Saw (2004)

Director: James Wan

Cast: Leigh Whannell as Adam Faulkner-Stanheight, Cary Elwes as Dr. Lawrence Gordon, Danny Glover as Detective David Tapp, Ken Leung as Detective Steven Sing, Dina Meyer as Kerry, Mike Butters as Paul, Paul Gutrecht as Mark, Michael Emerson as Zep Hindle, Benito Martinez as Brett, Shawnee Smith as Amanda, Makenzie Vega as Diana Gordon, Monica Potter as Alison Gordon, Ned Bellamy as Jeff, Alexandra Bokyun Chun as Carla (as Alexandra Chun), Avner Garbi as Father

"Saw," a film that was originally planned for a straight-to-video
release but after receiving positive nods at test screenings, was
finally given the green light in October 2004 - just in time for
Halloween. "Saw" contains one of the those plots that shows you
everything it's got up its sleeve, then doubles-back on itself
three-fourths of the way through and reveals something entirely new.

It's not hard to see why this almost hit the straight-to-video fodder
list. I mean, people will closely observe that it obviously contains
the traits of its successors, namely "Seven" (1995), and that may be
all the ammunition the haters will need to trash it. Already, I see
that the IMDb voters have averaged "Saw" a 7.5, with those people who
have rated it with an "8" or a "10" being neck-and-neck at the polls.

But I begin with reassurances that "Saw" is a genius thriller, if not
entirely original or daring. The film does its best to exploit the
claustrophobia and mounting tension that collects as it progresses.
"Saw" will also make you think twice about bladed objects as well.

Ironically, the title has very little to do with plot, as there is no
chainsaw-wielding maniac on the loose as the ghastly cover art of a
severed foot would imply. The only saws here are the ones the two main
characters Lawrence (Cary Elwes) and Adam (Leigh Whannell, also the
film' screenwriter) have been given.

The two men awaken to find themselves chained to lead pipes in a
decrepit public bathroom. In the middle of the floor, is a dead body
that's surrounded in a pool of its own blood, with a gun in one hand
and a tape recorder in the other. As it would turn out, they're the
latest victims of a serial killer known as the "Jigsaw Killer."

Jigsaw has a nasty little way of torturing his victims by trapping them
in a situation where they have to kill if they want to survive. As
Lawrence explains, technically Jigsaw is not a killer, simply because
he hasn't killed anyone; the victims do that for him. As one fortunate
victim observes, who survived her ordeal, she is bound to a chair with
a reversed bear trap-like device strapped to her head with pliers wired
into her upper and lower jaws. A timer is on the device and if she does
not locate a key before it runs out, her mouth will be ripped open and
no more pretty face. In order to get out, she must open up the stomach
of a dead man lying on the floor next her to get the key.

As Jigsaw ever so carefully points out to his victims, he doesn't just
choose them at random. To him, they're all perfectly immoral
individuals and he uses their immorality to set up horrific situations
where the victim rarely survives the trap; in essence, life is its own
reward because Jigsaw's victims don't value it, as he explains to the
one young woman lucky enough to fight through his plan. Also on the
case of Jigsaw, are two detectives Tapp (Danny Glover) and Sing (Ken
Leung), who bring forth the news of Jigsaw's previous victims in one
particularly gruesome flashback sequence.

Lawrence is pretty well aware of the case of Jigsaw, as even once he
was considered a suspect by the police. As you would have it, Adam is
not especially trustful of Lawrence being that he seems to know a lot
and is not reporting many details to him. They realize, however, that
if they are going to survive this nightmare, they're going to have to
play into Jigsaw's game, observe the clues he's willing to give them,
and ultimately make it out alive.

"Saw" was directed admirably by James Wan and written by Whannell, who
also makes an effective victim alongside Elwes. Elwes, a highly
underrated actor, is given a chance to shine here, even though this
really isn't an actor's movie, as it is more in the hands of the
director. However, we do get a sense of the desperation of the two
leads, who soon realize that they're not the only ones trapped in this
madman's game.

"Saw" does benefit from its moody atmosphere, which may cover up any of
the film's shortcomings. Towards the end, it does lose pace a little
bit as things seem to be spiraling down the haunted house route, but
quickly regains momentum as it draws to a close. I know that despite
its flaws, I was glued to the seat and really "in" the film's tight
tension, which thankfully doesn't let up.

Is "Saw" a genre classic? Certainly. Is it a classic like "Seven"? I
don't know. There's a lot to consider when pondering a question with so
much baggage like that one. I liked it, but I'm not so sure about the
news that a sequel is in the works. This seems a lot like a
stand-alone-type movie, that of which doesn't need to get bogged down
by the weight of unnecessary sequels.

8/10