SAW

Saw Movie Review

Strangers Lawrence (Cary Elwes) and Adam (Leigh Whannell) awaken in a bathroom and realize they are chained to something in the room, and, worse yet, a dead body is lying between them. Throughout the course of the film they realize their lives are connected in a way, and that they may be the latest victim of the jigsaw killer. This 2004 film, shot on a shoestring budget (just over a million dollars), sort of redefined how many looked at horror. It was original, it was fascinating, and, most importantly to many horror fans, it was bloody, gory, and more graphic than almost anything they had seen before.

"Why is this movie called...oh, I see"

 

At worst, this film gave birth to a subgenre that would come to be known as "torture porn". At best it re-envisioned what a good low budget horror film could be. The story is one we had never quite heard before--the "killer" locks people he feels don't appreciate life into a situation where, in order to survive, they must make physical sacrifices. Here's the thing--every trap he creates can be escaped (albeit before the timer stops), so if the victim dies, it can be argued they killed themselves instead of being killed by anybody else. As if all this awesomeness isn't enough, there is a twist ending you likely will not see coming--the first time I saw this film was in a packed theatre, and after everybody literally cheered out loud just prior to the end, they all gasped and fell dead silent when the twist was revealed. Over ten years later this ranks as one of the best endings I have ever seen in film history. Not everything is perfect with this film, especially the acting, but it is a fantastic film nonetheless that changed the face of horror, put Leigh Whannell (the writer) and James Wan (the director) on the map, and kicked off what would eventually become my favorite horror film series. I couldn't possibly count the number of times I have seen this film, and I love it every time.

 

On A Scale Of One To Ten: 9

 

Saw Movie Trailer