade
Best Sci-Fi This Decade External Link

Techland lists the best Sci-Fi films of this decade.

40 Worst Films of the 2000s
40 Worst Films of the 2000s External Link

Moviefone takes a look back at the biggest stinkers of the past 10 years.

10 Questions For Zac Efron
10 Questions For Zac Efron External Link

The Me and Orson Welles star answers reader questions on TIME.com.

Best Decade Ever!
Best Decade Ever! External Link

Hollywood.com's C. Robert Cargill offers his thoughts on what the best decade for film was.

Pee-Wee's Big Adventure
Pee-Wee's Big Adventure External Link

In the AV Club's "Scenic Routes," Mike D'Angelo reminisces about the Tim Burton film.

Promos
Follow RT on Twitter
Follow RT on Twitter External Link

Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Games| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.