Saw

The one that began it all. The spectacular franchise opener that changed the very nature of horror. Well, maybe not quite a game changer, but one hell of an indie creeper. Saw, unlike the sequels that would follow, is all about tone and twists, less about torture and gore. James Wan and Leigh Whannell, director and writer respectively, have crafted a clever horror film and created a brilliant villain. Jigsaw, the killer who never kills, forces his victims to face their faults and avoid death by challenging them. Genius. The script focuses mostly on the story of Adam (Whannell) and Dr. Gordon (Cary Elwes), who are trapped in a disgusting bathroom, racing against time to escape. Wan manages nicely behind the camera, and is best when revealing the twists. This is the first, and best, of the series, and is likely to go down in history beside Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th, and Halloween. It is already the highest grossing horror franchise, beating out Jason Voorhees and his mother.

Genre - Horror (3.25)

Screenplay (4)
Acting (2)
Production (4)
Directing (3)