A+ Concept, C+ Realization

Rating: 3/10 (17 October 2004)

When they announced at the start of the screening for SAW at Austin Film Festival that there would be no Q&A, as the director, writer, and star (Elwes) could not make it, we were disappointed. After screening it, we decided they were probably in hiding.
SAW had a lot of potential, but less of it realized than the hype. A little more restraint with the flashbacks and fast edits, and paring down of the melodrama would have made for a lot more tension, and lot less laughter during scenes I'm convinced weren't intended to be humorous.
SAW features Cary Elwes and Danny Glover, two actors who can turn in solid performances. However, here, they are flat, and melodramatic. The best acting is done by the lessor players here.
Despite all the twists, too many in fact, SAW is disappointing.
I had high hopes, and they were dashed. A+ concept, C- realization.