Saw V

Right now you can watch Saw V in Australia on Stan and Lionsgate+ Amazon Channels, and in the US on Netflix and YouTube TV — and it earns its twists rather than manufacturing them. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. 3,844 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Tobin Bell anchors it, but the writing does the real work. Available now on Stan — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Saw V is worth clearing space for. The plotting in Saw V is tight enough that the twists feel earned rather than assembled. Following Jigsaw's grisly demise, Detective Mark Hoffman is commended as a hero, but Agent Strahm is suspicious, and delves into Hoffman's past. Meanwhile, another group of people are put through a series of gruesome tests. The writing gets a boost from Tobin Bell and Costas Mandylor, who sell every scene they're in. It was released in 2008. What distinguishes the best crime dramas from the rest is whether the character work can carry scenes where the mystery takes a breath — Saw V passes that test consistently. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

If you cannot walk away from a good mystery, Saw V will keep you hooked. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Tobin Bell anchors it, but the writing does the real work. If you are going to commit to one crime drama this month, make it this one.