Saw (3)

Saw
2004

Directed by:
James Wan

Cast:
Cary Elwes...............Dr. Gordon
Danny Glover...........Det. Tapp
Monica Potter..........Allison Gordon

Ok I heard nothing but scathing reviews of this movie. Everyone (including some commenters on this site) said it was a horrible horror movie. My response is that how many exceptional horror movies are there? Maybe 5, 10 at best. The rest are in the middle. In my opinion horror movies should be held up to a completely different set of standards. Were you scared? Did it keep you scared for a significant length of the movie? Did you hear a noise in the house and look behind you suddenly? (My litmus test is am I afraid to close the medicine cabinet door. In horror movies that's ALWAYS when the bad guy appears).

The answers: yes, yes, yes, and yes (I cracked the cabinet door and timidly grabbed my toothpaste real quick).

As you have probably gotten from reviews or trailers for the movie it is about a serial killer who sets up elaborate devises so that his victims must make a choice and their deaths result from their decisions. Great premise in my opinion -- kinda like a hands off Seven. The killer subjects his victims to these tests/tortures so that they may value and appreciate their lives. Huh, he's the Oprah of serial killings.

Where the movie went wrong was the inclusion of the Detective who is overcome with catching the killer, played pathetically by Danny Glover. What should have been a simple character was given depth as almost an afterthought. By the end of the movie he should have just faded away instead of constantly showing up.

Cary Elwes was ok. Not a stunning portrayal but he played the terror/anger stricken victim aptly enough. Monica Potter played his wife in bit scenes but with far greater emotion and merit. Aside from that, really not much else to say about the acting. Come on it's a horror movie, as long as you made me believe that your were scared you succeeded.

Glover aside, my only major problem with the film is the inclusion of the stereotypical creepy puppet. Really we didn't need him to drive home the scare factor here (which it did help). After seeing the conclusion of the film it becomes even more evident that the puppet was pointless and really didn't give credence to any character or plot devise.

All in all I gotta say you should rent this. But I must suggest having the remote close by. Certain scenes drag beyond their need. Simply zip past them, shave about 10 minutes off the viewing and the film is much better for it.

I give this 3 creepy puppets out of 5.