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Cary Elwes stars as Dr. Lawrence Gordon in the new horror film “SAW” about a mastermi

Horror film advances old story

Laurie Lo
Published: Thursday, October 28, 2004

“SAW” Directed by James Wan Lions Gate Films

Two men wake up to find themselves chained inside a filthy subterranean bathroom. In between them lies a man with a gunshot wound to his head, holding a .38 in his hand. The only thing the two men have in common is that they are oblivious as to how they got there, why they are there and what is to become of them. Debut filmmakers James Wan and Leigh Whannell definitely waste no time as they catapult audience members right into the action of “SAW.” And they refuse to let go until every last gory detail and inventive atrocity is played out. “SAW” is continuously finding ways to take the old serial killer story one step further. Dr. Lawrence Gordon (Cary Elwes) and Adam (Leigh Whannell) find themselves at the mercy of a preachy psychopath on his self-proclaimed pedestal who punishes those who do not appreciate life. Yet there is always the unavoidable catch: The victims have to commit a heinous crime if they hope to walk away with their life. Though the men believe they are random victims, their selection is actually well prepared. (Think “Phonebooth.”) But unlike the movie’s most obvious influence “Seven,” the architect behind the twisted game does not murder his participants directly. Rather, the choice of how much the victims value their life is left up to them. Gordon is instructed to kill Adam within eight hours or else dire consequences will ensue. Fortunately, the mastermind behind the game, nicknamed “The Jigsaw,” left the men with a way out: a hacksaw. Unfortunately for them (and to the shock of the audience), the tool is too dull to cut through metal, but just sharp enough to cut through skin and bones. Truly, desperate times call for desperate measures. In terms of delivering suspense and an intricate story line, the movie works. But because it is coupled with some questionable acting, “SAW” fails reach the same caliber as such similar movies as “Seven”. Elwes fluctuates between overzealous and wooden without any hope of a medium. Whannell, who also happens to be one of the co-writers, holds his own in his first leading feature film role. His inexperience, nevertheless, is not lost on the audience. Luckily for the film, it happens to be the only horror/thriller film opening this Halloween weekend. If audiences are willing to look past some of the questionable acting and concentrate on the macabre story, they will find a nice treat.

-Laurie Lo