Tobin Bell, Cary Elwes, Danny Glover, Dina Meyer, Monica Potter ...( see more  see more... ) , Shawnee Smith , Ken Leung

A young man named Adam wakes to find himself chained to a rusty pipe inside a decrepit subterranean chamber. Chained to the opposite side of the room is another bewildered captive, Dr. Lawrence Gordon...( read more  read more... ). Between them is a dead man lying in a pool of blood, holding a .38 in his hand. Neither man knows why he has been abducted, but instructions left on a micro cassette order Dr. Gordon to kill Adam within eight hours. If he fails to do so, then both men will die; Dr. Gordon's wife, Alison, and his daughter will also be killed. Recalling a recent murder investigation by a police detective named Tapp, Dr. Gordon realizes he and Adam are the next victims of a psychopathic genius known only as "Jigsaw." With only a few hours left to spare, they must unravel the elaborate puzzle of their fate in the midst of mounting terror. The killer has provided them with only a few clues and two handsaws--too weak to break their steel shackles, but strong enough to cut through flesh and bone.

Flixster Users

86% liked it

766,585 ratings

Critics

47% liked it

158 critics

R, 1 hr. 40 min.

Directed by: James Wan

Release Date: October 29, 2004

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DVD Release Date: February 15, 2005

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Stats: 52,513 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (52,513)


  • October 27, 2009
    I am a big fan of the horror/gore genre and the murder/mystery genre. This movie is a good combination of both genres. A lot of people are saying that it is a seven wannabe and so on. While watching this movie I did not think of Seven. To me this movie stood out on it's own. I th...( read more)ought the cinematography was really cool in this movie. The suspense was gripping and jaw dropping in some scenes. I do agree with some of the other reviewers that the acting was somewhat cheezy and bad but come on now. Most acting in horror movies is cheesy and over the top. I don't think that acting in this movie was as bad as acting you would find in a B horror movie. This movie was unapologetic and in your face. It seemed like while you were watching it, it didn't care if you thought it was over the top and didn't want to monitor itself. That's what I loved about it. The ending surprised me. Interesting movie throughout and is worth the ticket price. If you liked this movie rent or buy Cube. If you liked Cube go see this movie. If you have a weak stomach and you are not into serial killer movies this isn't the movie for you.
  • August 26, 2009
    A truly original horror/thriller with a new bad guy who's up there with Freddy and Jason (but is actually much scarier!)
  • May 8, 2009
    Hello readers, I want to play a little game. Right now, you are being subjected to the rantings of a madman who wants to tell you about the first installment in an excellent film series. Your experience begins now

    A breath of fresh air for the thriller genre, it's the little fra...( read more)nchise that could.
    When I first heard of this, I honestly expected it to be like a two man play, just being in the room with those two for an hour and forty minutes (which I still would have watched)

    The way we find out about the Jigsaw murders is interesting. Rather than just have the deeds rattled off like you were reading a psych profile, we get to see the victims of the traps before and after death. The traps themselves are masterpieces, it's like if The Riddler from Batman went truly twisted and decided to up the ante.
    There are two things that make it even more interesting. The first is that John Kramer's (Tobin Bell, who has the sinister voice nailed for sure) traps are not really made to kill, they're to motivate the people in the traps to live. If they die, it's their own fault. He's trying to give people an epiphany about their lives, to appreciate them, and to wise up.
    The other interesting factor is his choice of victim. He chooses those he feels has squandered the gift of life and puts them in traps, sometimes similar to the "sin" they've committed. So they're not exactly innocent. It's things like this that separate John Kramer (most people know him as Jigsaw but that's not by his own choosing) from other well known thriller/horror icons.

    It was also nice to see three familiar faces pop up in this film. Shawnee Smith, as Amanda, was a joy to see, as I only know her as Linda from Becker. And wow, is she the opposite of Linda! Amanda is tormented, first by being placed in one of Jigsaw's traps, then with confusion of how to continue life after that (further explored in sequels)
    And as for Cary Elwes, great to see him again. Since I was most familiar with his work in Robin Hood: Men In Tights and The Princess Bride, I was not expecting that accent. I quickly got used to it, and he's perhaps my favourite protagonist out of the series (along with Jeff from Saw 3)
    As for the third, Danny Glover was also quite an unexpected bonus. We don't get to delve as deeply with his character as we do Cary's, but it's still good to see him lock horns with Kramer.

    (From here, there will be spoilers. Be advised)

    The ending of the film itself, after all the twists and turns its taken, is genius. Turns out the man thought to be behind it all was a pawn, and that Adam (Leigh Whannell, who did great), the other man in the room, could have gotten out if his key hadn't gone down a drain. And then he is left to die. In a dark room, door locked. And his screams are heard as the credits roll, and they die down as the music plays. So refreshing for the villain to win, to continue his work for another day

    The first installment, to me, has yet to be topped, but I'm not expecting it to be. I'm just here for the ride. As of May 2009, I have now seen all 5 installments that have been made and released. If the 6th is the last, I hope it ends with a bang.
    To anyone who has yet to see this one, I have one thing to say: let the game begin.
  • March 19, 2009
    I don't quite see the reasoning behind saying this is as good a film as Se7en or The Silence of the Lambs. I also didn't like how everything in this movie seemed to happen just for the sake of prolonging the inevitable.
  • January 4, 2009
    Horror thriller, no monsters just a serial killer who likes to play "games" or torturous contraptions that leave victims to push their limits yet use their brains. This is the first film can be viewed as an independent movie.
  • December 29, 2009
    My favorite movie ever!!! 1st movie of saw is the best of twisted movie ever!!
  • December 29, 2009
    Heard it was a good psychological thriller. Can't do the torture.
  • December 28, 2009
    so good, HELLO MICHAELLLL UNFORGETTTABLE
  • December 28, 2009
    i donlt like the Saw movies. To gory. What an insane mind that creates such mess.
  • December 25, 2009
    Nothing of torture, nothing, it's awful

Critic Reviews


May 4, 2005
Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness

Saw's overly elaborate, sporadically effective do-or-die games ultimately don't make the cut. full review

November 2, 2004
Kurt Loder, MTV

This one does its bloody job fairly well, but it'll be interesting to see what Wan and Whannell are able to achieve when they get a bigger budget. full review

October 29, 2004
David Edelstein, Slate

An ingenious machine for inducing terror, rage, and paralyzing unease. full review

October 29, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

An efficiently made thriller, cheerfully gruesome, and finally not quite worth the ordeal it puts us through. full review

October 28, 2004
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

If you're looking for something more meaningful than visceral shocks, Saw won't cut it. full review

October 15, 2004
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Director James Wan hits the grisly button without shame. full review

View more Saw reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • 4sauce4
    March 9, 2009
    "He doesn't want us to saw through the chains...he wants us to saw through our feet."
    Brilliant!!! I love it.
  • bayansalmeh
    February 16, 2009
    Hi...
    film kteer 7elo 97e7 fe eshya kteer fo2 elma32ool bs kter bstamte3 w ana a79’aroh

  • 3moOpr1Nc3sS
    January 24, 2009

    woe is a good movie! really love it and can watch it constantly .. xD
  • BetterThanBarbie1993
    January 6, 2009
    fantastic!
    i could watch it over and over lol
  • irmakarslan
    July 26, 2008
    brilliant!
    all of them are my favourites.
  • popcooorn
    April 17, 2008
    My favourite movie ^___^
  • robsgirl
    March 19, 2008
    all the movies are awesome MAJOR FAN
  • pavacri23
    February 23, 2008
    very good movie. if you like this kind of movie watch it
  • sportboy
    February 22, 2008
    This looks like another great movie I hope its good.
  • Wiccanmagician
    February 7, 2008
    nice twist!!! great idea for a film!! don't worry we still like freddy krugar right?? (who else could we go to parties dressed as!!)

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Facts


  • Fun Fact:
    Filmed in 18 days.

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