Saw is more horrible than horrifying. There is a big, fat juicy line between suspenseful horror and plain ol’ cruelty. This movie is not creepy, it’s not clever, it’s just cruel.
The story revolves around a couple of guys who wake to find themselves chained to the walls of a filthy bathroom. The men discover a psycho has kidnapped them. The psycho has laid out a plot wherein one of the men will have to kill the other man to survive.
In itself, this is an interesting premise for a story. But like intentions, a premise is useless without good results. There are so many areas in the making of this film that are below par that I can’t decide which one to tackle. The best thing is to lump all of the problems into this one statement. Films like this are killing filmmaking. This is a cheap, juvenile flick with the depth of a Saturday morning cartoon. Weak films like this are sold to the public as pretending to be the real deal. People watch this drivel and come out thinking they have seen a horror movie. They’ve seen a series of cheap shots and sophomoric thrills and now the bar has been lowered to allow for more sub-par garbage to be made.
Don’t bother seeing this film. Don’t encourage them. It’s bad enough that Saw 2 is in pre-production. What are they going to do in that movie? I guess the main character has another foot that needs cutting.
A final note: I think Cary Elwes is a very talented actor but can someone please tell his agent its okay to only offer Elwes roles where he plays an Englishman? Elwes’ American accent is slightly less convincing than Schwarzenegger's.
Article comments
1 - Matt Paprocki
Loved this one, even with the plot holes and logic gaps. Fantastic ending that shocked the hell out of me too. It's one of those mind-screwing flicks. I don't think it's a horror film, more a like a grisly murder-mystery.
As for a sequel, that's just stupid. I noticed the listing on IMDB and can't figure out what they're going to do with it.
2 - Tan The Man
The film was okay. But because it is a horror/thriller movie it is bad. I wasn't scared or in suspense.
3 - dietdoc
Matt writes: "Fantastic ending that shocked the hell out of me too. It's one of those mind-screwing flicks."
Reply: It was worth watching the stale acting and the silly "cops-trying-to-catch-the-guys" confrontation to just see that ending. I never saw it coming and it was a brilliant way to set up the sequel - which we can only hope will improve as the franchise matures. While I agree that Saw is no horror movie, it is an unique plot concept. At least it - the concept - was better than another "yet another teen-slasher movie," which this was not. For example, it sure beat the hell out of "Freddy versus Jason," at least for me.
BTW, Nehring, I do agree with your editorial about why Hollywood is burning. Thanks for the review.
Cheers,
Ron
4 - Chris Beaumont
I enjoyed it, but don't recognize it as a good film.
And the sequel is more than in pre-production. The teaser trailer is out and it opens in October!
5 - Kyu
I agree with the review. The movie was sick and cruel, and the one thing you forgot was the horrible music. If the blood and guts don't make you sick, the music will. Se7en was much better, with a good, believable plot. Saw is much more confusing and is not set up as well.
Good God, they're making a SEQUEL?