Saw

Name: Saw
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Horror, Crime
Released: October 29, 2004
Duration: 103 min
Rating: 46
Cast: Cary Elwes, Danny Glover, Leigh Whannell

2004

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 32 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 931 Ratings

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8.3

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8.3	User Score Universal acclaim based on 931 Ratings

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Saw

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Movie Details & Credits

Lions Gate Films | Release Date: October 29, 2004 | NC-17

Starring: Cary Elwes, Danny Glover, Leigh Whannell

Summary: Obsessed with teaching his victims the value of life, a deranged, sadistic serial killer is abducting morally wayward people and forcing them to play horrific games for their own survival. Faced with impossible choices, each victim must struggle to win back his/her life, or else die trying. (Lions Gate Films)

Director: James Wan

Genre(s): Mystery, Thriller, Horror, Crime

Rating: NC-17

Runtime: 103 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Heidi Martinuzzi

May be the best independent horror film to have come out since "The Blair Witch Project." It's certainly better than "Blair Witch", and more fun, more gruesome, and more macabre. In a very delightful way. Read full review

James Berardinelli

Saw is for hard-gore horror aficionados only. Read full review

David Edelstein

Less a classical narrative than an ingenious machine for inducing terror, rage, and paralyzing unease. Read full review

Premiere Aaron Hillis

Spoiled by its own insatiable desire for envelope-pushing flair; it’s wider-scoped when it should be intimate, splashy instead of subtle, icky but not scary. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Maitland McDonagh

Wan's debut feature is a twisted, squirm-inducingly nasty bit of work, which isn't a criticism because that's exactly what he and cowriter Leigh Whannell had in mind. Read full review

Scott Tobias

Though dumber than a box of rocks, Saw forges ahead with the kind of conviction and energy that will keep bad-cinema junkies sitting bolt upright. Read full review

J.R. Jones

Sicko horror film from Australia, whose sadism is topped only by its absurdity. Read full review

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User Reviews

Isaac_adhd

Aug 8, 2012

This movie mentally abuses you and un till it makes you scream like a little child because of it's never suspected plot..it's making you shiver all over. I watched the last scene 5 times when I watched this movie. ONE OF THE BEST MOVIES EVER MADE!!

56 of 60 users found this helpful564

Reniachii

Mar 5, 2022

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Jesus christ, where do I even start
I was very very VERY young when this movie released, and I watched like small pieces of it and it scared me for life, I remember it was really good but I was a kid that would close my eyes at the scary parts, so It was like watching it for the first time.

This move singlehandedly topped off any other movie I've ever watched before, it had everything I could ask for in terms of plot. The characters are great, the direction is amazing, the visuals on how the actors got dirtier and dirtier, more and more pale, the sweat, and the sub-plot of some cops investigating everything, and and **** IT IS SUCH A GREAT MOVIE OH MY GOD I'M WRITING THIS AT 6:35 IN THE MORNING, the ending with all the plot twist and **** I was legit with my mouth open and my fist covering my mouth because I couldn't ****ing believe such an old movie that I remembered as "Good horrror" was such a ****ing masterpiece, and the reason why it's such a masterpiece is because all the pieces of the puzzle where handed out to you since the ****ing start, but me as an spectator, understimated it and everything went over my nose. The investigation side lost, the victims side lost, and to my, the spectator side too. It was ****ing amazing. I love this movie. I'm so grateful I decided to watch it after more than 10 years on my "eh, I'll watch it someday". ****ING AMAZING.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MichMart

Mar 3, 2014

Saw is for me the best modern horror movie! It's interesting from start to finish, you can feel for the characters and it has a dark atmosphere. These things get unfortunately lost in the last sequels.

6 of 6 users found this helpful60

TrilobiteG

Jun 13, 2015

For the start of a franchise built on torture porn, this one isn't so bad. I mean, of course there is a lot of blood and gore but it isn't so much as to make you look away in disappointment and shame, but enough to make you cringe with tension thanks to the build up to it. In fact, the onlyFor the start of a franchise built on torture porn, this one isn't so bad. I mean, of course there is a lot of blood and gore but it isn't so much as to make you look away in disappointment and shame, but enough to make you cringe with tension thanks to the build up to it. In fact, the only major downside to this film was that the acting was not on point. It was just a little too cheesy to make it seem like a really tense horror movie, nevertheless, a really good horror flick .… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MovieManiac83

Apr 25, 2015

Saw is for hard-gore horror aficionados only. To appreciate Saw in its full gory, you have to have a penchant for productions that bask in the traditions of the Grand Guignol. While most of the film relies more on psychological tension and terror, there's plenty of gut-churning, visceralSaw is for hard-gore horror aficionados only. To appreciate Saw in its full gory, you have to have a penchant for productions that bask in the traditions of the Grand Guignol. While most of the film relies more on psychological tension and terror, there's plenty of gut-churning, visceral violence, especially during the final 15 minutes. That's the time period when James Wan's otherwise compelling feature goes a little too far over the top, veering out of its David Fincher-inspired darkness into the realm of self-parody. There's lots of blood, plenty of hysteria, and perhaps one twist too many. On the strength of a grippingly original concept and 90 strong minutes of building action, Saw gets a recommendation, but only if you like this kind of thing.

Although Wan's primary aim is to build suspense through uncertainty, he doesn't skimp when it comes to showing gruesome images. Although Wan would probably relish the comparison, this isn't a Psycho or Halloween - films that rely upon the imagination of the viewer to conjure up unthinkable images. The original cut of Saw received an NC-17 rating from the MPAA for its unrelenting gore. Some of the most graphic moments were eliminated, but what remains is still about as hard an R as can be found. Sensitive viewers may find themselves momentarily turning away from the screen during one especially harrowing sequence.

The horror genre has become a minefield of clichés and recycled plots, making it difficult to generate enthusiasm about any new release. New hooks are a premium commodity, so when someone like Wan finds one, it's easy to overlook freshman mistakes. With its freshness and energy, Saw bucks the horror trend towards formula story-telling and proves that enough qualities in the "plus column" can overcome a weak ending. Those who see this movie during its North American opening weekend of October 29-31 will be in for an unsettling Halloween.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Movie3

Jul 15, 2018

This movie isn't NEAR as gory as one would think it would be before seeing it. This is more like the movie "Se7en". It's the sequels that got nasty. This intense and extremely suspenseful film sure gets you sweating. It's still unpleasant enough to not be watched by many.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

zach

Oct 19, 2009

Stupid pointless and sickening eben though all th Saw movies have awesome endings.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

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4	#4 Most Discussed Movie of 2004
13	#13 Most Shared Movie of 2004