SAW
Directed by: James Wan.
Produced by: Gregg Hoffman, Oren Koules & Mark Burg.
Written by: James Wan & Leigh Whannell.
Director of Photography: David A. Armstrong.
Edited by: Kevin Greutert.
Music by: Charlie Clouser.
Released by: Lions Gate.
Country of Origin: USA. 100 min. Rated: R.
With: Cary Elwes, Danny Glover, Monica Potter & Leigh Whannell.

A psychopathic killer abducts the ethically disobedient, and garners the name “Jigsaw” for his tendency to force his victims to play horrific games with their lives on the line. Strangers Adam (Leigh Whannell, also one of the screenwriters) and Dr. Lawrence Gordon (Cary Elwes) awake to find themselves chained to opposite sides of a dilapidated dungeon. In the center of the room lies a decaying corpse swimming in blood, gun in hand. Soon they are given tape-recorded instructions. Dr. Gordon has eight hours to kill Adam. If he fails, both men, as well as Dr. Gordon’s wife and daughter, will die. The two have been provided with an array of seemingly useless objects, including two weak handsaws.

Saw almost gets everything right. The film has a gritty look, more like a psychological thriller than a standard horror picture. Director of photography David A. Armstrong warrants praise for two distinct scenes where the screen is almost completely black sans a dull blue glow on the contortions of a man’s face. Surprisingly, where Saw falters is in its lead performances. Newcomer Whannell seems so eager to please that at times you wish Dr. Gordon would put an end to his exuberance. And veteran Elwes is concurrently laughable in mustering up Shakespeare-esque gumption when delivering lines that are far from elegant.

Nevertheless, Saw is dangerously creative. Flashbacks to past victims provide for a literally jaw-dropping experience. A carnival puppet used by the psychopath for no other reason than to freak out his victims does just that to the audience. And the continuous revelations about a semi-retired detective (Danny Glover) on the hunt for Jigsaw only get more intriguing. Thankfully, Saw has a genuinely shocking surprise ending. Music composer Charlie Clouser’s energetic arrangement at the end of the film is terrifying and blood-pumping. Saw is Se7en on acid, and what a wonderful trip it is. Michael Belkewitch
October 29, 2004