Saw (2004)

With a dead body lying between them, two men wake up in the secure lair of a serial killer who's been nicknamed "Jigsaw". The men must follow various rules and objectives if they wish to survive and win the deadly game set for them.

Director:

James Wan

Writers:

Leigh Whannell, James Wan (story),

Stars:

Cary Elwes, Leigh Whannell, Danny Glover

6 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Leigh Whannell	...	Adam Faulkner-Stanheight
Cary Elwes	...	Dr. Lawrence Gordon
Danny Glover	...	Detective David Tapp
Ken Leung	...	Detective Steven Sing
Dina Meyer	...	Kerry
Mike Butters	...	Paul
Paul Gutrecht	...	Mark
Michael Emerson	...	Zep Hindle
Benito Martinez	...	Brett
Shawnee Smith	...	Amanda
Makenzie Vega	...	Diana Gordon
Monica Potter	...	Alison Gordon
Ned Bellamy	...	Jeff
Alexandra Bokyun Chun	...	Carla (as Alexandra Chun)
Avner Garbi	...	Father

Storyline

After waking up in a tiny cell, two men find themselves victim of a serial killer who plays games with his victims and gives them one last chance to survive. If they wish to live, they each have to play their own game as the killer has told them on an audio script. As the film goes on, connections between the victims and the true identity of the never-showed-up killer are revealed.

---

Plot Keywords:

surprise ending | flashback | serial killer | bad guy wins | pig mask | 

---

Taglines:

Every piece has a puzzle.

---

Genres:

Horror | Mystery

---

Certificate:

18A

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Fan Club

Country:

USA Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 October 2004 (Canada)

Also Known As:

El juego del miedo

Filming Locations:

Lacy Street Production Center - 2630 Lacy Street, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,200,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$110,822 (South Africa) (1 April 2005)

Gross:

$172,993 (South Africa) (8 April 2005)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Evolution Entertainment, Saw Productions Inc., Twisted Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS DTS (5.1 surround)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Principal photography was done in a converted warehouse. The bathroom set was built while the other locations were existing rooms redressed.

---

Goofs

When Adam pounds on Zep with the toilet seat, he grabs his shoulder in pain. In the first shot of him holding his shoulder, his hand is soaked in blood. In the second shot, however, his hand is much cleaner.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Adam: Help! Someone help me! Is someone there? Hey! Oh shit, I'm probably dead.

---

Crazy Credits

The opening title ripples like it was underwater.

---

Connections

Referenced in Masters of Horror: John Carpenter's Cigarette Burns (2005)

---

Soundtracks

Stürm
Performed by Front Line Assembly
Written by Bill Leeb and Rhys Fulber
Published by Nettwerk Songs Publishing (SOCAN) / Zomba Songs, Inc. (BMI)
Courtesy of Metropolis Records

User Reviews

Well made horror/thriller, two thumbs up

When two men, wake up and find themselves chained to a bathroom pipe, with a dead body lying in between them, they soon realize that they are prisoners, in the secure lair of a serial killer, nicknamed 'Jigsaw'.

This film was, in my opinion, exciting, thrilling, and an overall entertaining film to watch. It delivered the necessary chills, to keep its audiences fully awake, and engaged. This was an enormous achievement for Aussie newcomers – James Wan, and Leigh Wannell. The two have created a well-deserved horror/thriller, without the necessary clichés.The film is not too scary that it becomes unwatchable, so the full potential of its enormity will not be missed. definitely two thumbs uo for me.