5 times more flashbacks

More slices, dices, decapitations and of course, blood. The fifth and now annual installment of the “Saw” franchise returns with a vengeance, continuing its trademark brutal, torturous puzzles.

Even though the infamous Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) has been long dead, he still plays a significant role here. That’s because the film relies heavily on flashbacks.

So heavily, in fact, that the only real reason for the flashbacks seems to be so Bell can be in them. Jigsaw’s only existence in this film is through the aforementioned flashbacks and a video sent to his ex-wife Jill (Betsy Russell).

The film tries to dig deeper into the science of the ghastly trap-based murders by focusing on expository scenes mostly from the previous two “Saw” movies that allow Jigsaw once again to be the main character.

This time, though, he is partnered with his newest accomplice, who is revealed to have actually been with him longer than we thought. Therein lies somewhat of a twist, but it’s someone from the last film, and if you’ve paid attention, you know who it is.

Aside from the reminiscing flashbacks, the “present day” parts of the film involve five people trapped in a dank room with a device clamped on their necks.

Even though they don’t know each other, they are connected to each other through an arson. Jigsaw tells them via recording they must work together in order to escape the four torture puzzles of hell he has created.

Despite his warning, they panic and fail to work together, causing much of the gore. In typical “Saw” fashion, those remaining in the end realize they needed all or most of the five in order to get through the last level of the trap.

“Saw V” at times seems more like an extended episode in a TV series than a film. If you’re not familiar with the previous installments, chances are you will be end up confused.

Even if you are familiar with the previous four films, the incessant flashbacks will either bore you or make you feel like you are trapped in a dark spinning room resembling one of the torture chambers in the series. Even so, it’s still a fun torture ride.