Directed by:
James WanScreenplay:
Leigh WhannellCinematography:
David A. ArmstrongComposer:
Charlie ClouserCast:
Leigh Whannell, Cary Elwes, Danny Glover, Monica Potter, Ken Leung, Michael Emerson, Tobin Bell, Makenzie Vega, Shawnee Smith, Dina Meyer, Benito Martinez (more)VOD (5)
Plots(1)
SAW’s opening scene immediately plunges the audience into the unknown, along with the two unfortunate men, Adam (Leigh Whannell) and Dr. Lawrence Gordon (Cary Elwes), who wake to find themselves chained up in a fetid subterranean bathroom. The captives are the most recent targets of a psychopathic genius known as Jigsaw, who constructs elaborate games that force his victims to make impossible choices between life and death. As Adam and Dr. Gordon struggle to unravel the elaborate puzzle of their fate, Detective Tapp (Danny Glover) and his colleague Kerry (Dina Meyer) work furiously to determine Jigsaw’s identity before he can claim yet more victims. But Jigsaw has accomplices – whose willingness is not entirely clear – and his meticulous planning enables him to escape. (official distributor synopsis)
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Reviews (13)
The overwhelming majority of films in this style don't even fall into the B-movie category; they're more like C-movies and have a woefully semi-amateurish character. Saw significantly stands out from these productions with its professionalism and is currently the actual pinnacle of the genre. It boasts a relatively sophisticated script, professional direction, editing, camera work, and acting performances that don't elicit disdainful smiles. Along with its horror atmosphere, strongly naturalistic shots, and effective ending, it creates a perfect cocktail to become a box office hit. On the other hand, the script isn't so well-developed that it can avoid inconsistencies and some clichés. The editing at times resembles music video production, and the flashbacks only serve to delay the story. Overall impression: 60%. Subsequent installments of this film lacked the originality of the original and were merely squeezing money from the pockets of viewers.
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This basic premise gave me not the slightest clue of what I was getting into, and without the knowledge that I would see it countless times in future installments, it was really perfect back then. The despair, the unknown, and people in a strongly oppressive environment and situation still function today. It's a shame that with Jigsaw came the tormented cliché of "I'm aiming at you, but I'll wait until you take the weapon from me", because without it, James Wan would have aimed really high. What the script loses here, it gains with the reveal. It may be problematic, full of holes, and perhaps even impossible, but it can't be taken away from it that it is truly unforgettable. It may not have been the new Se7en, but with a decade of hindsight and the presence of unbalanced sequels, the first Saw has matured into very favorable colors.
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An atmospheric slaughter movie that I found surprising thanks to some of the twists. Great ideas put into practice well. Wan certainly knows his stuff. It was pleasant to see many well-known and quality actors alongside some unknown ones. But it isn’t so brutal and doesn’t make you jump, so don’t be afraid. ;)
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This is a very powerful, intense, and somewhat petrifying movie that everyone should watch to get an idea of how to play games in adulthood, if no one wants to play with you anymore, and if you are tired of playing board games like Ludo. Of course, you clearly cannot say that about the other sequels, as they lack the form and concepts of the first movie.
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This saw has really sharp teeth, though a bit rusty in places. Among the good things we can count the thick oppressive atmosphere, several excellent suspenseful scenes and one awesome jump-scare. On the other hand, there is the unconvincing performance of Cary Elwes as Dr. Gordon, a bit of the traditional clichés (the pratfalls or the pointless hesitation before blowing someone away) and the final twist. In itself, it is very, very surprising and shocking, but it is too much "for effect" and in hindsight it digs big holes in the logic of the plot. Still, I won't go below four stars, a film that can happily be described as a heavy punch for the average audience (a friend told me how he experienced a stampede to leave the cinema during a screening in Ireland) doesn't deserve it.
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