saw 1

Saw (film)

Saw is a 2004 Ame ica ho o film di ec ed by James Wa , i his fea u e di ec o ial debu , a d w i e by Leigh Wha ell f om a s o y by Wa a d Wha ell. I is he fi s i s allme i he Saw film se ies, a d s a s Wha ell alo gside Ca y Elwes, Da y Glove , Mo ica Po e , Michael Eme so , a d Ke Leu g.

The film ells a o li ea a a ive evolvi g a ou d he mys e y of he Jigsaw Kille , who es s his vic ims' will o live by pu i g hem h ough deadly games whe e hey mus i flic g ea physical pai upo hemselves o su vive. The f ame s o y follows Jigsaw's la es vic ims (Wha ell a d Elwes), who awake i a la ge, dilapida ed ba h oom, wi h o e bei g o de ed o kill he o he o save his ow family.

The sc ee play was w i e by Wha ell, who co-c ea ed he s o y wi h Wa i hei espec ive sc ee w i i g debu s. The film was o igi ally w i e i 2001, bu af e failed a emp s o ge he sc ip p oduced i Wa a d Wha ell's home cou y of Aus alia, hey we e u ged o avel o Los A geles. I o de o help a ac p oduce s, hey sho a low-budge sho film of he same ame f om a sce e ou of he sc ip . This p oved successful i 2003 as p oduce s f om Evolu io E e ai me we e immedia ely a ached a d also fo med a ho o ge e p oduc io label, Twis ed Pic u es. The film was give a small p oduc io budge a d was sho i 18 days.

Saw was fi s sc ee ed o Ja ua y 19, 2004, a he 2004 Su da ce Film Fes ival. Due o posi ive audie ce ecep io , Lio sga e picked up he dis ibu io igh s fo he film. O igi ally pla ed fo a s aigh - o-video elease, hey decided o i s ead elease he film i hea e s i No h Ame ica o Oc obe 29, 2004. The film eceived ge e ally mixed eviews f om c i ics. Af e oppi g he ope i g weeke d box office, he film would go o o g oss $103.9 millio wo ldwide o become o e of he mos p ofi able ho o films si ce Sc eam (1996). A sequel, i led Saw II, was eleased he followi g yea , a d a di ec sequel, i led Saw X, was eleased i 2023.

I was hea ically e- eleased o selec hea e s, o Oc obe 31, 2014, fo i s e h a ive sa y. The success of Saw lau ched a media f a chise, i cludi g seve al films, video games, heme pa k ides, a d me cha disi g.

Plo edi

Adam, a pho og aphe , awake s i a dilapida ed ba h ub wi h his a kle chai ed o a pipe. Ac oss he oom is o cologis D . Law e ce Go do , a d be wee hem is he co pse of a appa e suicide vic im holdi g a evolve a d a mic ocasse e eco de . Bo h me fi d a ape i hei pocke s, a d Adam e ieves he eco de . Adam's ape u ges him o su vive, while Go do 's ape o de s him o kill Adam by 6 o'clock, o his wife Aliso a d daugh e Dia a will be killed. Af e lis e i g o a ape he duo u cove a clue leadi g Adam o fi d a bag co ai i g wo hacksaws i side he oile . Bo h me y o saw h ough hei chai s, bu Adam's saw b eaks. Go do ealizes he saws a e i e ded fo hei fee , a d ide ifies hei cap o as he Jigsaw Kille , a se ial kille who es s his vic ims' will o su vive h ough mu de ous co ap io s k ow as games, whom Go do k ows abou because he was o ce a suspec .

Five mo hs p io , Go do , af e discussi g he e mi al b ai ca ce of pa ie Joh K ame wi h his medical i e s, was i e oga ed by de ec ives David Tapp a d S eve Si g, who fou d his pe ligh a he sce e of o e of Jigsaw's games. Go do 's alibi clea ed him, bu he ag eed o view he es imo y of he oi addic Ama da You g, he o ly k ow su vivo of o e of Jigsaw's aps. Tapp a d Si g la e fou d Jigsaw's wa ehouse usi g he video ape f om Ama da's game. The e, hey de ai ed Jigsaw a d saved a ma f om a ap, bu Jigsaw ma aged o escape af e he c i ically i ju ed Tapp; Si g was killed by a sho gu ap while pu sui g him.

I he p ese , Aliso a d Dia a a e held cap ive a hei apa me as hei cap o wa ches Adam a d Go do h ough a hidde came a. The house is simul a eously wa ched by Tapp who, af e bei g discha ged f om he police followi g Si g's dea h, has become obsessed wi h he Jigsaw case, a d emai s co vi ced ha Go do is he kille . Mea while, Go do fi ds a box co ai i g wo ciga e es, a ligh e , a d a o e-way cellpho e. Adam asks Go do fo he ciga e e bu Go do discou ages his. He ecou s his abduc io i a pa ki g ga age by a pig-masked figu e. Adam ecalls his ow abduc io whe he e u ed home o fi d a puppe i his da k oom, whe e he s o ed pho os of Go do .

Held a gu poi , Aliso calls he husba d a d wa s him o o us Adam, who admi s o Go do ha he was paid by Tapp o spy o him, a d eveals his k owledge of Go do 's affai wi h o e of his medical s ude s whom he had visi ed he igh he was abduc ed; Go do deduces ha he affai is he easo why he is bei g es ed. Adam fi ds a pho o of Aliso a d Dia a's cap o whom Go do ide ifies as Zep Hi dle, a o de ly a his hospi al.

Zep, seei g ha Go do has s ill o killed Adam, moves o mu de Aliso a d Dia a, bu Aliso f ees he self a d figh s him. The s uggle a ac s Tapp's a e io , a d he saves Aliso a d Dia a befo e chasi g Zep o he sewe s, whe e he is sho i he ches af e a b ief figh . Go do , o ly awa e of he gu sho s a d sc eami g, is shocked a d loses each of he cell pho e. I despe a io , he saws off his foo a d shoo s Adam wi h he co pse's evolve . Zep e e s he ba h oom o kill Go do , bu Adam, havi g su vived he gu sho , bludgeo s him o dea h wi h a oile a k lid. Go do c awls ou of he ba h oom o fi d help while Adam sea ches Zep's body fo a key. He fi ds a o he ape, which eveals ha Zep was jus a o he vic im of Jigsaw, followi g ules o ob ai he a ido e fo a slow-ac i g poiso i his body.

The co pse lyi g i he oom sudde ly ises o i s fee ; i u s ou o be Joh K ame , who is he eal Jigsaw Kille . Joh ells Adam ha he key o his chai was i he ba h ub; i we dow he d ai whe Adam had fi s awoke a d d ai ed he wa e . Adam a emp s o shoo Joh wi h Zep's gu , bu Joh elec ically shocks him h ough his chai . Joh exi s he ba h oom befo e seali g he doo , leavi g Adam alo e o die.

Cas edi

P oduc io edi

Developme a d w i i gedi

Af e fi ishi g film school, Aus alia di ec o James Wa a d Aus alia w i e Leigh Wha ell wa ed o w i e a d fu d a film.3 The i spi a io ha hey eeded came af e wa chi g he low-budge i depe de film The Blai Wi ch P ojec . A o he film ha i spi ed hem o fi a ce he film hemselves was Da e A o ofsky's Pi.4 The wo hough he cheapes sc ip o shoo would i volve wo ac o s i o e oom.5 Wha ell said, So I ac ually hi k he es ic io s we had o ou ba k accou s a he ime, he fac ha we wa ed o keep he film co ai ed, helped us come up wi h he ideas i he film.6 O e idea was o have he e i e film se wi h wo ac o s s uck i a eleva o a d bei g sho i he poi of view of secu i y came as.5

Wa pi ched he idea o Wha ell of wo me chai ed o opposi e sides of a ba h oom wi h a dead body i he middle of he floo a d hey a e yi g o figu e ou why a d how hey a e he e. By he e d of he film, hey ealize he pe so lyi g o he floo is o dead a d he is he easo hey a e locked i he oom. Wha ell i i ially did o give Wa he eac io he was looki g fo . He said, I'll eve fo ge ha day. I emembe ha gi g up he pho e a d s a ed jus goi g ove i i my head, a d wi hou a y so of lo g pe iod of po de i g, I ope ed my dia y ha I had a he ime a d w o e he wo d 'Saw'.5 Befo e w i i g he wo d Saw i a blood- ed, d ippi g fo , he wo had o come up wi h a i le. I was o e of hose mome s ha made me awa e ha some hi gs jus eally a e mea o be. Some hi gs a e jus wai i g he e o be discove ed, Wha ell said.5

The cha ac e of Jigsaw did o come u il mo hs la e , whe Wha ell was wo ki g a a job he was u happy wi h a d bega havi g mig ai es. Co vi ced i was a b ai umo ,7 he we o a eu ologis o have a MRI; a d, while si i g e vously i he wai i g oom, he hough : Wha if you we e give he ews ha you had a umo a d you we e goi g o die soo ? How would you eac o ha ?3 He imagi ed he cha ac e Jigsaw havi g bee give o e o wo yea s o live a d combi ed ha wi h he idea of Jigsaw pu i g o he s i a li e al ve sio of he si ua io bu o ly givi g hem a few mi u es o choose hei fa e.3 Wa did o i e d o make a o u e po film, a d he sc ip o ly had o e sho segme of o u e. He said he film played ou like a mys e y h ille . I was o u il he sequels ha he plo focused mo e o o u e sce es.3

Fu di g a d sho film edi

Wha ell a d Wa i i ially had $30,000 o spe d o he film, bu as he sc ip developed i was clea ha mo e fu ds would be eeded.4 The sc ip was op io ed by a p oduce i Syd ey fo a yea bu he deal eve ually fell h ough.5 Af e o he failed a emp s o ge he sc ip p oduced i Aus alia f om 2001 o 2002,3 li e a y age Ke G ee bla ead he sc ip a d sugges ed hey avel o Los A geles, whe e hei cha ces of fi di g a i e es ed s udio we e g ea e .8 Wa a d Wha ell i i ially efused, due o lack of aveli g fu ds bu he pai 's age , S acey Tes o, co vi ced hem o go.8 I o de o help s udios ake i e es i he sc ip , Wha ell p ovided A$5,000 (US$5,000) o make a sho film based o he sc ip 's jaw ap sce e, which hey hough would p ove mos effec ive. Wha ell played David, he ma wea i g he eve se bea ap. Wo ki g a he Aus alia B oadcas i g Co po a io , Wha ell a d Wa k ew came ame who we e willi g o p ovide ech ical assis a ce fo he sho .9 The sho film is some imes efe ed o as Saw 0.5.10

I guess he e m ' o u e-po ' does ' affec me o e way o he o he . I do ' love he e m, o do I eally ha e i . Fo me, i 's ki d of ha d o have a y bad feeli gs abou he e m, because I guess o u e-po has give me a lo of good hi gs, like bei g able o wo k i he film i dus y a d wo k as a sc ee w i e . I guess I'm jus ha kful o be pa of a film ha made i , a d a y hi g af e ha is jus a champag e p oblem.

—Leigh Wha ell (sc ee w i e ) o his feeli gs of he film bei g labeled o u e po .3

Wa sho he sho wi h a 16mm came a7 ove wo days a d a sfe ed he foo age o DVDs o ship alo g wi h he sc ip . Wha ell wa ed o play he lead cha ac e i he fea u e film. The sho helped show ha Wa a d Wha ell we e a di ec o -ac o eam a he ha jus wa i g o sell he sc ip . Wa said, Leigh a d I jus loved he p ojec so much a d we wa ed a ca ee i filmmaki g so we s uck o ou gu s a d said, 'Look, guys, if you wa his p ojec , we' e comi g o boa d — Leigh has o ac i i a d I have o di ec i .8

I ea ly 2003,11 while i Los A geles a d befo e hey me wi h p oduce G egg Hoffma , Hoffma 's f ie d pulled him i o his office a d showed him he sho . Hoffma said, Abou wo o h ee mi u es i o i , my jaw hi he floo .12 He quickly showed he sho a d sc ip o his pa e s Ma k Bu g a d O e Koules of Evolu io E e ai me .3 They la e fo med Twis ed Pic u es as a ho o ge e p oduc io label.13 The p oduce s ead he sc ee play ha igh a d wo days la e offe ed Wa a d Wha ell c ea ive co ol a d 25% of he e p ofi s.14 Eve hough Wa a d Wha ell eceived be e offe s f om s udios like D eamWo ks a d Gold Ci cle Films, hey we e o willi g o cha ce Wa 's di ec i g a d Wha ell ac i g i he lead ole.3 I o de o fi a ce he film, Hoffma , Bu g, a d Koules pu up a seco d mo gage o hei Highla d Ave ue headqua e s.15 Saw was give a p oduc io budge of be wee $1 millio a d $1.2 millio .a

Cas i gedi

Ca y Elwes was se he sho film o DVD a d immedia ely became i e es ed i playi g D . Law e ce Go do i he film. He ead he sc ip i o e si i g a d was d aw i by he u ique ess a d o igi ali y of he s o y.19 Koules was Elwes' ma age a he ime.20 To p epa e fo his ole as a o cologis , he me wi h a doc o a UCLA's Depa me of Neu osu ge y.21 I Augus 2005, Elwes filed a lawsui agai s his ma ageme fi m a d p oduce s of Saw, Evolu io E e ai me , allegi g b each of co ac a d u jus e ichme . Elwes said ha he was p omised ha he would eceive a mi imum of o e pe ce of he p oduce s' e p ofi s f om he film a d did o . Elwes claims he o ly eceived $53,275 a d a sala y of $2,587.20.22 The case was la e se led ou of cou a d Elwes ep ised his ole five yea s la e i Saw 3D.23

Shaw ee Smi h, who is o a ho o fa , i i ially efused he ole of Ama da You g, desc ibi g he sc ip as ho ific. Howeve , af e wa chi g he sho , she ag eed o he ole, which was he pa ha Wha ell po ayed i he sho .24 Wa offha dly sugges ed Smi h whe his cas i g di ec o asked who he wa ed o play Ama da, as he had had a c ush o Smi h si ce his ee age yea s, a d was su p ised whe his cas i g di ec o secu ed he o he ole.25 Da y Glove was cas as De ec ive David Tapp, who is i pu sui of he Jigsaw Kille . Glove s a ed i a i e view, Some hi g abou ha de ec ive cha ac e a ha pa icula poi a ac ed me o i .26

O aki g he ole of Jigsaw, Tobi Bell said, I did Saw because I hough i was a fasci a i g loca io fo a film o be made. These guys locked i a oom, o me, was f esh. I did o a icipa e he e di g whe I ead he sc ip , so I was qui e caugh by su p ise a d i was clea o me ha if he filmmake s sho he sce e well, he audie ce would be caugh by su p ise as well. The film was wo h doi g fo ha mome alo e.5 Bell also s a ed ha he wa ed o ake he oppo u i y o wo k wi h Glove , whom he had eve wo ked wi h.27 Wa p ima ily cas Bell because of his voice.25 Mike Bu e s was o igi ally offe ed he ole of Jigsaw, bu decli ed as he fel ha ha ole did o have e ough exci i g sce es.28 Bu e s, a f ie d of o e of he p oduce s whom he used o play hockey wi h, e ded up cas as Paul Leahy, he Jigsaw vic im who pe ishes i a azo wi e maze ap.25

Filmi g a d pos -p oduc io edi

Wi h a shoo i g budge of $700,000,329 Saw bega p i cipal pho og aphy o Sep embe 22, 200315 a Lacy S ee P oduc io Facili y i Los A geles12 fo 18 days.29 The ba h oom was he o ly se ha had o be buil .30 The e we e o chai s o he se .31 O he se s like he police s a io we e sho i loca io s whe e o he p oduc io s had buil simila se s. The ba h ub sce e was filmed he fi s day of filmi g, a d i was he ha Wha ell ealized ha hey did ' have mo ey lef i he budge o hi e a s u ma o shoo he sce e, fo ci g him o pe fo m he sce e himself. I ook six days o shoo all he sce es i he ba h oom, a d hese we e filmed ch o ologically o avoid co i ui y jumps a d help he ac o s s ay i cha ac e . To film he sce es of he wo p o ago is s, Wa made su e mos of D . Go do 's sho s we e ve y s eady a d co olled while Adam's sho s we e shaky a d ha dheld o ma ch he cha ac e s' pe so ali ies.25 I s ead of usi g a came a dolly o a ipod, ci ema og aphe David A. A ms o g sho he e i e film wi h he came a ove his shoulde .31

The e was o ime fo Elwes a d Wha ell o ehea se hei sce es oge he o o co flic wi h he schedules of Da y Glove a d Michael Eme so , who we e o ly available fo a ce ai umbe of days.20 Glove comple ed his sce es i wo days.32 Acco di g o Elwes, his dialogue ave aged 12 o 16 pages a day, which he co side ed a g ea challe ge.31 Due o he igh shoo i g schedule, Wa could o affo d o shoo mo e ha a couple of akes pe ac o .33 I was a eally ough s uggle fo me. Eve y day, i was me figh i g o ge he sho s I did o ge . I had high aspi a io s, bu he e's o ly so much you ca do. I wa ed o make i i a ve y Hi chcockia s yle of filmmaki g, bu ha s yle of filmmaki g akes ime o se up a d so o , Wa said abou he ve y sho shoo i g schedule.3 He said he s yle i s ead e ded up bei g mo e g i y a d ough a ou d he edges due o he lack of ime a d mo ey ha we had o shoo he movie wi h a d i ul ima ely became he aes he ic of he film.3

$400 we e spe o eshoo s Wa a d Wha ell did o hei ow . Fo he eshoo s, Wha ell se ved as a s a d-i o Smi h a d Ke Leu g i he sce es of Ama da sea chi g fo he key a d of S eve Si g e e i g i o Jigsaw's lai .25 I pos -p oduc io , Wa fou d he did o have e ough sho s o akes o wo k wi h as he was basically shoo i g ehea sals. Havi g a lo of missi g gaps i he fi al p oduc , he a d edi o Kevi G eu e c ea ed sho s o me d oge he du i g edi i g, such as maki g a sho look like a su veilla ce came a feed a d usi g s ill pho og aphs. We did a lo of hi gs o fill i gaps h oughou he film. Wha eve we cu o ewspape clippi gs a d s uff like ha , o we cu o su veilla ce came as, o we cu o s ill pho og aphy wi hi he film, which ow people say, 'Wow, ha 's such a cool expe ime al s yle of filmmaki g', we eally did ha ou of ecessi y o fill i gaps we did o ge du i g he filmi g, he explai ed.3

Releaseedi

Lio sga e picked up Saw's wo ldwide dis ibu io igh s a he 2004 Su da ce Film Fes ival days befo e he film p emie ed o Ja ua y 19, 2004.34 The e i played o a packed hea e fo h ee mid igh showi gs o a posi ive eac io .11 I was he closi g film a he To o o I e a io al Film Fes ival o Sep embe 18, 2004.16 Lio sga e i i ially pla ed o elease he film di ec - o-video, bu due o he posi ive eac io a Su da ce, hey chose o elease i hea ically by Hallowee .14 I was eleased o Oc obe 1, 2004 i he U i ed Ki gdom, Oc obe 29, 2004 i he U i ed S a es a d Decembe 2, 2004 i Aus alia. The film was o igi ally a ed NC-17 (No child e u de 17 pe mi ed) by he Mo io Pic u e Associa io of Ame ica fo s o g g aphic viole ce, hough af e bei g e-edi ed, i was eleased wi h a R a i g.3035

Lio sga e held a blood d ive fo he Red C oss called Give Til I Hu s a d collec ed 4,249 pi s of blood.3637

Sou d ackedi

Saw's sou d ack was mai ly composed by Cha lie Clouse , a d ook six weeks o comple e.38 O he so gs we e pe fo med by F o Li e Assembly, Fea Fac o y, E emy, Pi bull Dayca e a d Psychopomps. Megade h's so g Die Dead E ough was o igi ally se o be fea u ed i he film bu was o used fo u disclosed easo s.3940

The sou d ack was eleased o Oc obe 5, 2004 by Koch Reco ds. Joh y Lof us of AllMusic gave i h ee ou of five s a s. He said ha Clouse eally ails i wi h his c eaky, clammy sco e a d ha he u de s a ds ha Saw's ho o o ly wo ks wi h a heady amou of camp, a d he d aws f om i dus ial music i he same way. He pa icula ly liked, Ciga e e; Hello, Adam; a d F**k This S*! , comme i g ha hey ble d chilli g sou ds wi h ha sh pe cussio a d deep-wou d keyboa d s abs.41

Home mediaedi

The hea ical ve sio of he film was eleased o VHS a d DVD o Feb ua y 15, 2005 i he U i ed S a es a d Ca ada. Af e i s fi s week, i made $9.4 millio i DVD e als a d $1.7 millio i VHS e als, maki g i he op e al of he week.42 Fo he seco d week i emai ed as he umbe o e DVD e al wi h $6.8 millio , fo a $16.27 millio wo-week o al. I d opped o hi d place i VHS e als wi h $1.09 millio , fo a $2.83 millio wo-week o al.43 The film we o o sell mo e ha $70 millio wo h of video a d DVDs.11 A wo-disc U cu Edi io was eleased o Oc obe 18, 2005 o ie i wi h he elease of Saw II. The sho film, also e i led Saw, was i cluded o he DVD.44

The film was la e eleased o Blu- ay o Ju e 27, 2006.45 O May 11, 2021, Saw was eleased o Ul a HD Blu- ay wi h a ew 2160p a sfe a d a ew 58 mi u e maki g-of docume a y.46

Recep io a d legacyedi

Box officeedi

Saw ope ed a umbe h ee o Hallowee weeke d 2004 i 2,315 hea e s a d g ossed $18.2 millio , behi d Ray ($20 millio ) a d The G udge ($21.8 millio ).47 Acco di g o Lio sga e's exi poll, 60% of he mos ly male audie ce was u de 25 yea s of age. Saw had also become Lio sga e's seco d bes ope i g, af e Fah e hei 911's $23.9 millio (2004).48 O i s seco d weeke d, a addi io al 152 hea e s we e added, b i gi g he hea e cou o 2,467. I d opped o umbe fou , maki g $11 millio , a 39% d op f om he ope i g weeke d.49

Saw ope ed i he U i ed Ki gdom o $2.2 millio i 301 hea e s, g ossi g a $12.3 millio o al i seve weeks.50 I Aus alia, i ope ed i 161 hea e s wi h $1.2 millio a d o aled ou o $3.1 millio i six weeks.51 I I aly, he film ope ed o Ja ua y 14, 2005 i 267 hea e s o $1.7 millio a d g ossed $6.4 millio i six weeks.52 Saw ope ed o $1.5 millio f om 187 hea e s i F a ce o Ma ch 16, 2005 a d made $3.1 millio by he e d of i s fou -week u .53 Saw came o g oss $55.1 millio i he U i ed S a es a d Ca ada a d $47.9 millio i o he ma ke s fo a wo ldwide o al of $103 millio .54 A he ime, i became he mos p ofi able ho o film af e Sc eam (1996).55

Te h a ive sa y hea ical e- eleaseedi

O Oc obe 31, 2014, fo he film's e h a ive sa y, Saw was e- eleased o selec hea e s fo o e week.56 The elease ea ed $650,051 i i s ope i g weeke d, a d is he hi d lowes -g ossi g wide ope i g, fou h af e he Toy S o y e- elease i 2020.57 A he e d of i s u , he elease had g ossed $815,324, b i gi g he film's ove all domes ic g oss o $56,000,369.58

C i ical espo seedi

O he eview agg ega o websi e Ro e Toma oes, 50% of 192 c i ics' eviews a e posi ive, wi h a ave age a i g of 5.610. The websi e's co se sus eads: Saw e s a es audie ces wi h a decep ively cleve plo a d a my iad of memo able, as y se pieces, bu i s lof y ambi io s a e u de cu by a ihilis ic s eak ha feels mo e mea ha p ofou d.59 Me ac i ic, which uses a weigh ed ave age, assig ed he film a sco e of 46 ou of 100, based o 32 c i ics, i dica i g mixed o ave age eviews.60 Audie ces polled by Ci emaSco e gave he film a ave age g ade of C o a A o F scale.61

De is Ha vey of Va ie y gave he film a ega ive eview af e i s Su da ce p emie e. He called i a c ude co coc io sew oge he f om he seve ed pa s of p io ho o se ial kille pics. He called he sc ee play co volu ed, c i icizi g he use of flashbacks wi hi flashbacks a d ed he i gs. He desc ibed he film as bei g oo hype bolic o be ge ui ely dis u bi g.62 Ca la Meye of he Sa F a cisco Ch o icle gave he film a posi ive eview, sayi g he film combi ed B-movie ac i g wi h a wis ed mi d-se a d visual icks desig ed o camouflage cheap effec s a d ha i was e ifyi g a some mome s a d i si ua i gly c eepy a ma y o he s. She called he killi g sce es amazi gly evoca ive fo such a low-budge movie.63

Empi e's Kim Newma gave he film fou ou of five s a s. He said Saw is s yled like ea ly David Fi che films a d boas s a i ica e s uc u e — complex flashbacks-wi hi -flashbacks explai how he cha ac e s have come o his c isis — a d a sa isfyi g mys e y o go wi h i s ghas ly claus ophobia. He e ded his eview sayi g, As good a all-ou , o -camp ho o movie as we've had la ely.64 Owe Gleibe ma of E e ai me Weekly gave he film a B mi us, calli g i de iva ive a d messy a d oo o se sical fo i s ow good. He desc ibed Jigsaw's i e as o show you he se ial kille lu ki g i side you self. Gleibe ma c i icized Elwes' pe fo ma ce by sayi g, Elwes ough o be fea u ed i a semi a o he pe ils of ove ac i g. He compa ed he plo o Seve sayi g, I a bla a imi a io of Seve , Saw fea u es a lu a ic sadis whose ghoulish c imes a e mea , i each case, o mi o he si s of his vic ims. The wis he e is ha he psycho does ' do he killi g.65 Da iel M. Kimmel of he Teleg am Gaze e called i o e of he mos loa hsome films his c i ic has see i mo e ha 20 yea s o he job.66

The New Yo k Times's S ephe Holde gave a mixed eview, sayi g he film does a be e - ha -ave age job of co veyi g he pa ic a d helpless ess of me e o ized by a sadis i a deg adi g e vi o me , bu i is s ill o especially sca y. Wha se s i s demo apa f om u -of- he-mill movie se ial kille s is his impulse o humilia e a d o u e his vic ims a d jus ify i wi h some wis ed mo ali y. He said he film is se iously u de mi ed by he half-baked, fo mulaic de ec ive s o y i which he ho o is f amed.67 Ca i a Choca o of he Los A geles Times also gave he film a mixed eview, sayi g, Saw is so full of wis s i e ds up ge i g s a led. Fo all of his flashy e gi ee i g a d i ve ive o u e sce a ios, he Jigsaw Kille comes ac oss as a ama eu . Ha ibal Lec e would have him fo lu ch. She said he film ca elessly u de sco es i s ow shaky a a ive a eve y u wi h i s mid-budge hoki ess. She also o ed ha Elwes a d Wha ell had ouble keepi g a Ame ica acce .68 A o he mixed eview came f om Roge Ebe , who gave he film 2 ou of 4 s a s a d lame ed he gimmicks a d plo co iva ces bu o e heless desc ibed Saw as well made a d ac ed, a d does wha i does abou as well as i could be expec ed o.69

Richa d J. Leskosky of Champaig -U ba a's The News-Gaze e said Saw wa s o be ake as a o he Seve . Though i fea u es pe ve se g oss-ou sce es a d a villai wi h a supe ficially peda ic mo ive behi d his c imes (his vic ims, if hey su vive, have lea ed o app ecia e life mo e), i lacks he fi esse a d polish of he David Fi che film.70 Whe asked if he 1995 h ille film Seve was a i spi a io o Saw, Wha ell said Fo me as he w i e , defi i ely. I mea , Seve is jus a ve y well co s uc ed film, a d if you' e w i i g a h ille , i ca ' hu o s udy i . I e ms of he s o y hough, James a d I eve eally fel Seve was ha close o ou film. I guess if you s a d back, you have wo de ec ives chasi g a psychopa h, who uses vile me hods o each people lesso s, a d hose poi s echo Seve . Wha we always liked abou Saw, hough, was ha he s o y is old f om he poi of view of wo of he psychopa h's vic ims, i s ead of he police chasi g af e him, as you so of e see.7

Ho o eview websi e, Bloody Disgus i g, a ked he film e h i i s lis of he Top 20 Ho o Films of he decade, wi h he a icle calli g Saw pe haps he mos i flue ial ho o film of he decade.71 The Daily Teleg aph lis ed he film umbe 14 o hei Top 100 lis ha defi ed he 2000s.72 The film was omi a ed fo bes ho o film a he 31s Sa u Awa ds.73