Other than the Dawn of the Dead remake, I really haven't rabidly counted the days until a movie release this year. I'm sure everyone's heard the hype, and I'm sure that everyone is already tired of the now cliché reference to Seven, but let me tell you, after reading various other mediocre reviews, I was preparing myself for the worst, and that was to be disappointed. Definitely not so! Saw delivered on almost every front for me.

Saw opens up with two poor bastards, Adam the young “voyeur” and Lawrence, a seemingly uncaring Oncologist. Both wake up in a dark room a’la Cube, that is, they don’t remember how they got there, and they don’t know why they’re there either. The room is disgustingly filthy and there’s a victim of a suicide messily inhabiting the center of the room, and the wonderfully designed set greatly adds to the dank, dark reality of the film, you can almost smell the septic grime permeating the air.

Anyway, they quickly discover a few clues that vaguely explain to them why they’re there, and what they need to do to get out alive. Their tasks are somewhat simple, Lawrence is tasked to kill Adam, and Adam is tasked to simply survive the ordeal, problem is, they are chained to opposite sides of the room and unable to reach each other. Thrown into the mix are some interesting plot items, including the two tools the movie is named after, a couple hacksaws.

The film focuses mainly on Adam and Lawrence dealing with emotions like denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. But we do get to delve a bit into the mind of the captor, simply dubbed “The Jigsaw Killer” by the police, but it is also noted, that he’s never actually killed anyone, but that he’s a master of getting victims to kill themselves. We learn from flashbacks that Jigsaw devises well thought out and elaborate traps and puzzles that force his victims to either kill themselves, or other poor victims thrown into these sadistic puzzles, and believe me, every single part of every trap and puzzle is extremely twisted! Jigsaw doesn’t necessarily pick random victims, no he chooses those who need to be enlightened that life is to be reveled in and taken seriously because so many people take their time on earth for granted. A killer with an agenda like that? Hmmm? Actually this is the only piece of the movie that was reminiscent of Seven

Other reviews elsewhere state that the movie drags on, but I disagree, there were slow points to the movie, but these parts WERE telling the story, things such as why Adam and Lawrence were picked, why they were chosen to be in the same puzzle, the importance of Lawrence’s family regardless of his actions or mistakes. Plus there’s a ton of misdirection, and deceit in store for the viewer. I can pretty much guarantee that when you think you have it figured out, YOU DON’T! The ending literally found me slack-jawed, with my eyes bugging out like a damn cartoon character, I never saw it coming, and it really was original.

Other reviews I’ve seen also bitch that there weren’t adequate clues given as to the outcome of the movie, to that I interject SO WHAT? This movie is built upon growing layers of misdirection, do you bitch about these things when a magician does them? No! I love it when I get stumped, because it’s so rare these days. Regardless of what others say, I REALLY dug it! I found myself getting pissed towards the end and ready to write a slam review, but it was misdirection at work, and it paid off in spades when the “twist” hit.

Some of the low points I noted was the bumbling cop angle, where they made Danny Glover and his partner out to be the stereotypical inept gumshoes, who forego warrants and such to get their guy based solely on a hunch, among other bumbling detective clichés. Another minor issue was there was a lot less gore than I expected, it’s on par with Seven in that department, maybe even a bit better, but I was just expecting more based on the trailers, the hype, and even the movie posters.

A great movie by semi-newcomers James Wan, and Leigh Whannell (Whannell plays Adam in the movie and does a damn fine job!) Add the LOUD industrial-metal type soundtrack (Fear Factory rolls during the credits) and you’ve got a winner on your hands in my book. So much better than I expected!

9 out of 10 Kidneys on Ebay