Well, I never Saw that coming.... (contains mild spoilers)

Rating: 5/10 (14 May 2006)

I should mention, before you read on, that I'm not much of a fan of Seven (please don't call it Se7en) which, due to Saw's comparison to the aforementioned, should be some indication I may not have found this as enthralling as other reviewers.
It's an interesting premise. A young photographer, Adam (played by relative newcomer and co-writer Leigh Wannell) wakes up gasping, pulling himself out of a bath in a dark, disused, run-down bathroom. As he struggles to remove the shackle chaining him to the wall by his ankle, the lights flicker on and we realise he's not alone. Surgeon Lawrence (played by Cary Elwes, who I'd always thought was considered quite the thespian) is on the opposite side of the room, also chained, and a dead man lies between them in a pool of blood.
It soon becomes apparent, via clues left and via Lawrence's history, that they have been trapped by Jigsaw - a notorious serial killer who is infamous by not killing his victims directly. Rather, he places them in situations that they must either escape or meet their maker. In this instance Lawrence must kill Adam (with a gun helpfully provided by the corpse) before 6pm or his family will be killed, and he himself will be left to rot. The title 'Saw' comes from their captor (obviously), and also from the possibility of severing their chained feet with hand-saws left, by Jigsaw, in a toilet cistern for them to find.
Other examples of Jigsaw's captures are told in flashback sequences. One particularly vivid situation features a woman who must escape a contraption round her face, that will break her jaw in both directions if she doesn't remove the key for it from her (still alive, but drugged) companion's stomach.
It's a good plot. But it was let down by the acting and sheer implausibility. For example, why oh why did two off-duty policemen go directly to Jigsaw's lair in the middle of the night, without requesting back-up? It's worth mentioning that one of the cops investigating the murders is Danny Glover - I think he only smiles once throughout the whole film. His subtle performance of a good-cop-gone-crazy is a welcome relief after the hammy inter-play by our two men trapped in the bathroom.
There are twists, but don't expect not to get it. Go with your instincts and you'll know what to expect very early on.
Despite some of the most cringe-worthy performances this side of Grease 2, and some unintentionally funny moments, it's a good watch, with some memorable scenes. Just don't expect a horror masterpiece.