A competent, though slightly hollow thriller/horror.

Rating: 7/10 (28 March 2018)

Despite being such a high profile "horror" title, the fact that Saw is lacking an underlying sense of dread and tension is remarkably surprising. There are pockets of tension dotted throughout the film (in particular the trap sequences), just not to the extent you may imagine.
The cinematography is well executed, and is most notable in moments of aggressive editing ( the trap sequences) where it is used to great effect to create tension.
Saw deserves praise for its non linear plot structure, featuring an abundance of flash backs and multiple story lines.
The leads deliver modest performances, however the supporting cast are a little more mediocre.
One minor complaint is that protagonist Adam sometimes behaves like he's in a completely different environment to the hostile death trap he's been plunged into, including spouting cringe worthy pieces of dialogue.