User reviews

In January 2004, a horror film titled simply as "Saw" premiered at the Sundance Film Festival generating a lot of interest among the audience, and most importantly, winning a distribution deal with Lions Gate Films, which released the movie to general audiences on October of that year. The rest, as is said, it's history, as the modest horror film became a huge commercial hit that has spawned several sequels by now and also influenced a lot of the style that mainstream horror has had in the first decade of the century. Not bad for a project that started as a short film. Only a year before "Saw"'s rose to stardom, its creators, director James Wan and writer Leigh Whannell, were using a little 9 minutes short film produced by themselves to pitch their concept to various studios and actors. That short film would later become the concept now know as "Saw".

"Saw" is the story of David (Leigh Whannell), an orderly at a hospital who is explaining to a Cop (Paul Moder) the story of how he ended up involved in a heinous crime against his will. One day after work, David gets kidnapped by a mysterious man who drugs him and takes him to an unknown location. When he wakes up, David is sitting on a chair in a darkened room, and has a bizarre artifact placed over his head. In a TV screen he sees an odd looking ventriloquist's dummy, who informs him (obviously the voice is the one of his captor) that the device is a "Jaw Splitter", a machine that will crush his skull if he can't stop it on time. The key to David's survival is to find the key that stops the Jaw Splitter, a key that the killer informs him is hidden inside the body of the dead man lying in the same room as David. But when David goes to get the key, he discovers horrified that the man he has to open is not dead.

Written by actor Leigh Whannell, "Saw" has all the core elements of the "Saw" series premise: a serial killer who do not kills with his own hands, but who instead puts his victims in a deadly trap where they have a chance (albeit small) of survival by doing an often difficult and painful (either physically, mentally or emotionally). It's an interesting take on horror that returns elements of suspense to the genre, as the shock is not only in the killing itself, but in the tension caused by the events that lead to it, and in the idea that the characters can escape from their dreadful fate. It's certainly a simple story, but despite this the concept feels truly fresh and original thanks to this focus. As many will notice (specially fans of the series), "Saw" the short film eventually became part of the first "Saw" film, as it evolved into the experience Amanda has with Jigsaw.

Just as the screenplay has most of the elements that became core part of the "Saw" series, James Wan's work as a director already shows where he was going with this concept and what exactly he wanted to do with it. Like the "Saw" films, the visual look of the short film is sleek, but with a welcomed touch of grittiness that fits perfectly the concept of brutal torture devices of the modern era. The highly dynamic camera-work that Wan uses later in "Saw" is also here (courtesy of cinematographer Martin Smith), as well as his preference for industrial metal music as soundtrack. However, while this was only a low-budget short film, this style feels more at home here than in the feature movie (where it gets tiring), as the atmosphere of fear, shock and desperation it's supposed to create works better in the short than in the films (no wonder why this scene in the feature film is the most iconic).

The acting is also better in this short than in the scene from the feature film, with Leigh Whannell giving a solid and very realistic performance as David. One can truly feel that his character has gone through hell and back, specially in his scenes with the Cop. Please not that I'm not saying that Shawnee Smith (who plays Amanda in the feature) is a bad actress, I'm just saying that Leigh Whannell seems to put a lot more of effort in the role than her (without a doubt because this was his pet project). However, that also must have something to do with the fact that in the feature, Amanda is just another victim, while here, the tortured character is also our narrator, so that gives Whannell more room to explore the role. By the way, Whannell's character is different to the one he plays in the feature, although one is certainly the evolution of the other.

Personally, I found "Saw" the short to be a lot better than "Saw" the film, mainly on the basis that it has everything that makes the first film in the series great (the fresh, original approach to horror and its creative story) without the elements that in my opinion work against it (it obviously lacks the underdeveloped subplots that lead to nowhere in the film). As it was done with a low budget, Wan and Whannell had to use creativity to make it work, and the result is wonderful, as while it may lacks the more graphic violence of the feature (due to the already mentioned budget constrains), it plays more with suspense and tension, which make it a bit more atmospheric and haunting than the movie gets to be. "Saw", the short film, is a very interesting movie to watch (and not only for fans of the series), as it shows what one can do when one plays with an idea and lets it grow.

8/10

This is a feature on the second disc on the Uncut edition of "SAW". James Wan and Leigh Whannell wanted to have something to show the American Studios so they quickly made this. This is basically just the "Reverse Bear Trap" except Leigh Whannell is playing the roll of Amanda. I believe this is pretty good for a nine minute short which later lead to the release of the actual movie "SAW". The interrogation scene in this short I believe is much better than the interrogation scene that make it to the final cut. In this you actually get to see how jigsaw captured David (Leigh Whannell). As you can see I am running out of things to say about this so I will just finish with this: This is a great extra on the second DVD of the Uncut version of SAW.

The short film, SAW, shows very clever filmmaking in the horror genre. There hasn't been anything clever like this short film for years.

David, an orderly of a hospital, has been kidnapped and faces his ultimate test. He must survive by killing another man that holds the key to his freedom. He wakes up, having a rusty contraption strapped to his face. Then, a mysterious puppet on the TV says if he doesn't remove the trap off his face in sixty seconds, his jaw will be ripped open.

Once this short gets green-lit into a major motion picture, this exact scene has been tweaked up and was used in the first SAW film. It's heart-pounding and fun to watch! I recommend this short film to not just to SAW fans, but to curious folks that want to take step into the world of horror. Great short film!

"I want to play a game..."

Those words have taken on such a wonderful and nostalgic meaning for horror fans the world over thanks to the massive success of one of the most profitable and widely-beloved horror franchises of all time. That of course being "Saw", created by future cinematic masterminds James Wan and Leigh Whannell.

The series is now legendary in its status, and held among the other great franchises as horror-royalty. Even having been honored by Guiness World Records for its wide success and adoration. Yet, like many other icons of horror that came before, the roots of "Saw" were somewhat more humble- a dream project of a few film students trying to get their first film made. And this is best represented by this short- film... produced by the creators as a tool to help sell their concept and script to potential producers and investors.

Based upon a modified excerpt from the original completed script, "Saw" (2003) revolves around a man named David, who is kidnapped from his ho-hum job as a hospital orderly and taken to a secluded location. Now with a device around his head that will rip his jaw apart in mere moments of time unless he can complete a dark and devious task set forth by his captor... David will be forced to make a terrible and potentially life-shattering choice should he wish to stay alive...

Should that sound familiar, it is for good reason. The short is essentially a miniaturized and slightly restructured version of the sequence involving the character of Amanda as seen in the final feature-length film released just one year later. Yet, for something you have essentially seen before- arguably more refined in the theatrical film- it's still as enthralling and terrifying as ever thanks to the expert direction and sharp storytelling of Wan and Whannell.

It's shocking with how small a budget and how fast a shoot this short had that it's also so darned stylish and well put-together. It's very close to the quality of the future films that it spawned. James Wan's visual stylings are obvious and evident even from this small beginning, and Whannell's knack for structure and creating truly unsettling scenery is on full display here. He also turns in a pretty good performance as David- the main character here.

True it may not be quite as good as the feature films at their best, but still, for what is essentially a proof-of-concept slapped together by two friends who just wanted to find the support to make a movie- it's fantastic!

I give it a very good 9 out of 10. Fans of the series, fans of horror and even first-time filmmakers could learn a thing or two from this short!

One word popped out of my mouth when i reached the credits (after the "woaaahhh") ...."Amazing". this is one of the very few thriller movies that have actually got my heart pumping and it's guaranteed to do the same to you. Even if you've been known not to react very emotionally to movies in the past (I definitely haven't until now), you'll find yourself to be holding your head at various times and yelling at the characters at others. Unlike other times i watched movies, i didn't stop watching this one when the credits appeared, partially because of the song (Bite the hand that bleeds by Fear Factory) which fits one of my favorite genres of music (industrial metal), but most importantly i personally thought that the makers of the movie were complete geniuses. I'm sure you've heard this in a lot of movie reviews but i sincerely and literally mean it when i say "You must watch this". Incredible movie i promise you'll enjoy it.

In order to pitch their concept for Saw (2004), director James Wan and writer Leigh Whannell filmed this 9-minute short in which unfortunate hospital orderly David (Whannell) is forced to play a tortuous game of survival devised by an unseen maniac whose aim is to make his victim appreciate life.

With an ingenious concept, stylish direction from Wan and a solid central performance from Whannell, the short clearly impressed the honchos at Lionsgate, who gave the guys the green light to make the full-length Saw the following year (with Shawnee Smith replacing Whannell in the now infamous 'reverse beartrap'). The rest, as they say, is history.

This is the short film director James Wan made which led to the movie, and subsequent endless series, Saw. Unlike most films of 10min length this one actually works quite well. It obviously doesn't have time to exactly do very much but it introduces the central idea of the franchise of a man in a deadly trap, forced to do something completely awful to escape from it and ends with the super creepy doll on a tricycle wheeling its way into the room at the end. So, pretty simple stuff, yet, as is the way with Wan, its well delivered and would have been pretty memorable if you just saw this without having seen the movies. Definitely worth 10mins of your time.

31 Days of Spookoween: DAY NINETEEN

Film #19: Saw (2003)

Review: James Wan's early short is a wonderful, if extremely brief and simplistic, horror story. While mildly amateurish in spots (clearly, Wan was still learning quite a bit as a filmmaker when he made this, and the same can be said about any earlier work from any director), "Saw"'s overall effect is highly successful. It is a genuinely scary treat for fans of more disturbing, harsh horror (although, despite the "Saw" movies now being known for their abundance of "torture porn", the gore/blood in this film is extremely minimal; most of the disturbance is more psychological, which is always great to see), and it's short enough to be viewed by almost anyone, no matter how busy their schedule may seem.

The short that started a multi-billion franchise (including 9 films, 2 video games and a one-shot comic book) and counting. A nicely done short with interesting camera movements and out-of-the-box concept.

I'm someone who is completely numb blood and gore from my years of watching it; I still love it, but it's hard to get scared anymore. This was something completely different than what I've been seeing these days I'm in love with the Saw franchise and will always praise it, but this just showed what a little bit can do overall.

Leigh Whannell felt very real with not only his numbness with life and going through it day by day, but when he makes it by the end, he felt the remorse and the horror of what happened

the filming also helps with how raw the environment was. it shows how clean or gritty the area is, it shows the boredom or the fear in David, and even when showing Billy, it feels scattered yet put together.

I think they also did a good job not showing the gore besides blood. as much as I'm used to the gore and splatter from the movies, this just felt right and the fact that it's minimal just helps focus on David and his will to live rather than focus on that it's a bloody scene

I recommend watching this for it's gritty and pure horror; but if you're watching cause you're a Saw fan, then I commend you for enjoying something as much as I do

'Saw (2003)' is the short film Leigh Whannell and James Wan decided to make just before taking their script to the USA to seek funding for their feature film of the same name. Although it's somewhat rough around the edges (as most Saw movies are), it's remarkably fully formed and absolutely conveys the atmosphere and energy of the soon-to-be mega horror franchise it's trying to get off the ground. The success of 'Saw (2004)' is really inspiring, as Whannell and Wan really just decided to take matters into their own hands and make the movie they wanted to make. This short film shows exactly what they're both capable of with, essentially, mere scraps, and it's easy to see why producers jumped on the opportunity to fund the real deal. It's an entertaining, somewhat unsettling short with a simple but effective premise and a suitably stressful execution. It conveys the sense of grimness and grit so essential to the Saw series, all while being notably more contained and less gruesome. It's a really solid effort by all accounts, and it's doubly interesting to see as a fan of the franchise. Plus, Billy has a little hat...

As someone who generally avoids both shorts and anthology films religiously, I felt compelled to check this short out after watching the director's cut of the original Saw film for the first time yesterday. The writing was pretty decent. The atmosphere and energy was tense and uncomfortable, just as it was intended to be, and it was interesting enough to hold my attention throughout.

It's not as good as what would eventually be turned into a feature, but it's a nice little glimpse at the origins of a talented group of filmmakers and artists with a story to tell and a vision for the future. It's a solid enough effort. I'm glad I watched it.

Decent prelude. The low budget affected the overall quility.

This is the original Saw which his a short film hat is only ninth minutes. It had remake one year later that was one hour and forty one minutes. It was awful. This short is actually good. It is very scary. It is well written. The acting in it is great. Because it short I not what say to mush about the plot. In is a horror movie about a murderer. It is very intense. The remake it overrated. But if you like scary movies you should see this one. The remake is crap. This one is maybe not as good as some people might say. But it is a good horror movie. I need more lines. And I am running out of things to say. This a great movie. If you like scary movie then you should like this one.

It is a great prelude, despite the low budget short film limitations.