There are plot holes in every movie. Something is usually lingering in the back of your mind when it's all over. The key for a movie is to draw the audience in early so they can be overlooked and forgotten by the time the credits roll. That's something "Saw" does extremely well. It doesn't excuse the gaping holes that should be obvious to anyone paying attention, but it's gripping enough to reel you in and not let go.
Waking up inside a bathtub, Adam (Leigh Whannell, also one of the writers) is confused in the dark room until he hears a voice. That comes from Lawrence Gordon (Cary Ewles). When the lights come on, both men are chained to pipes by their feet inside a bathroom. A dead body lies in the center. The reason for them being there is slowly unveiled through clues left by the maniacal "Jigsaw Killer," a serial murderer who makes his victims kill themselves. Their only hope seems to be the police who have been on the case since the first death.
"Saw" is terrifying, but not because of smart writing, acting, or direction. It has a few of those qualities too it's just that the entire film relies on simply gruesome sequences involving intestines, blown off heads, and lots and lots of blood. There's certainly worse out there if you're a fan of gore. It's just the way it's all shown here, maybe briefly, but always horrifying.
One thing that's odd about this film is the way the low budget was put to use. The entire movie was crafted around a budget, so the director and his writer went about devising a plot that revolves almost entirely around one single room. If you're a video game fan, it plays out like an old adventure game where you always get what you need (just enough in most cases), as long as you can click the right spot on the screen or correctly follow the clues.
The shocker of an ending comes out of nowhere, blasting its viewers and leaving plenty of unanswered questions. That's a good thing. It keeps people talking, spreads word of mouth, and separates itself from the usual formula. The clues are there if you watch carefully, much like the "Sixth Sense." Also like Shyamalan's first outing, most of the crowd will never figure it out and then smack themselves when they watch it again realizing how much they missed.
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Article comments
1 - DrPat
For someone sitting on the fence about whether to buy or rent this DVD, your review is perfect, Matt. I look for more extras on DVDs I will buy, so it sounds like this is a rental for me.
Thank you from the bottom of my budget... er, heart!