‘Jigsaw’ review (4K UHD)

A famed serial killer from a popular splatter horror-movie franchise makes his debut in ultra-high definition to torment another group of flawed humans in Jigsaw (Lionsgate Home Entertainment, rated R, 92 minutes, 2.39:1 aspect ratio, $42.99).

After a blockbuster-sized theatrical run, this low-budget thriller hits home entertainment rooms offering directing brothers Michael and Peter Spierig’s slightly less claustrophobic take on the grotesque mythos that should satisfy fans.

The story finds five potential victims chained up and waiting to play some games set up by the tormented master John Kramer aka Jigsaw (Tobin Bell). He demands each confess their crimes against humanity or pay the price as the killer attempts to torture repentance out of them.

The result is the eighth film to the franchise, picking up the “Saw” legacy after a seven-year hiatus and offering a few jump scares, a pinch of puzzles and a few mythology twists. But there’s still too much gratuitous gore leveled through Jigsaw’s diabolical contraptions.

Hey, Hollywood, here’s a tip. It’s OK to take a risk on new horror movies, more than not. Simply remaking a worn-out franchise for a cash grab does nothing to refresh or innovate the genre.

Connoisseurs very much appreciated recent efforts such as “The Babadook,” “It Follows,” and the Oscar-nominated “Get Out.”

And, if you remember, the original “Saw” was one of those risks that paid off handsomely.

4K UHD in action: Well, I certainly did not wish to scrutinize this ultra-high definition, high dynamic range transfer of 2K source material footage, considering the disturbing subject matter.

Specifically, viewers are subjected to too much detail when witnessing a victim with half of his face and cranial area shaved off or watching an autopsy featuring the effects of acid on the human neck, throat and circulatory system.

Yes, the detail is a bit too real for my tastes with minutiae down to bloody perspiration around the eyes of humans forced to wear buckets or the dark areas in the traps further exposed such as the grain silo torture chamber.

The Dolby Atmos mix also certainly helps bring the terror of the human traps to the forefront through immersive sounds ranging from chains rattling, saw blades rotating, rusted gears twisting and a startling shotgun blast.

Best extras: All of the bonus content is available on the 4K UHD disc, beginning with an optional commentary track from producers Mark Burg, Oren Koules and Peter Block.

The enthusiastic “Saw” veterans touch on their history with the franchise but mainly focus on the current film with plenty of information on origins and some informative breakdowns on the human traps.

Next, a seven-part, almost 90-minute-long overview of the film features interviews with the directors, actors (including Mr. Bell), writers Peter Goldfinger and Josh Stolberg, cinematographer Ben Knott, and even composer Charlie Clouser and his usual music creation methods.

Although interesting, it’s a bit of a missed opportunity as I was hoping for an informative retrospective on the successful franchise but instead got a steady stream of tush-kissing and promotional gushing about “Jigsaw.”

Lastly, prop master Rick Little Darling offers a much-too-brief, less than 7 minutes long, look at some of the cool creations used in the franchise, such as the pig head mask and Billy the Puppet.