Very solid film from a first time director

Rating: 8/10 (13 July 2005)

Saw this film on my own, in the confided space of my own room, with the lights off. Have to say not many films made me want to turn away and not look at the screen, but this film's done it, and did it well.
This film, very clever in parts, and truly disturbing. I love the sense when the main character Adam, he found a intruder inside his flat. With all the light switches not working, in pitch black with only his camera in his hands he still try to look for this intruder. And he did the only logical thing, which is to use the flash light on his camera to allow him to search through the flat. So we get to see these snap shots, once every 4, 5 seconds of the surroundings. A little like the disco strobe light effect, but with every flash, you know you are only waiting for something to jump at you right in front of the screen.
I'd think that this sense has a missed opportunity not to make it scarier (e.g. have things changed while the same places being shown twice, suppose this is more the sort of Japanese horror films style). But that's fine, it's scary enough already.
In general I love this film, however very clearly this is low budget and a rushed job. Low budget is never a problem, there are millions of low budget classics. But when rushed, you do feel a few rough edges in the film especially towards the last half an hour. Some shots were out of focus (maybe it is done on purpose to add to the atmosphere, but truly no need when the shot is dead serious when two people are just having a conversation) and the story and relationship of the characters ran a little dry. It feels like the director couldn't wait to reveal the final twist of the story.
Well, after the film, clicked onto the special feature / making of the film; all my questions were answered. It tells you that it is a rushed job, the crews were working on a 18 days schedule. I'd say it's no excuse, but still have to say 'bravo!' Surly I had more than 18 days to do my GCSE art project, I still only managed to make something slightly better than any junk you'd call a piece of crap.
Secondly it shows that the director James Wan, is very young. He looks almost my age, which is very rare for directors. But this also shows why this film does give you a little of this computer game feel. It's just like Silent Hill / Resident Evil the first 10 minutes of the film. Now you find a tape, so how to play it? Oh you find a key, I wonder which door this unlocks? Suppose this is not a criticism, it's all fine, and I love it.
Ratings OK, very solid film from a first time director, I'll say 8/10 overall 9/10 for jump out of your chair / cover face with hand factor
Footnote: SAW 2 is in post-production at the time of writing and is due for a 2005 release in the US; Maybe because the director is Chinese, the Chinese girls casted in the film, they are all very pretty