Horror. It’s a funny genre, particularly in modern times, where it’s been cut up, mixed up and thrown together with so many other genre’s of film that it’s almost unrecognisable from the early horrors such as the silent, Nosferatu. Today’s horror films use gore, heavy doses of confusion, and a dashing of ambiguity to ensure you’re left scared or baffled.
Saw suggest the possibility of bridging the gap between intelligent horror (such as the Japanese Ring or Kairo) and gorefests (the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre). With a minimal cast of characters, and a low budget (by the standards of other countries, pretty epic), the film’s only likely chance of credibility is through it’s script and the on-screen actors.
The plot surrounds two strangers who find themselves locked in a room, attached to pipes on opposite sides of the room with chains, with all the decorative qualities of a cesspit. The two don’t know why they’re locked together, who has locked them in, but there is a way out. Upon playing a message, they discover that one of them must die, in order for the other to be released.
Danny Glover isn’t the most expressive or interesting of actors. He often seems to struggle to get around, expressing one emotion (the infamous blank stare which younger actors such as Pitt and Reeves have mastered so well). He does have a certain menacing quality to him, but he’s also a professional at picking movies which aren’t very good, and is best known for his roles in the Lethal Weapon films – hardly inspiring. His role in this is that of a detective after a serial killer called Jigsaw. The name is given because all the victims are left with a jigsaw puzzle piece.
Alongside Glover are regular sub-character actor Cary Elwes, as one of the victims in this precarious situation, and Leigh Whannell – who also wrote the script and the plot for the film with his friend James Wan (Director). The antagonistic chemistry is pretty amusing for the most part between the two. Elwes is about as convincing as rubber phone for dogs, while Whannell comes across as a constipated teenager.
The plot isn’t the real culprit. It’s actually not bad as far as the genre goes, however, the script is pretty diabolical. Written like a 70s horror, pretending that nothing else happened before, it take elements from many horror films of the last few decades and uses them, piece by piece. The dialogue is wooden and stilted; the anguish is not so much real as it is comical. Chances are you will probably laugh your way through most of the film, rather than hide behind the sofa watching it.
Direction is scrappy at best. For a first time director, Wan has tried his best, but managed to use every bad technique possible to ruin any level of suspense or tension the film could provide. Of course, it doesn’t help that the actors can’t express fear or any level of belief in their situation. Whannell’s fake American accent sounds so forced, you’d think he was trialling for a Stand Up show. The techniques used are trendy, but they’re only worth something if used moderately and with motive, but there’s little of that seen here. Rather than creating panic, it creates annoyance. Fast forwarding, fast reversing, chopping and editing. It’s quite daft at times.
Saw is a film which is quite painstaking to watch at times, as you’re not sure what’s more irritating: the acting; the script or the direction. Flipping a coin would only server to leave two remaining irritants. The script seems so milked that you could probably here the cow screaming as it’s udders are exhausted and bruised. It comes across as an expensive made-for-TV picture, or even a straight-to-video piece. Of course, that shouldn’t go against what the movie has to offer, but it’s a film that is incredibly, and unnecessarily drawn out; a student movie shot for students, for fun.
It seems the only way to get through this film, without feeling you’ve wasted your money is to laugh. Humour yourself, and don’t take anything seriously, because it’s not going to work. You won’t be scared, or disturbed, or sickened by anything in this film. Spending an entire day with school children is a much scarier experience than watching Saw is. It’s the sort of film you might put on after going home, dealing with the school kids, and you need a pick-me-up film; one that’s going to give you a “it’s so bad it’s good” feel. This is exactly what Saw provides; it’s unintentionally hilarious, which is perhaps it’s saving grace. I guess if you found The Blair Witch Project (snivelling whiny cows anyone?) frightening, or perhaps Cabin Fever and similar films, you might find this a scary prospect.
For myself, I could never take it seriously, nor did it provide any fright, fear or disturbing imagery. It’s a shock film, with little in the way of shocks. The final scene will perhaps be awarded with a “Funniest Ending to a Film EVER!” trophy. It’s possible, as I couldn’t stop laughing. It’s also predictable for the vast majority of the film; although I admit I didn’t expect the very final scene, which was pretty stupid the way it was directed and scripted. I had guessed what was going on pretty much at the start of the film. You already know who’s involved simply by the way they look, and the clues are scarily obvious.
Saw does have it’s moments, but overall it’s pretty much hype. There’s nothing positive to say about the film. It’s hardly original, it’s not all that bad direction wise, but it’s definitely the sign of someone who lacks experience. What has frightened me is the confirmation of a sequel, which (going by sequel logic) will be worse than the original, which itself is a huge mistake to witness in itself. The final insult comes in the form of an ending which amounts to those “It was all a dream” endings. A kick in the teeth; it’s the reward you get for watching this rubbish.
Verdict: Predictable, hysterical, below average horror best left on the shelves