I like horror films, however particularly the Noticed collection (I truly assume it is one of many best horror franchises of all time). That stated, regardless that there are extra Noticed films than famed franchises like Friday the 13 and Nightmare on Elm Road, I nonetheless assume the franchise peaked total at Noticed II.
Sure, there have been some highs and a few lows within the collection, which is pure for a collection with 10 (and sadly, not 11) Noticed films. (I am taking a look at you, Jigsaw). However total, I feel the franchise has been largely profitable in making us really feel icky inside, whereas not all the time getting different issues proper.
As such, I need to lay out some the reason why 2005’s Noticed II is the perfect film within the franchise. So simply ignore that huge needle pit over there and reply me this…are you able to play a sport?
This Film Arguably Has The Finest Twist In The Total Collection
Will any twist ending to a Noticed film ever high the unique’s? Most likely not, as a result of many followers agree that the primary film continues to be the perfect. Actually, after we ranked the Noticed films, we put the primary movie at #1, and I feel lots of that’s due to how freaking superb that ending is. I imply, Jigsaw was within the room the whole time? Gnarly.
Nevertheless, very similar to how I feel M Night time Shyamalan’s Unbreakable has a greater twist than The Sixth Sense, I additionally assume that Noticed II takes viewers for a wilder spin than its predecessor. Firstly, Noticed II is extra complicated than the primary film, which was truly extra of a thriller thriller than a horror flick at instances.
Within the sequel, a corrupt cop named Eric Matthews (Donnie Wahlberg) has his son kidnapped by Jigsaw, and Matthews is on the hunt for him. In the meantime, Jigsaw has captured seven criminals, and is protecting them in a home and recording their progress. So, to ensure that Matthews to get his son again, he has to comply with together with the “video games” (i.e torturous actions to accumulate antidotes). Oh, and if the victims don’t get out in two hours, then nerve fuel is launched and all people in the home dies. Good luck!
The twist, nevertheless, is that the recording is not reside, and Matthews’ son is secured in a protected with an oxygen masks, leaving his corrupt father trapped within the unsuitable home to die. Not solely that, however one of many victims was truly working with Jigsaw, so it’s like a double twist. It’s the perfect!
The Torture Units In Noticed II Are Some Of The Most Ugly In The Collection
The Noticed collection is understood for its traps. Everyone is aware of that. Nevertheless, an unlucky factor concerning the franchise is that it all the time felt like every new film was making an attempt to one-up the final one, and it bought to a degree the place it began to really feel ridiculous (Like the general public execution entice in Noticed: The Closing Chapter). However, Noticed II actually feels (to me, anyway), just like the final time the collection was firing on all cylinders when it got here to each entice.
The movie begins the suitable means, as a person is trapped in a spiked demise masks that’s principally going to puncture his complete head if he doesn’t get it off. The catch – and what makes this collection so particular – is that he has the flexibility to take it off. He simply must get the important thing…which is lodged behind his eye.
That’s proper, as with many of the kills on this movie, it’s plot associated, as Jigsaw has a brand new appreciation for all times after his most cancers prognosis, and he needs to (forcibly) get his victims to understand life, too.
This results in some completely heinous torture scenes, just like the glass field, the furnace entice (Which melds my worry of tight areas AND burning alive), and the worst of all of them, the pit of needles *shivers*. Different Noticed films have had grotesque gadgets, however Noticed II positively takes the cake.
This Was Earlier than They Killed Off Jigsaw And The Collection Went Loopy
Now, right here’s the factor about me and sequels. I like after they go ahead, not backward. And, with the primary three Noticed films, we bought that. John Kramer aka Jigsaw, is dying within the first three movies, and finally perishes within the third film. For that cause, I do know some individuals solely like the primary three Noticed movies, since they make for a worthy trilogy earlier than the collection stored leaping forwards and backwards.
Nevertheless, Noticed III is the place the issues begin for me, as a result of regardless that I just like the movie and take into account it the final nice Noticed film, I additionally don’t like how the collection type of needed to work itself across the ending of III by including new killers, whereas nonetheless going into Jigsaw’s previous to flesh out the story.
Which is why I a lot want Noticed II, as its narrative is extra easy. We be taught extra about Jigsaw, and why he does what he does, but in addition get a way that it is a man with morals (Like, Matthews’ son actually is harmless, so he doesn’t “deserve” to die, however is extra there simply to lure his father into the video games). The occasions additionally really feel extra natural and targeted, which I can’t say for most of the later movies.
So, in each means, I feel Noticed II succeeds the place the later sequels falter, which is why I feel it’s the height of the collection.
It Is An Wonderful Comply with-Up To The Unique Film
The compelling factor about Jigsaw is that he’s not like Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees or Micahel Myers. In different phrases, he’s not simply a killer. I imply, he WILL kill individuals, however he all the time needs to offer them an opportunity first. They simply need to need it badly sufficient.
It’s like, do not forget that scene in Combat Membership the place Tyler put a gun to that man’s head, and requested him what he wished to be? Effectively, Tyler will get the person to admit that he needs to be a veterinarian, and Tyler guarantees that he’ll let the person go, however that he’ll discover him and kill him if he isn’t enrolled in veterinarian faculty in six weeks. Effectively, Jigsaw is like that to the acute, and within the first film, he truly let a girl named Amanda Younger reside when she bought out of one in every of his traps.
The factor is, she’s additionally within the second film, and for lots of the movie, you assume she’s screwed (She’s even the one who will get thrown into the above-mentioned needle pit). Nevertheless, Amanda is definitely in on the video games, and she or he’s coaching to be the following Jigsaw as soon as he succumbs to most cancers.
And, I like this continuity! Noticed II is a superb follow-up to the unique, and in my thoughts, the perfect sequel to some other movie within the franchise.
The Pacing Is The Finest Of Any Noticed Movie
Lastly, as a lot as I might hate to confess this, among the Noticed films are boring. And, I feel lots of this is because of world-building, which in principle, feels like a superb factor, however from Noticed IV onward (effectively, excluding Noticed X, which is my fourth favourite Noticed film), I feel there’s been a bit too a lot world-building in many of the Noticed films.
I actually miss the simple storytelling of the primary movie, and I feel Noticed II is the final film within the franchise to have such nice pacing. It by no means slows down, and I miss that concerning the Noticed collection.
Plus, Noticed II is all the time compelling since you are worried concerning the protagonist’s son, as you need to know if an harmless character will survive. It is because of this that Noticed II has the perfect pacing within the collection.
However, what do you assume? I might love to listen to your ideas.