Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this fourth bloody Saw movie isn't remotely meant for kids (even though horror-loving teens will probably be interested), and it's hardly worth the time of the series' fans, either. The gory, torture-centric formula is familiar: Villain Jigsaw arranges elaborate "games" by which victims either survive by killing someone else or abusing themselves to near-death, or they die. Frequent over-the-top violence includes stabbing, shooting, hanging, fighting, slicing, and more. A pregnant woman suffers a bloody miscarriage. There's some nonsexual male nudity, a shot or two of cleavage, and reference to prostitution. Also expect the usual bad language, including lots of uses of "f--k."
Sexual
Content
John's body appears on a morgue table, naked (nonsexual), with at least two views of his penis (both at some distance). Rigg appears in his boxers (shirtless) as he searches his apartment for an intruder. A woman being tortured shows cleavage. In a flashback, John is solicited by a prostitute; he tells her to go home.
Violence
The film is packed with gory violence, beginning with Jigsaw/John's autopsy (sawing through skull, slicing through chest, and breaking rib cage open, all with yucky sound effects, in close-up with much blood). Violent acts throughout the film feature hatchets, chains, hanging contraptions, grinding gears, knives, guns, fists, and all manner of piercing traps and cutting gizmos. A man appears with eyes sewn shut, another with mouth sewn shut (bloody effort to open it). Rat eats a corpse. Photos of bloody victims and torturer. Husband and wife are pinned together with rods that she pulls out (bloody and excruciating). An exploding puppet sends shards into a woman's face. A pregnant woman is slammed by a door and miscarries (bloody). Climax involves violence and tension; multiple characters are murdered.
Language
Very frequent use of "f--k," plus occasional uses of "s--t," "c--ksucker," "hell," "a--hole," "damn," and "son of a bitch."
Social
Behavior
Serial killers get victims to kill other victims in pursuit of "cherishing life," but really, it's all cruel, self-absorbed games.
Consumerism
Not applicable.
Drugs / Tobacco /
Alcohol
In a flashback, Jill works in an addicts' clinic -- the clients show the effects of substance abuse, though not actual use; one smokes a cigarette.