Great thriller!! ****SPOILERS****

Rating: 8/10 (31 October 2004)

Oh Wow! I remember reading about this movie a while ago in EW and just knew I would have to go see it. The trailers on TV only made me want to see it more. Even though I missed opening night, I still got to see it in a crowded theatre the next night. The energy in the audience was great - everyone was so into this movie that it was dead silent unless people were screaming or whispering "oh my god" when something crazy was about to go down. Although the whole movie maintained a dark mood, there were some scenes that stood out as being some of the most disturbing situations I have ever seen. The first that comes to mind is that poor woman who had that device on her jaw that would essentially split her face open in an instant if she didn't retrieve the key. I thought the machine would gradually open her mouth --- needless to say me and the rest of the audience jumped out of our seats when "Jigsaw" demonstrated what would happen when the machine was triggered. Not only did this thing spring open fast, it opened so fast on the dummy's head that it basically exploded!! We were all as terrified as the woman in the movie! Another scene that messed with my head was when Whannell had to search his pitch black apartment for an intruder with nothing but a camera flash to temporarily light his path. And then when the doll started laughing!!! Oh man, I was too through!
Yeah there was some overacting in the end and yeah I was upset that no one ever just shot the bad guy when they had the chance, but overall, I think the movie will be worth the 20 bucks when it comes out on DVD. it aimed to be a dark thriller and for me it was just that. Not to mention, the plot twists were so unpredictable (i mean, Sing getting shot after stepping through that trap? no one saw that coming. Not to mention the "dead guy" in the bathroom was Jigsaw!!!) --- by the way, I felt so bad for Whannell in the end:-( But at least Dr. Lawrence had help on the way right? ...right?? well maybe not.
8 out of 10 stars