Lately horror movies have been pretty dismal, either too simplistic or just overly gory without pesky details like an actual plot. When Saw hit theaters back in 2004, I was happily surprised with this low-budget horror film, and to this day I still appreciate its uniqueness and cleverness.

Along with a sadistic and twisted theme, Saw has plenty of gore, but it?s never too unrealistic. What really sets Saw apart is it actually has a plot, character development, twists, and a murder fest …hat never goes over the top. Enough with my praise for now; I?ll get into some of the details.

Saw has an intense start that immediately has questions running through your mind. The setting, a pitch black room. A man later revealed to be a photographer named Adam Faulkner (Leigh Whannell, One Perfect Day) wakes up in a dark room chained to pipes and submerged in a bathtub, which he exits in a panic. He hears another voice in the dark, and lights turn to reveal Dr. Lawrence Gordon (Cary Elwes, The Princess Bride) who?s chained up on the opposite wall of a grim-looking bathroom. In the middle of the room lies a bloody corpse, who appears to have shot himself, as there is a gun in one of his hands, and a tape recorder in the other.

This is where the game begins. Essentially, there?s a notorious serial killer known only as The Jigsaw Killer, who in an attempt to give troubled people a new outlook on life puts them in a situation that involves them making a sacrifice in order to stay alive. In this situation, the two men in the room have a lot more to do with each other than they think, as they learn from a recording outlining their situation. Dr. Gordon has a few hours to kill Adam with limited resources at his dispense including a bullet, a couple cigarettes, and a Saw.

The remainder of the film outlines the two trying to escape from this room, which just might be their tomb. Flashbacks outline the killer?s background including some of his past murders, as well as his pursuit by dedicated detectives including the obsessed David Tapp (Danny Glover, Lethal Weapon). We also learn about the lives of everyone affected by the killer, including Dr. Gordon?s captive family.

Saw isn?t your typical horror movie. It?s much deeper and more complicated than what you might expect. In addition to having a well-written story, it was superbly cast, and with a modestly low budget of just over a million it?s a given that you can?t expect any big name stars, unless you consider Danny Glover a star. With all sincerity, I do, as he is largely underrated and hasn?t had much fame outside of the Lethal Weapon series. In fact, beyond a great acting job the character of Detective Tapp was one of the most interesting in the picture. The characters of this film are all unique and interesting, though it?s hard to tell you why without spoiling anything.

Interestingly, Saw was filmed in only 18 days, and was directed by co-writer James Wan. The other writer, Leigh Whannell, also stars in the picture. The two of them have surely become rich since this movie was first shown at the Sundance Film Festival nearly a year before its theatrical release. For the odd person out there who doesn?t know, Saw has since spawned two sequels with a third one planned for an October release this year.

Personally, I can?t get enough of these movies. There are always questions that can be answered, and the depth of the story continues without getting old. I highly recommend this film to fans of the horror genre, unless you?re only into the newer style hack-and-slash flicks. If you?re in the mood to use your head a bit, and watch a horror movie that is actually original, then don?t waste any time before you check out Saw.

Video

Presented in 1080p 1.85:1 aspect ratio, Saw was part of Lionsgate?s initial release list for Blu-ray last year. Having reviewed other titles from this list, I?ve seen some good looking titles (Lord of War) and not so good looking ones (Crash). Thankfully, Saw falls in the former category. It?s a dark looking film with constant grain throughout, which can be problematic. Surprisingly, this does enhance the grittiness of the film and works well, never becoming distracting. Colors are also dark but maintain a nice vibrancy throughout, never too dark or too saturated. However, there are a few scenes that look soft, almost as if they were missed during the restoration process. These scenes do stick out from an otherwise detailed transfer but thankfully only last for a few seconds. This may not be the best transfer on Blu-ray thus far, but it does still offer an impressive upgrade over the DVD.

Audio

Saw features the same two audio tracks found on the DVD: 5.1 Dolby Digital EX and 6.1 DTS ES. Both tracks deliver the film?s material well, but there is nothing here that will really get audio nuts excited. Saw could have fallen flat with a front-heavy mix, but there are several scenes that use more than the front channels. The scene where Tapp and his partner try to bust Jigsaw uses all the channels well. Also, everything from gun shots to drills and blades whirl out of the rear and front channels sounding great the entire time. The track is strong, but those looking for an impressive upgrade (PCM) over the DVD will not find it here.

Special Features

Unlike the Uncut Edition released on DVD, the Blu-ray edition has no special features. Disappointing to say the least.

Final Thoughts

Saw is a great picture, a totally unique and interesting horror movie in a sea of posers. If you haven?t seen this movie yet, check it out immediately. The lack of special features may detour some fans from double dipping, but the upgrade in video is enough to recommend this version.