Saw: Review

Before they became solely about releasing a sequel for money, the Saw franchise told a truly interesting and original story. Up till about the third movie, they kept up this story, adding several new layers and introducing new characters to keep things fresh. This multi-million dollar series had to begin somewhere, and that place exactly was the original directed by James Wan back in 2004 simply titled: Saw.

Two men wake up in a room, a body lying between them. They have no recollection of how they got there or why they are there, but soon find out that only one can leave alive, with the only culprit being a suspected killer known only as "Jigsaw". The movie quickly sets up an intriguing premise which immediately interests you as the viewer, as you know no more than the characters in the film. It soon becomes apparent however that Dr. Lawrence Gordon (Cary Elwes) and Adam (Leigh Whannel) are not as entirely clueless as they first seem. 

Dr. Lawrence Gordon (Cary Elwes)

I personally enjoy the first Saw movie more than any of the others, as it focuses on something deeper than just mechanical traps meant to torture and kill their victims as gruesomely as possible. No, it is far more than that, as you are slowly introduced to more than just the two men in the room, and things become a lot more interesting than they first appeared. Of course the film contains some gore and death-devices: a staple of the series which everybody came to expect, but it holds its own as a unique crime thriller, mixing tense scenes with occasional action.

Now, that's not to say that it is a perfect example of a crime movie. The acting is questionable at times to say the least, and the story can become slightly convoluted when detailing the history of ex-detective David Tapp (Danny Glover). Some of the more brutally violent scenes are definitely not for everybody, being almost too twisted to be deemed sane. The acting provided by Cary Elwes as Dr. Gordon is notably engrossing though, particularly towards the film's conclusion.


Verdict
Saw is frequently overlooked for being a part of the long-spanning gore franchise, but it really is far more enjoyable than some of the later iterations. If you can look beyond it's several flaws, it is an exciting crime thriller with horror elements and several twists thrown in, which will entertain anybody mature enough to appreciate the unique story.    8/10

"Most people are so  ungrateful to be alive...

but not you, not anymore."