I’m not really into gore, in any setting. So Saw (2004) was definitely a choice that I was not expecting to make for a review.
With minimal knowledge of what the Saw series is outside of knowing what Jigsaw looks like, the first installment in the series was a pleasant surprise. While the moments that lean heavily into gore may have been a little off-putting, I knew that this was to be expected. The film very much feels like it takes place in the mid-2000s and is trying to be the start of something new.
Adam, a photographer, and Lawrence, a doctor, regain consciousness in a dirty bathroom that neither of the men recognizes, and we learn that the two do not even recognize each other. They are both heavily chained up to old, rusty pipes, with no escape in sight.
As time passes, the two come to realize that they were trapped here by a serial killer and must complete his twisted puzzles to escape. We learn through flashbacks that the two are not Jigsaw’s first victims, and every other one has perished.
The two’s first discovery is a hacksaw that has been left for both of them. After unsuccessfully sawing the chain, they learn that the saws are truly for them to cut their own feet off. This is what leads Lawrence to recall that the person who captured them is likely Jigsaw, as he himself was once accused of being the killer due to his penlight being left at the scene of a previous murder.
Zep, one of Lawrence’s co-workers, holds his wife and daughter at gunpoint in their apartment. We are led to believe that Zep is the killer, as he is instructing Gordon to kill Adam throughout the game. Zep is eventually attacked by his wife and flees into the sewers.
Through the sewers, Zep makes his way to the bathroom. It is revealed that Lawerence went through with sawing his own foot off in a desperate attempt to murder Adam, as Zep had tasked him with. Zep enters the bathroom to kill Lawrence, but is shocked to see that he went through with killing Adam.
Miraculously, Adam is still alive and kills Zep. Lawrence apologizes for his actions and attempts to crawl away to find help for both himself and Adam. However, a corpse that was in the room stands up, revealing that he is the true Jigsaw killer, and that Zep was just another one of his victims. Adam attempts to subdue the killer, who, in turn, electrocutes Adam through his chain restraint and locks him in the room to die.
Jessica’s review follows below,
“When Cyrus picked out this movie, I was really surprised that he did because he’s not big into horror or even thrillers. I feel like he doesn’t watch as much or care for as much, but I was excited because I didn’t know much about the Saw franchise, and I can’t even believe I haven’t already watched it.
I was excited because as soon as the scene was set, there were two guys in the bathroom, and you could tell that there was some sort of killer or bad guy making them stay in the bathroom and be all chained up. I was like, ‘Oh yeah, this is my type of movie,’ so I’m really glad Cyrus picked it. I liked it. I was really surprised.
I was skeptical based on the start of the movie, because obviously, when I think of Saw, I think of that clown-looking thing with the black hair and the white face mask. When I saw the start of the movie, I was like how could that puppet sort of thing be integrated into it. So, I was thinking this might be different.
I was seeking myself out until I saw it, but I was surprised it wasn’t the killer. I figured the killer would be the actual Jigsaw person with the black hair, but there were a lot of twists and turns I liked about it.
I definitely did not expect the ending at all, but when do I ever? Still, I was a little bit confused as far as, like, when the killer was the guy lying on the floor the entire time. It just seemed a little bit unrealistic because obviously I was picturing him to just be dead. I’m pretty sure it was the guy who had cancer earlier in the movie, unless he was just lying about it. I didn’t think that made much sense, and I didn’t care for that kind of loophole because it felt like what I watched pretty Little liars and you had all these characters in front of you the entire time and then the person that became the killer with some random like side person that you barely saw on screen just felt like kind of like a last-minute decision to make him the killer.
I liked it, however, and I hope that we get to watch other movies in the series. I’d say it’s like a three out of five, like a middle, more so rating. It wasn’t super super good, but I didn’t hate it.”
All in all, I think that Jessica and I both agree that the first installment of the Saw series is a perfectly alright movie. Jess is much more into gore and horror than I am, but I can appreciate how the gore was used in the movie. As Jess said, I would also be willing to continue the series, at least for the next one or two installments. I also rate the movie a three out of five, and would recommend it to anyone who can handle blood!
Jessica’s rating – ⭐⭐⭐/ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cyrus’ rating – ⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Check out our review of Shrek (2001)!