Saw (2004)

Two strangers awaken in a room with no recollection of how they got there or why, and soon discover they are pawns in a deadly game perpetrated by a notorious serial killer.

Director:

James Wan

Writers:

Leigh Whannell, James Wan (story)

Stars:

Cary Elwes, Leigh Whannell, Danny Glover

8 wins & 10 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 | killer | flashback | chained | serial killer | 

---

Taglines:

If It's Halloween... It Must Be Saw

---

Genres:

Horror | Mystery

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong grisly violence and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Fan Club

Country:

USA Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 October 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Saw

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$1,200,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£1,239,813 (UK) (1 October 2004)

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

James Wan wanted the camera movements to reflect the two main characters emotions and personality. He filmed Dr. Gordon with steady controlled shots and Adam as hand-held shots to capture their emotions of the situation.

---

Goofs

When Adam first remembers what happened before he was kidnapped, we see him making his way back to his apartment after snapping photos of Dr. Gordon. The camera Adam has slung over his shoulder changes from scene to scene. In the hallway outside the apartment, Adam has a black camera with a long lens and a mounted flash unit. As he enters the apartment, he's got a silver camera that appears to have a very short lens and no mounted flash. Once inside, he's got the black camera with long lens and mounted flash again.

---

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 The Sopranos: Mayham (2006)

---

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

The first, the best!

Okay, i have seen a lot of horror films. Saw was another one that i liked much. Saw 2,3,4...and so on were movies i disliked. The splatter was increasing for no apparent reason, the atmosphere and the whole set up and the feeling, that made the first a success, were all missing from the rest.

So here we are. I review the first one that is the best in my opinion. I liked it. A friend of mine, a co-student at College, told me to watch the movie together. She couldn't remember how many times she had seen it. It was her favorite so she wanted to share it with me.

I liked the flow of the movie. And then the movie ended. And i found my jaw fallen on the floor. Incredible movie. No i wont spoil you anything!!! Go and watch it!

Warning though, it has extreme violence. I was about to eat something, while i was watching Saw. I reconsidered. I paused... i ate... then i watched the film.