Saw

Saw is nothing by very well and effectively filmed bloodbath. James Wan is definitely not a bad director, he is original, inventive, and dynamic, and for the most part, he manages to maintain an almost lethal pace throughout the entire film. The atmosphere and excellent screenplay save a lot, but I still can't help feeling that it is just cleverly written and effectively filmed ordinary nonsense. (16/02/2005)

An atmospheric slaughter movie that I found surprising thanks to some of the twists. Great ideas put into practice well. Wan certainly knows his stuff. It was pleasant to see many well-known and quality actors alongside some unknown ones. But it isn’t so brutal and doesn’t make you jump, so don’t be afraid. ;) (01/02/2013)

There are quite a few things that didn’t come together, the acting isn't the best, but given the filmmakers' enthusiasm, the budget, the ideas (viewing a room through a camera flash), and most importantly, the brilliant and formally bombastic ending, it deserves a buck. Too bad the sequels just ruin the name of this awesome thriller. (28/03/2005)

This basic premise gave me not the slightest clue of what I was getting into, and without the knowledge that I would see it countless times in future installments, it was really perfect back then. The despair, the unknown, and people in a strongly oppressive environment and situation still function today. It's a shame that with Jigsaw came the tormented cliché of "I'm aiming at you, but I'll wait until you take the weapon from me", because without it, James Wan would have aimed really high. What the script loses here, it gains with the reveal. It may be problematic, full of holes, and perhaps even impossible, but it can't be taken away from it that it is truly unforgettable. It may not have been the new Se7en, but with a decade of hindsight and the presence of unbalanced sequels, the first Saw has matured into very favorable colors. (03/02/2006)

I didn't need the epileptic camera none-sense and the metallic soundtrack, but I admit that Saw is a good horror film, certainly above average by current standards. But I only realized this because of the great, great, great ending - until then I thought I was watching a rip-off of Seven, in which the characters occasionally do horribly stupid things (blinding illumination, by lightning, for example). (11/01/2013)