Saw - The Cinema Snob

Before the new film Spiral: From the Book of Saw is released, The Cinema Snob reviews the original 2004 Saw film Directed by James Wan and written by Leigh Whannel!
Writer/Creator: Brad Jones
Title Card: Shaun Millington
End Screen: Nick Michalak, www.ravensfilm.com
Music: Karl Casey at White Bat Audio
Devin LeTroy Powell, Rhymer-Man, check out the full song:
• Rhymer-Man - Snob Nigh...
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[@DrSpookula]

True story: I met Cary Elwes when he was shooting that Ted Bundy movie, The Riverman and it was very shortly after the first trailer come out for Saw. I was getting big into horror movies at the time, I was 11 and we asked him about it. If memory serves, he said "How old are you? Oh, yeah you probably shouldn't see that one." I did of course, eventually. Long story short, Cary Elwes was a super nice guy and I still got a signed pic of us from that day.

[@Tylerson]

I've heard he's a really good guy. I guess Cary Elwes isn't Mr. Hollywood or anything but even still, it's really cool that he took the time to speak to an 11 year old, even if it was for a brief moment.

[@colinr0380]

I like the idea that maybe he said to you "Don't watch Saw, that's a bit much for an 11 year old. But this Ted Bundy guy on the other hand!"

[@jbrookskaz]

i got to ask him a question at NYCC when he was promoting his book, "As You Wish". I was the last person in line and they were supposed to wrap up and he refused until I asked my question and he answered it. I asked him what was his favorite moment in film (behind the scenes or otherwise) was and he told this amazing story about Andre The Giant, how he was the nicest guy, how much he missed him, how friendly and respectful he was. Anyway the story was basically about how Andre had a nearly minute long fart while on set of TPB. I love both those men so fucking much

[@lawjef]

A celebrity talks to a fan for 10 seconds and fan assumes they can determine if the celeb is a good person or not. In a 10 second interaction. Sounds like a very accurate way to gauge whether someone is nice or not. Thanks for the insight.

[@KIISwitch]

@@lawjef They do say that first impressions matter a lot

[@Tylerson]

It always saddens me that the big guy that gets killed in the razor wire trap is never recognized as the 'Pepsi for TV Game' guy from Pepsiman.

[@whitemageFFXI]

I didn't know this! You've spread the word just a little further. lol

[@ginnrollins211]

And he then go on to appear on AVGN's Pepsi Man review.

[@robertparker6280]

Oh shit!

[@carloscardona6587]

5:41-5:48

[@danieldwyer5848]

Brad's honest laugh about feeling something again is definitely the feeling we all have from this last year. I mean Snob...

[@wingsandash]

Yep. :)

[@rolandofgilead43]

yeah i noticed that laugh at the end too i think that was a flub he left in

[@wingsandash]

@@rolandofgilead43 It is.

[@Nauseousrap]

such a wholesome moment, gladb he kept in it

[@DarthArachnious]

I remember watching this in theaters with my friends. When it was revealed that the gun only has one bullet. I told my friend sitting next to me, that the body wasn't dead and probably the killer. He said that was stupid and I hadn't been paying attention. Then when the movie was over, he told a girl he was trying to impress, that he figured it out before the reveal. The big reveal of the night was she didn't like horror movies, and refused to see him again.

[@cdskilla]

why the hell would she go with him to see Saw then? And your “friend” sounds like a douche canoe

[@jarmakey1]

I love a happy ending

[@rolandofgilead43]

@@cdskilla i agree with ya man if you are dating someone and you know she hates horror movies why even take her to begin with? no wonder he never saw her again.

[@samgreenblatt7074]

And then everyone clapped

[@jway9097]

@@samgreenblatt7074 and the girl's name? Einstein.

[@adamfowler5475]

This first film was truly a masterpiece of horror. I'll never forget how the entire theater freaked out during this movie, especially the twist ending.

[@NYGiantsfan1029]

That twist is one of the better twists in recent memory

[@KyleRDent]

I love finding out that a "deep artistic direction" for a film is actually just the result of having no budget.

[@McMeatBag]

It seems like a lot of movies come out best when they have constraints like that. It's like directors become worse when they have no outside limits

[@meapickle]

​@@McMeatBagwhen limits are placed, u have to get creative in order to make it work

[@MultiBeerme]

You couldn't say that last line with a straight face and I'm so glad you kept that take.

[@Fisk4life]

God I remember going to see each sequel every Halloween! Those were the days!

[@Puncherjoe1]

"If it's Halloween, that means Saw"

[@umachan9286]

I'll be the first to admit this was a decent horror / thriller. There was a psychological element to it and it didn't rely on over the top gore to get the point across. Something that the later movies seem to have forgotten.

[@pentelegomenon1175]

The second movie is decent too. Or maybe the later movies screwed up my baseline, who knows.

[@umachan9286]

@@pentelegomenon1175 I feel they went too far into the torture porn aspect in the later movies including the second one. But you know, that's just my opinion on it.

[@jwnj9716]

Still my favorite film of this franchise. The mystery is enough to keep you invested and then you get the great ending.

[@therock238360]

Also the only movie in the series that isn’t just pure torture porn. Although Spiral looks to be going back to the roots of the series

[@mullaoslo]

I agree it's the best movie of the bunch, and the start of my fandom of James and Leigh... But I unapologetically love the entire franchise.. The twist and turns of the story insane as it is keeps me coming back

[@rolandofgilead43]

@@therock238360 let's just wait and see what the next one will be one thing you can say about the series at all is even though they got carried away with the gore at some point it's an R rated series and not a PG-13 series and the cast actually got fake blood on them unlike most horror movies today where it's fucking CGI blood most of the time it feels like

[@destroyerinazuma96]

​@@mullaosloI'm a fan of the first three. The next few did flesh out Cramer's story a bit more so I'm thankful for that. But it was hard to connect with the characters. I'd argue the first three films did the best job here.

[@mullaoslo]

@@destroyerinazuma96 ive been rewatching the series over the weekend, watched 1-3 saturday and sunday and have watched 4-7 today 😅 fair to say i dont have any issues with the later characters... but 1-3 is a level above due to the involvement of Wan and Whannel

[@Flaris]

Saw franchise has never been my thing. But can definitely appreciate the impact of the first movie and how well it was put together considering the budget. No shock it was successful enough to create a franchise and that it has such a strong fanbase.

[@Gideon13397]

I like all the Saw movies.

[@miraculousismyguiltypleasu9372]

"Having seen the film, i can safely say "Oops.""

[@vistea1]

Still the second most infuriating moment for me in the series.

[@OneJamalWonder]

REAL BIG OOPS

[@scottbuckley823]

If he didn't lose the key how would the game continue?

[@mrcritical6751]

That seems oddly unfair for Jigsaw

[@pentelegomenon1175]

@@scottbuckley823 I see Jigsaw as a guy who just pretends that everything is part of his master plan, but in reality he improvises a lot of it.

[@michaelryall5752]

Between the apocalypse, the reverse bear trap and the blob, Shawnee Smith characters just can't catch a break.

[@Oppeldeldoc1]

At least she gets to play a bad employee who never gets fired on Becker.

[@piefish1000]

Think she had to deal with the Grudge too in one of the sequels lol

[@Gideon13397]

@@piefish1000 That didn't well if I remember it correctly 😅.

[@MrGaiakid]

Man if the people who made that "save free tv" commercial saw the world today....

[@iselin90]

and "free tv" isnt free at all lol

[@MandleRoss]

They did see it. They saw it coming. That's why they made the ad.

[@AzhreiVep]

Did they serious just call gorillas monsters? Those bastards! ... The octopus is a fair cop, though. Those things are freaky.

[@jacobmatthewcrawford2120]

Yet another film that I can't believe is old enough to be nostalgic! This episode was a quite a trip. Haven't seen Saw in years, but I do remember how effective it was as a thriller... The production story truly is inspiring!

[@adamf1980]

15:02 "Because unlike some other Robin Hoods, I have a genuine accent!"

[@CthulhuianBunny]

Danny Glover may have escaped this series after the first film, but his character still had to be in the video game.

[@shanemyers7654]

A true fan, I see *sniffs wine*

[@questworldiangreenknight7455]

There’s a video game????

[@NickMichalak]

Your old "Floor Season" should've had the twist of you being shackled to a pipe waiting for you to saw your foot off. Plenty of time for a retcon, as is the Saw tradition.

[@Rando1975]

I always do a Saw marathon every October watching all the films. I was completely surprised by the ending. I remember watching the DVD and out loud saying "What the Fuck?!"

[@oz_jones]

Its a great ending.

[@questworldiangreenknight7455]

😂😆🤣

[@Arc115YT]

Lol I love brad briefly breaking character at that last line. I'm glad that made it into the finished video.

[@peterkyrouac]

I didn't realize that Charlie Clouser did the music for the first Saw-good for him! I only ever knew him as the live keyboardist for Nine Inch Nails in the 90's.

[@jailcatjones3250]

Can't wait til you tackle the Police Academy franchise

[@colinr0380]

Some films are just too scary and obscene!

[@madizzle90]

Even if Adam hadn’t flushed the key down, he still probably would’ve been trapped in the room.

[@LucyLioness100]

I’m surprised it’s taken Brad this long to cover “Saw”, but it’s fitting with “Spiral” releasing Friday

[@blabo6427]

This movie seemed to me very over the top in its day. Now it looks like a documentary compared to the sequels. I'm still waiting for Saw XVIII: In Space.

[@vistea1]

SAW X is in development, so a sequel in space is probably going to happen.

[@MandleRoss]

Yup, I remember being shocked by the first movie when I first watched it. It felt ground-breakingly edgy at the time. I even debated in my mind whether to rewatch it with my girlfriend at the time as I was worried she might think I'm some kind of psycho for recommending it. Now, that girlfriend is my wife and she is addicted to Criminal Minds and also _knows_ that I _am_ a psycho so everything worked out just fine.

[@coolnerdlll6053]

It's the Cinema Saw-nob!

[@patrickcharles6983]

I didn't see saw in theaters, but I seen it in public safety class in high school. I guess Saw was good enough to be seen in a academic setting a year out of the theaters.

[@fredskull1618]

Didn’t see the ending coming when I saw this movie in the theater. I remember feeling like the movie was going to be a game changer.

[@N1ght_walk]

Yes! Can’t wait for you to review Saw 2-8. Get hyped for Spiral!

[@lawjef]

An innovative and amusing critique of all the “shared universe” talk that dominates social media these days. Kudos, brad!

[@nateputerbaugh5709]

Say what you will about the sequels, but the original is a genuinely good Se7en-esque psychological horror/thriller

[@Thegr8MC]

Oh yeah, I do remember when this series started out as a legitimate horror series instead of campy torture porn.

[@robertrodriguez2106]

But when will we get "Saw: in Space"

[@chrisnutt2135]

This film blew my mind as a teen. Still love it to this day

[@mbclove1]

Watched it on my work computer nd now my phone. Love ya work Snob

[@nu-metalfan2654]

Kiss The Girls is one of my all time favourite movies, I also enjoyed Along Came a Spider as well. So wait, we had an actor from Kiss the Girls, an actor from Along Came A Spider, Saw was heavily influenced by Seven, Saw had Danny Glover who was probably one more week away from retirement, all Saw needed was a connection with The Bone Collector and Saw would’ve been the most Mystery Thriller to ever Mystery Thriller.

[@EclecticEnnui]

(Jigsaw voice) Hello, Cinema Snob. I want to play a game, but first I have a question. Do you like bubbles?

[@godofgaming6905]

(Queue nostalgia critic) Fucking bubbles!

[@charlottecorday8494]

Do you like carrots?

[@rayruckus4446]

@@charlottecorday8494DOES IT FIT?

[@motnurky7055]

Saw if Jigsaw was Sean Hannity

[@randalgraves6979]

I like turtles!!!

[@zachwillas6329]

This is way too early. Everyone knows you can't have Halloween without Saw.

[@jfdrac]

Tell that to the Book of Sprial people

[@jimmymelendez1836]

Oh really?😂

[@bradwolf07]

This one got me good. I loved it. It was well done for what it is. And Carey Elwes is such a talented actor, I will give anything he is in a chance

[@masonr1666]

I have heard many interviews with the film makers on Saw. I remember them on The Screen Savers (on G4 Tech TV), discussing the film in 2004. They started with the idea of what is the cheapest movie they could make. 1 set, and two principle actors. They were also influenced by Se7en, & the last scene in Mad Max, where the victim was given a choice. Specifically, in Se7en where the model wakes up with her nose removed with a phone glued in one hand, and pills glued in the other. The time constraint that was in Mad Max was also an inspiration. (Note: I wanted to see Saw in the Theater, but it did not come to my local market.) In that interview, the filmmakers discussed how Se7en was a mystery movie first, set in a horror universe, that is what there inspiration, and guide for the first film. A detective story set in a horror movie universe. This is why I kind of love the first film, and in my opinion, why it works so well. The style of writing was to solve for a constraint, forcing the script to make sense. (Note: I preferred the mystery aspect of the first film, rather than what the series turned into.)

[@joelgordon7814]

I keep thinking of that scene in “Criminally Insane” where Ethel is shouting about getting “that key.”

[@VideoDuffelBag]

Saw still holds up as a really good horror/thriller and is also one of my favorite theatrical experiences of all time. Went to see it the Friday it opened with a sold out crowd and it's one of those films that feeds off the reactions of the crowd making it a fun time. Many through around the "torture porn" label for this completely forgetting that there were many similar types of films in the 70s and 80s. For me, the franchise never disappointed me, sure they had a weak entry or two but I never hated any of them and was thoroughly entertained, unlike some other horror franchises with entries that ranged from terrible to almost unwatchable.

[@generalsleepy3859]

A piece of trivia I like is that not only was the pre-production time five days, but James Wan ended up getting stuck in Canada dealing with visa issues, so he was only there for something like two or three days of it. Also that Leigh doubled for Shawnee's hands during the scene where she's looking for the key.

[@FjreHazard]

Coincidentally, the year that the idea was written for the movie, there was a bank heist that involved a guy forced to wear a device that you would see in a Saw movie.

[@TheMultiGunMan]

I've never actually seen any of the Saw movies. I'm saving them for this October as part of Halloween month.

[@rayruckus4446]

SAW is amazing. SAW 2 was pretty good as well. After that it was a steep downhill ride. Every movie I new one I would say"This is the 1 where they're gonna bring Lawrence Gordon back and we're gonna find out he's helping jigsaw."I think it was the 5th 1 that my buddy Jeff told me dude it's never gonna happen. Well Vindication👻

[@lordtrigon1733]

Saw 6 is amazing. 🥇

[@barryhayes1342]

Fantastic! This may have put a Sawathon in my near future - it's been a while. Great episode, looking forward to more :)

[@SwaggyG_2102]

Considering how John Kramer was the "dead" guy who was lying on the floor, what would've happened if one of the two trapped men decided to John on his back and saw that he wasn't actually dead? What would John do next? Give both of them a "Congratulations! You won the game!" type of reply?

[@lordtrigon1733]

Well they couldn’t reach him while they were chained and I imagine most people wouldn’t bother checking the pulse of a motionless body whose brains are showing after cutting their own foot off.

[@tai0purto]

I remember when I was in high school and this movie came out, I would listen to that awesome theme song every day

[@Jaytheradical]

I can't stand the sequels for a number of reasons but even still, I love that first movie so much. And whether I like the plot and acting and tone of the later sequels, I do still love how they managed to stick to a really coherent and fucked up vision of Jigsaw as a character.

[@speedmastermarkiii]

At least some of the original Saw short was shot in a stairwell at my alma mater. Going to school at RMIT really was torture.

[@thepackingpacjack7767]

I never “saw” this Movie But I deeply respect it for what it achieved

[@jacobdrolet4262]

Amazing review of the first saw movie,fantastic job.

[@SpeedyEric1]

9:12- Thank you for making that Oogieloves reference.

[@jessi3494]

I hope he does some of the sequels for this cause they get so insane

[@TAPKAC]

When "Snob" inserted the question "Do you like bubbles?", ... who else immediately responded "F*ing BUBBLES!!!" ????? 😀😆

[@taags]

A The Collector reference. Thats awesome, love those two movies. 👍

[@theweirdworldofchoptopsawy9501]

When Kramer said Game Over all raspy and slammed the door, I applauded.

[@nathanslay6342]

The first Saw film is truly something special. There is no fat to this movie whatsoever and it is an entertaining masterpiece from beginning to end. Love it and it is definitely one of my favorite horror films of all time!

[@robertparker6280]

Idc what people say, for not acting Leigh Whannell did a great job, for the 18 days he had to act. I swear his screams going into the credits, still bring chills down my spine.

[@memelordgiorno7711]

The way jigsaw throws that bussy around at 18:27 got me feeling some kinda way

[@saloz9483]

Like how he mentioned that jigsaw is a murderer as I remember some fans of the franchise thought he wasn't.

[@justinmanser7525]

12:27 Wow, was that "Showbiz Pizza' in D.C. you mentioned. Pizzagate? That was daring. Funny in the sickest way.

[@GoofballAndi]

man i hope Snob will cover the sequels as well.

[@binaryghosts5131]

Saw is now old enough to be reviewed.... what...

[@at3479]

"Holy sh*t !!! It's Brion James !!" Glad I wasn't the only who has noticed Tobin Bell resembles the late Brion James at times

[@TheAllSeeingEye2468]

7:10 that has to be the funniest thing i have ever seen! so hilarious in hindsight!

[@no_one_from_nowhere]

Yessss! A movie I’ve seen before!

[@Corthmic]

6:24 WAIT HOLD UP How is this the first time I've noticed the sketch on Johns lap? It's the schematics to the reverse beartrap!

[@theSemiChrist]

Charlie Clouser did some amazing stuff with Nine Inch Nails.

[@peak2381]

Ah, the horror movie where Cary Elwes wonderfully played a well written character. And then he would play the villain on Black Christmas 16 years later, god dammit.

[@randalgraves6979]

Saw = 2004 Black Christmas = 2019 🤔 16 years?

[@aranerem3767]

Saw, I watched it so much back years ago

[@MaxmadV8]

So it begins! I can't wait to see you do the sequels!

[@scottieman2]

I really like the first two.

[@UndeadEggmiester]

The first movie is still amazingly good for what they had to work with. And did set a standard for American horror movies for quite a while.

[@annvictor9627]

At one point when your screen was very dark during the hanging up photos scene, I saw the framed watercolor tree my aunt did on screen. D'0h -- it's hanging on the wall behind me.

[@NYGiantsfan1029]

Great movie. I remember that year my friends and I were trying to figure out which movie to see in theaters. This or the grudge...... We choose poorly...... Granted we had fun making fun of the grudge all night.

[@jimmymelendez1836]

Now that's a horror movie. Way better than Saw. Ugh!😝

[@williamchico6553]

Thir13en Ghosts at Bates Motel: The Final SAW Movie has production starts this year.

[@MandleRoss]

HAHAHAHA!

[@williamchico6553]

@@MandleRoss this is it! Thir13en Ghosts at Bates Motel: The Final SAW Movie has production starts this year, yeah!?

[@dillonwalshpvd]

Love you Brad!

[@benhramiak8781]

9:29 glad to know im not the only one that saw that show

[@sirlisterofsmeg333]

Ah yes, a genuinely good horror movie before it devolved into a torture porn franchise.

[@sebsignat8286]

It seems like a pattern with horror franchise. A good original before it takes wild turns with the sequels

[@dereknight861]

The first three are good, 4 and 5 are mediocre 6 is REALLY GOOD 7 SUCKED Jigsaw turned out to be pretty good again.

[@MsTinkerbelle87]

Yeah it was so good then they continued lol

[@apolloforabetterfuture4814]

"devolved"? I would say it metamorphosised into something comedic

[@darkman060]

@@dereknight861 Yup, the only thing that sucked about 6 was that it came out the same year the Paranormal Activity craze started to take off. I saw both movies and although I love both movies, I think Saw 6 gets overshadowed a bit because I also think it's the best of the sequels after the trilogy

[@Aldohere1]

I laughed so hard at the end of video. Glad it was left in like that.

[@JohnGalt916]

This series went from my favorite to my love to hate love series.

[@777JonT]

1, 2, 5, 6 were good IMO 3, 4, 7, were all trash Jigsaw was OK

[@lordtrigon1733]

That’s actually pretty good considering they were cranking them out every year, better average than Elm Street had.

[@777JonT]

@@lordtrigon1733 Nightmare: 1, 2, 3 were great 4 and 6 were ok 5 and New Nightmare were garbage

[@JohnGalt916]

@@lordtrigon1733 how dare you speak I'll of elm st

[@JohnGalt916]

@@777JonT agree

[@jonathancarlson6127]

Michael Emerson is also in a show called, “Evil”. He’s clearly the bad guy!

[@adiahaalexander9359]

18:20 That same thing happened to me when I saw The Book of Eli *[[[SPOILERS]]]* I think it was the first scene in the movie or close to it and I thought "wait, is he blind?" But then he didnt act like that for the rest of the movie so I forgot about it.

[@kaydog2450]

First time i saw this movie it was on dvd and never flinched once actually laughed at some of the deaths

[@Crystopsy]

Well, "Predator 2" was extremely underrated. Thank you for your reviews, they're right up my alley. The "alley" being my asshole. 10/10

[@JWUniverse]

I have never missed a SAW film in theaters since 😆 was 17 when it released and now 33 when the new one comes out. I know 5 gets a lot of bad rep but I love that one second to this one and 6! I’m kind of glad its still going I’ll take these over the Paranormal Activity films. I don’t believe in Ghost stories anyways!

[@timinou9915]

That was the best Lone Star/What if it exploded collab

[@lateshapowell31]

Definitely. I thought she would get him out last minute 😬...welp didn't happen

[@bleakautomaton4808]

Thank you for pronouncing the director's name right. I'll stick with Cinema Snob without Foundflix's saying Wahhn thank you very much, lol.

[@jswalton2009]

I’ve waited years for this review!!!!!

[@TheRealNormanBates]

6:28 no mention of Miles, aka Porcupine Man from *X-Men 3: The Final Stand?*

[@carybeweary7209]

He was also in Lost just like Michael Emerson was

[@DollyBelladonna]

Also also my favourite band sung the first song at the end credits ..

[@toaofender]

First R rated movie I saw in theaters. Living in Florida at the time, half the apartment saw Friday night lights the rest of us saw SAW.

[@ZekeStaright]

6:24 Huh, John has some interesting drawings there...

[@vistea1]

I never noticed the drawing till I watched Decker Shado's review.

[@thomasgallipoli8376]

I love the snarky way Brad refers to other movies and shows that the actors were in. It’s easier than IMDb lol 😝

[@tedfast5162]

Thanks Brad.

[@doubledamn2599]

What if Lloyd's 911 Lonestar Clip of the Week Exploded?

[@claytongoode5715]

Big shout out to the Australian Film Finance Corporation who turned down Wan & Whannel's pitch. Game over.

[@danmann861]

And that’s why our film industry remains dead

[@shanemyers7654]

Please do the rest in the series!!