"Saw VI": Hoffman's Reign & the Trap That Actually Made Me Cringe

Alright, so I finally got around to revisiting "Saw VI" the other night. Gotta say, it's... well, it's "Saw." By this point in the franchise, we're knee-deep in the Hoffman show, and honestly, Cary Elwes missing is still a sore point. But I gotta admit, Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) is a decent villain. He's got that 'stone cold killer' vibe down pat, y'know? Makes me think of a grittier, more brutal version of Lee Marvin in "Point Blank," just without the moral compass. The whole FBI investigation storyline felt a bit like filler, but it did ratchet up the tension nicely. I also just can't ignore how many trap designs are clearly aimed at making the audience squirm more than thinking. I will say, though, that the carousel of (in)justice trap with the health insurance exec was genuinely brutal. Like, I've seen some messed-up stuff, but the choices that guy has to make really got under my skin. It's the kind of moral quandary that made the first "Saw" so chilling, even if the subsequent films got a little lost in the gore. In some ways, it reminded me of the 'Sophie's Choice' effect, but way more splattery. There's a lot of continuity nods here, of course, continuing from the previous films. The whole backstory with William Easton (insurance exec) and his connection to Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) is pretty well done, if a bit convoluted. Again I can admit, as somebody that remembers watching the originals in theaters, the story has gotten a little away from itself, but it's still solid. It's not "Seven" or anything, but it's a decent entry if you're already invested in the "Saw" world. And if you're not, well... maybe start with the first one and see if you can stomach it. Ultimately, it's not a classic by any means, but it has its moments. I'd still rank it above some of the later sequels... I mean, seriously, the pig mask thing? Come on. Anyway, anyone else have thoughts on Hoffman as a successor to the Jigsaw legacy? Hit me!