Stuff nightmares are made of

Rating: 9/10 (4 August 2011)

I've never really taken the time to fully get into the whole "Saw"-franchise, mainly because the word "franchise" is always sort of off-putting to me. I mean seriously, seven movies in six years? Perhaps the makers can just work really, really fast, but randomly shelling out entries at that kind of ridiculous pace just screams "cash cow" to me. I might start checking them out anyway though, because the original "Saw" is nothing short of magnificent. It's gripping and terrifying from the first minute to the last, and it keeps putting you on the wrong track just because it can. There's some stuff in this movie that doesn't make a lick of sense, but that's forgivable because all of it's done in the name of mind-shattering suspense. The acting is also great, particularly by Cary Elwes. "Saw" is not a movie that leaves you with a good feeling, but who really wants it to? Excellent dark thriller.