matt-thornton.net

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You're reading a really old version of matt-thornton's website. For example, if you're looking at the movie reviews... you'll notice that none of them are of recent films. Indeed, I leave them here for posterity's sake, but I doubt very much that they'll get updated anytime soon. So have a giggle.

You might, if you're lucky, find something recent from Matt at his blog matt's debates. Kernow bys vyken.

Saw

the one line review:

sick

the overview

A mindfuck film that adds to gore. It's Seven meets Phonebooth meets Memento, but with add depravity. Awesome.

the plot:

Two men (Whannell and Elwes) wake up in a room, both chained at opposite ends of it to pipes on the walls. With no recollection of how or why they got there, they have to figure out WTF is going on.

Both are given instructions. One is that Dr Lawrence's (Elwes) task is to kill Adam (Whannell) by 6 o'clock, or his family dies.

The two start to recount things. Partiularly that which are the other "scenes" that the killer, nicknamed "Jigsaw" has set up in the past. Each are well devised situations, where inevitably the victim must make some life altering decision, or die.

As time passes, Adam and Lawrence must figure out the puzzle, before it's too late.

the verdict:

This film is fucking sick, and I loved it. The name of the film comes from one of the "implements" in the film, and I won't tell you which bit of the body it's supposed to be used on. The whole thing is tense - it keeps jumping to flashbacks of all the various different characters, as we find out more about the two men in the room, the investigation surrounding the killer, and the events that have led to this moment.

There are a few laughable moments, which occur as a consequence of shit acting. It's a shame because it takes away from the tension. But otherwise, it's done well. The scenes are all slick, and there are plenty of pitch black jump-out-yer-seat-moments. There's enough gore in it to keep you going, and the twist in the ending is superb.

For fans of horror/occult/mystery films - this is a must-see. It doesn't get a 5 due to the few areas of shoddy acting, but otherwise, this film is all there, and well worth watching.