Saw

Saw (2004)

  • 48% of critics liked it
    (165 reviews)

  • 86% of users liked it
    (766,585 ratings)

The directorial debut from filmmaker James Wan, this psychological thriller comes from the first screenplay by actor Leigh Whannell, who also stars. Whannell plays Adam, one of two men chained up in a mysterious chamber. The other, Dr. Gordon (Cary Elwes), like Adam, has no idea how either of them… More

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R, 1 hr. 40 min.
Directed By
James Wan
Written By
Leigh Whannell
Genres
Mystery & Suspense, Horror
In Theaters
Oct 29, 2004 Wide
On DVD
Feb 15, 2005
Lions Gate Films

Critic Reviews

  • J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader

    [Its] sadism is topped only by its absurdity.

  • Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

    Saw has art-house ambitions, but it's nothing but a glorified snuff film. I despised this movie.

  • Mike Clark, USA Today

    So over the top that even the recruited audience of non-critics at my screening began to howl.

  • Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star

    A strenuously morbid assembly of deranged-genius- serial-killer movie conventions cribbed from just about every popular post-Hannibal Lecter movie imaginable.

  • Desson Thomson, Washington Post

    The Internet film geeks are salivating over this one. But humans who live above ground, including horror fans, will find themselves only fitfully entertained and more consistently appalled.

Read all 22 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • John M


    not a fan of the gore fest horror films that this movie started generating but this was a decent movie. The twist to me was slightly unrealistic as how could a man alive lay there that long and not move once or show breathing . . .

  • Jason C


    Contrary to the eventual saturation of the series, Saw's early chapters are quite entertaining. Saw came out of the gate swinging. The introduction to the series is a sadistic and vile innovation to the horror genre. The film is contrived at times with occasionally awkward… More

  • Tyler K


    A very smart tale of five men who are involved with Jigsaw's game (Adam, Dr. Gordon, Tapp, Pigman, and Jigsaw himself. The ending is sad, insane, and fantastic, but a little bit unrealistic, dido with the intro. How could a man lay motionless for nearly 2 hours, and how can a guy… More

  • Brad W


    Saw was a classic horror movie, and I can honestly say I Ioved it. The plot is an incredible thrill and was honestly one of the best horror plots I have ever seen. The cast has its ups and downs, but overall they creeped the hell out of me and they played great performances. This… More

  • BG Movie Reviews 2


    Having heard many things about the Saw series, but never having actually seen one, I thought it was about time I take a look at it to stop people from telling me more mixed reviews about it with no idea who to believe. Seeing the 18 rating on the front and having seen various traps… More

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

Cast

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Trailers & Clips

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