Saw (2004)
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Two men trapped in a dilapidated bathroom must navigate a deadly game orchestrated by a mysterious killer.
The story
The film follows a nonlinear narrative centered on the mystery of the Jigsaw Killer, a serial killer who tests his victims' will to live by forcing them through deadly 'games' involving extreme physical pain. The story focuses on two men, a photographer and an oncologist, who awaken in a dilapidated bathroom. They find themselves in a high-stakes situation where they must decipher clues and make life-altering decisions to survive. As they navigate the physical and psychological toll of their predicament, they must confront the reality of the Jigsaw Killer's twisted morality and the immediate threat to their lives and the lives of others.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Adam Stanheight and Dr. Lawrence Gordon awaken in a bathroom, each with a tape in their pocket. Adam's tape urges him to survive, while Lawrence's tape orders him to kill Adam by 6:00 to save his wife and daughter. They find a pair of saws, but Adam's breaks. Lawrence identifies their captor as the Jigsaw Killer. The narrative shifts to five months prior, showing Lawrence's past involvement with the Jigsaw case and the capture of the killer, who escaped. In the present, Lawrence's wife and daughter are being watched by the killer. Meanwhile, a detective named Tapp, obsessed with the case, believes Lawrence is the killer. A third person, Zep Hindle, is also in the building. In a chaotic climax, Lawrence saws off his foot and shoots Adam, while Tapp intervenes to save Lawrence's family from Zep. Adam eventually finds a key and a tape revealing Zep was also a victim. The 'corpse' in the room, John Kramer (the real Jigsaw), reveals he is the one who orchestrated the games. He tells Adam that the key was in the bathtub and leaves him alone to die.
- First release year
- 2004
- Runtime (minutes)
- 103
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- James Wan
- Writers
- Leigh Whannell · writer; James Wan · story; Leigh Whannell · story
- Cast and characters
- Cary Elwes · Dr. Lawrence Gordon; Danny Glover · Detective David Tapp; Monica Potter · Alison; Michael Emerson · Orderly Zep Hindle; Ken Leung · Adam Stanheight; Tobin Bell · John Kramer
- Genres
- horror; crime; psychological thriller
- Themes
- survival; moral choice
- Tone and mood
- tense; gritty
- Premise and plot tags
- serial killer; survival game; nonlinear narrative
- Franchise connections
- Saw
- Content notes
- violence
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics but was highly successful at the box office, becoming one of the most profitable horror films since Scream (1996).
- Awards and nominations
- Saturn Awards · best horror film · 31st · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film was shot in 18 days on a small production budget.; The bathroom was the only set that had to be built.; The film was originally planned for a straight-to-video release before being moved to theaters.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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