In a return to the more intimate storytelling of the first Saw movie, Saw III keeps its focus narrow, following just a few pivotal characters. This is a welcome change from the assembly-line of deaths in Saw II.

Picking up where Saw II left off, we learn the fates of Det. Matthews (Donnie Wahlberg), Kerry (Dina Meyer), and more importantly, the whereabouts of Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) and his dangerous apprentice Amanda (Shawnee Smith). Jigsaw is indeed deathly ill, and he thinks the only way to cheat death is to play a game.

One of his pawns is Lynn Denlon (Bahar Soomekh), a talented young doctor who is kidnapped by Amanda and forced to perform a delicate operation on Jigsaw in spite of the less-than-sterile conditions of their hidden lair. She has incentive, though — a crude metal collar, armed with explosives, is set to detonate if Jigsaw flatlines.

Meanwhile, another victim, this one chosen for Jigsaw's usual moral reasons, is racing against a clock of his own to undercover the drunken-driver killer of his young son. Jeff (Angus Macfayden) has been grieving over the loss so deeply that he's destroying what's left of his family — will he chose forgiveness, or vengeance?

Inside Jigsaw's windowless labyrinth, Jeff is confronted with the people who contributed to his misery — the witness who didn't come forward, the judge who passed a light sentence, etc. — and is given the choice to let them die in Jigsaw's elaborate deathtraps, or to save them. Needless to say, not many are saved and we get to see a lot of torn flesh, gushing blood, and severed limbs.

While Saw III does do a lot of flashbacks and explains everything pretty scrupulously, it's still not a standalone film… you won't want this to be your first Saw movie; but if you're already a fan of the cutting-edge series, this installment will definitely put you on the edge of your seat.