Saw (2004)

Studio: Summit Entertainment

DVD Release Date: February 15, 2005

Directed By: James Wan

Cast: Carey Elwes, Leigh Whannell, Danny Glover, Michael Emerson, Shawnee Smith & Tobin Bell

Review By: Annie Riordan

Two men awaken, chained to opposite ends of a filthy, abandoned men’s room with a corpse and a security camera for company. They soon discover that they are the latest victims of criminal mastermind Jigsaw, a diabolically intelligent killer who is out to teach his victim’s a life lesson. The men learn that escape IS possible…but only if one of them dies.

This low budget shocker swept the film festivals and had established a firm rep for itself as one of the best and most horrific thrillers released in years…and all this before it ever even hit theaters! Coming off as a combination of a grindhouse classic and an Italian giallo flick from the 70s, Saw boasts a wickedly clever storyline and some of the most original boobytraps and torture devices seen since Torquemada presided over the Spanish Inquisition.

The film does stumble a few times, most notably towards the end when some of the victims descend into How Stupid Can I Possibly Be? territory. But it doesn’t wreck the film as a whole, and the ending is still a powerful, unexpected punch to the gut that not even M. Night Shyamalan could have pulled off half as successfully.

The squeamish need not fear too terribly: this film’s rep is akin to the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre, i.e. it’s nowhere near as gory as its reputation suggests. Saw works on a less-is-more level, and what you don’t see is oftentimes worse than all of the gutmunching Fulci-esque gore in the world.

With three sequels under its belt and a fourth rumored to be in the making as of this writing, the Saw franchise has become as popular and as profitable as the Freddy and Jason flicks of the 80s. But this first installment remains the unrivaled best of the lot.

Brutal As Hell Rating:

4 out of 5