Saw Review
by Karina Montgomery (karina AT cinerina DOT com)November 17th, 2004
Saw
Catch it on HBO With Snacks
There's a lot wrong with Saw. I can't deny it. I have to say, however, that it achieved its stated goal, which was to creep the crap out of me and make me nervous to sleep alone in my apartment. Thankfully, the actual storyline (especially once it is fully revealed) is sufficiently improbable that it's not the kind of thing that might keep you up nights, like say Dahmer. At the same time, the same is true for Seven (and there will be more inevitable comparisons, never you fear), and that still scared the crap out of most of us quite effectively.
Saw involves a totally demented and unidentified freak who also has the free time, budget, private spaces, and inclination to concoct insanely elaborate and horrible ways for you to die if you don't follow instructions to make your play for freedom. Needless to say, the instructions are actually also quite horrible (more than once throwing the victims into a "should I?" situation) and could actually kill the victim themselves. The title comes from the items in our leads' plotline that involves their elaborate way to escape or die. Theirs is the least creative and interesting, so of course it's the one we get to spend time with.
Interestingly, it was written by our co-lead, Leigh Whannell, and the director James Wan. It's Wan's first film, and in essence, Whannell's as well. (I am chagrined to notice his previous life was apparently as a movie reviewer.) While a solid first effort (certainly superior to Primer in execution and technical chops), the one thing this team seems to have forgotten is that audiences who go to totally f'ed up movies like this are quite jaded and cynical and have long memories. It is evident that one or both of them reeeeallly liked the movie Seven. The villain in both picks a certain way for his victim to die that is somehow related to some character flaw he has perceived in the victim by stalking them or whatever. The ways to die are such that you cannot imagine any sane person would imagine, yet here they are, sane people writing this movie. Of course, don't forget a shockingly out of character and unconvincing plan for the unveiling of said villain.
That said, Seven is extremely tight, well-thought-out, creepy as anything, and obeys nearly all its own rules. Plus it's raining all the time! Saw does not come close to doing so, instead reveling in its (admittedly very effective) creep factor and kind of skimming over the actual logic of the tale. I was quite tense and frightened for long, stressful chunks of time - goal achieved! By the illogic this takes some of the bite out of it, but the lingering heebie jeebies do remain.
I sound a little torn on this review, I recognize. I think this film would be best viewed in the home, with friends and popcorn and the lights out and giggling and alcohol (ages 21 and older, please) and psyching each other out and vocally trying to figure out the plot. That would actually make this film a higher grade, actually, than sitting in the theatre feeling resentful that you didn't spring for the large popcorn.
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These reviews (c) 2004 Karina Montgomery. Please feel free to forward but credit the reviewer in the text. Thanks. You can check out previous reviews at:
http://www.cinerina.com and http://ofcs.rottentomatoes.com - the Online Film Critics Society http://www.hsbr.net/reviews/karina/listing.hsbr - Hollywood Stock Exchange Brokerage Resource
Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
