Rating summary

Movie		1.5
Video		3.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		2.0

Saw III Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman December 24, 2022

Note: This version of this film is available on Blu-ray as part of Via Vision Entertainment's Saw: The Ultimate Collection 4K.

Nothing screams the holiday season like the Saw franchise, am I right? (At least if the emphasis is on screaming.) Via Vision Entertainment is offering fans of the series some rather luxe packaging, but a release that is a bit odd in that it combines 4K UHD and 1080 offerings of the Saw films. The release more or less duplicates the releases that fans on this side of several ponds have seen, and so relevant portions of reviews I've personally written may be reprinted here, and some reviews of the Via Vision releases may contain further links to Region A reviews I didn't have a hand in.

Saw III was released on Blu-ray by Lionsgate itself kind of astoundingly almost fifteen years ago, and long enough ago that both its video and audio codecs are pretty seriously outdated by this point. Those interested in a plot recap are encouraged to read Martin Liebman's Saw III Blu-ray review of that release.

Saw III Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Saw III is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Via Vision Entertainment with an MPEG-2 encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. This is a decent if definitely improvable looking transfer that Marty describes in some detail in his Saw III Blu-ray review . As I've often mentioned, "different reviewers means different opinions", and I might tweak that slightly to say "different reviewers means different scores", since I in fact agree with Marty's comments but with the benefit of some years of hindsight now and intervening improvements, my scores are a bit lower than Marty's.

Saw III Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Saw III features DTS-HD HR 6.1 and Dolby Digital 5.1 options. Again, with the benefit of hindsight (and/or hindhearing), newer audio codecs most likely could have improved things like fluidity, fidelity, dynamic range and especially a more full bodied midrange and low end, surround activity is reasonable and dialogue is delivered cleanly and clearly. Optional English and Spanish subtitles are available.

Saw III Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Marty's review is so old it doesn't feature our "new, improved" way of listing things, but Marty does provide quite a bit more information on these supplements in his Saw III Blu-ray review:

• Audio commentary by director Darren Lynn Bousman, writer / executive producer Leigh Wannell, executive producers Peter Block & Jason Constantine


• Audio commentary by producers Oren Koules and Mark Burg


• Audio commentary by director Darren Lynn Bousman, editor Kevin Greutert and director of photography David A. Armstrong


• The Traps of Saw III (HD; 9:21)


• The Props of Saw III (HD; 7:54)


• The Writing of Saw III (HD; 6:43)


• Amanda: Evolution of a Killer (HD; 5:12)


• Darren's Diary: Anatomy of a Director (HD; 9:20)


• Deleted Scenes (SD; 5:29)


• Theatrical Trailer (SD; 1:17)


• Theatrical Trailer (SD; 00:44)

Saw III Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Saw III has plenty of gross out material for those who like such things, but it may not have the visceral intensity of some of the other Saw films. Technical merits are dated but acceptable, and the supplements are enjoyable, for anyone who may be considering making a purchase.