Saw (2004)

Saw was my first exposure to director James Wan who has also directed The Conjuring, Aquaman, Insidious, and Malignant.  That's just to name a few leaving me to believe Wan is one of the best directors of this century (so far) and certainly one of the better modern horror directors as well.  Wan co-wrote the screenplay with Leigh Whannell who also plays Adam, one of two men who are chained up in a dank bathroom.  Saw is the first film in the epic series of horror films following along on the path that Wan and Whannell began almost twenty years ago.  With Saw X coming out a few days ago it was worth my while to revisit the original.  And as we know nothing (usually) beats the original.  Also starring is Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride, Bram Stoker's Dracula, and Glory) as Dr. Lawrence Gordon an oncologist.  Elwes is the other man chained up in the bathroom.  This is the first "game" we experience that "Jigsaw" has created.  A sadistically cruel set of rules that will make the two men (and others as we see glimpses of some of the other "games" he has set up) go to extreme measures to escape a situation where there is no escape.  Every victim of Jigsaw has gone morally stagnant and are forced to make difficult choices to get their lives back.  I like that little twist in the story. 

 

Danny Glover (Lethal Weapon and The Color Purple) and Ken Leung (LOST and Missing) play two detectives trying to figure out who is behind the Jigsaw murders.  But are they murders? Technically no, but yeah they are.  Delicious, twisted, genius murders.  Wan and Whannell should never be trusted in polite society as anyone who thinks this up is definitely troubled and I respect the hell out of it.  Also starring is Tobin Bell (False Identity and Ruby) as John Cramer, Michael Emerson (LOST and Person of Interest) as Zep a hospital orderly, and Shawnee Smith (Becker and Anger Management) as Amanda who is another victim of Jigsaw who goes on to play an even bigger role in subsequent Saw films.  The story weaves an intricate plot and sets up a nice mystery thriller.  Saw has been labeled as torture porn but I didn't find this to be true for the first film more so in the sequels I will agree with that.  Some of Saw's detractors claim the films nonlinear story line is their biggest complaint as they were confused by all the jumping around of the time line.  Many people also had this attitude towards Pulp Fiction when it came out and a friend of mine at the time said she didn't like the film because in one scene Bruce Willis kills John Travolta and then a scene or two later John Travolta is alive again.  So maybe that's one of the issues with Saw (at least the first film) is it's too intelligent for some viewers.

 

Considering the films budget (a little over one million dollars) it is impressive how they were able to film some of the more intricate death scenes.  The music for the film is also a point of enjoyment for me as it captures the dread and tension that builds up throughout the film.  Charlie Clouther composed most of the music with other songs by Front Line Assembly, Fear Factor, Psychopomps, and Enemy.  The film is very well acted by everyone even Makenzie Vega who plays Diana Gordon seems perfect for the part.  For a better film featuring Vega I suggest Family Man with Nicholas Cage.  I know, I'm recommending a Nick Cage film.  Please excuse me!  Due to the fact that this spawned so many sequels it has been considered one of the most influential horror films of the century.  Saw was nominated for Best Horror Film at the 31st Annual Saturn Awards but was defeated by Sean of the Dead.  That would be hard for me to judge as well as I love both films.  Either way I give this four microcassetes marked Play Me out of five.  Highly recommend for those who have not yet seen this modern day classic.