UHM - Review

I first heard about this flick a while back after it got a lot of positive buzz in festivals, then it was announced that Lion's Gate picked up the distribution rights. Since then the movie has been getting a lot of positive buzz from horror fans alike. Could it have been possible that a fresh new original horror film had finally been released? I saw the flick the first showing on Friday and came out of the theater very pleased. Although the ending was a bit iffy at first, the film was an overall enjoyable experience. It kept me on the edge of my seat and guessing as to what's going to happen next. Its been a long time since I last saw an original U.S. horror movie at the theaters and I'm glad to finally see that the genre is still alive and kicking thanks to films like Saw.

The movie starts off with a doctor and another man waking up in a small restroom area chained to the pipes on the wall. They find clues left by someone that eventually explains that the doc has to kill the other man before 6 PM or else his wife and daughter will die. The two attempt to figure a way out of the situation without resorting to killing each other. In this process more of their past is revealed which leads to paranoia and speculation that could link either of the two to the man behind all the madness. Most of the movie is told in the past, which leads up to the present. The previous victims of the killer and the connection the two men have with him are all told in the past-tense.

We mainly follow the doctor's character played by Cary Elwes and how he became a suspect in the murders. We also follow Danny Glover's character as a crazed cop bent on revenge. Writer Leigh Whannell plays the other man in the cell, who provides some of the comedy relief in the film. This is a very original movie in many aspects. For one, the killer isn't exactly a killer since he doesn't necessarily kill his victims, but rather put them in situations where they would have to kill others in order to save themselves. The movie has a good amount of blood and gore, but sadly some of the more graphic scenes were cut out in order to receive an R-rating by the MPAA. You can expect an uncut version on DVD though.

We never get to actually see the killer's face until towards the end. Through most of the movie we'll see his shape or form, but in scenes where we see him fully he wears a interesting pig-like mask. I personally didn't find the movie to be scary, but it had a lot of thrilling and suspenseful moments, especially towards the end when time is running out. The movie might disturb the weak-hearted, but it should quench horror fan's thirst for something fresh and raw. This is a movie that definitely doesn't hold back (except for the MPAA of course; damn you MPAA *shakes fist in air*).

OVERALL

A good original movie. Keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat with suspsense. Recommended.

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brebre

Posted 178 days ago

that movie was dum and i had to watch it a few time before i could get it so i dissagree with most of the peopl here i think that they cuold have done better and the trap were not all that the movie is just silly and confusing and i wish that they had not made it cuz i wasted money : (

Michael

Posted 183 days ago

Upon it's release I read a review that prompted me to see this film that talked about how gory it was and that the camera 'never flinched away form the violence'. The camera did nothing but flinch away - all the time! The reviewer promised that I would see somone saw off their foot. Yeah, off camera. What a rip off. I even saw the outline or the still intact foot coverd by the wet pant leg. Lame. Too may reviewers of horror films at the time seem to have only seen PG-13 horror films and something as weak as this shocked them. Manipulative, style less, tripe. What the hell was Danny Glover doing in this mess?
Oh, and theass, Tom's opinon does matter, because he is right.

theass

Posted 213 days ago

Well Tom, it's a good thing your opinion doesn't matter.

Tom

Posted 226 days ago

Saw is perhaps one of the most overrated horror films of all time, and quite frankly I'm sick of every other new horror movie out there being compared to it as if it set some kind of standard. As another person on this page already said.. the ending is the only thing good about the film. I am a fan of Cary Elwes but he was dreadful here, he truly was, I did not believe in his character's actions or motivations for one instant, in fact all of the performences are dull and without flare. Some fans of this film also like to label it one of the most violent films ever made, and that is one thing is most definetely is not, I have no doubt that some of the gore was cut, but I honestly can't imagine what they could have left in to boost it to a level of such high acclaim and status. Of course the lack of gore wasn't the only thing that concerned me, the story in general was boring and contrary to what some of its much too generous fans have said, the film is NOT original, it is contrived, formulaic and not at all edgy. And let me just say this, though I'll try and be careful not to rant, it really bothers me that something like "from the studio that brought you Saw and Hostel" is stamped on the cover of a film like The Descent, its insulting to the makers of The Descent (Neil Marshall and crew) and its insulting to true fans of the genre. The Descent, I might add, is a great film.. a masterpiece if you will, far better then the likes of Saw and Hostel, and I won't even go into what I think of Hostel.

william

Posted 257 days ago

good *** ing movie and i like the end when everything came in to place at the end of the movie supprise alot of people with the twist.

Ash

Posted 336 days ago

The twist at the end is the only thing good about this film! The rest is just boring and formulaic! Nothing new or special, just a boring gore-hound flick, nothing much else. The rest of the movie's are awful as well...I wouldn't recommend this to anyone who likes to keep their eyes in their sockets.
~Your ignorance is what keeps you alive.

Eulogy01

Posted 365 days ago

tsk! tsk! tsk! Saw is an Aussie film, written by Aussies, Directed by an Aussie, stared an Aussie :) don't be takin credit for 1 of the most original english speaking horror films of the past decade. AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE

Louise

Posted 521 days ago

This is 1 of my fav horror film i've ever seen
SOOO AWESOME!!!!!

Jord

Posted 602 days ago

This Film is amazing!
I dont find the film scary at all! but the idea, gore and storyine is fantastic!
Its great to see a horror film with a decent storyline.
Jigsaw is a great character and even though he is twisted and sick, his ideas and traps test the victims dedication to life - which a very small parts of ourselves agrees with !!
I enjoyed the film and the gore was very good - i love the setting and traps.
I would of liked to have seen more traps and more killings but there are currently 3 sequels so maybe I will
Overall, I give Saw 8.5-9 out of 10

ash

Posted 725 days ago

it's a good movie. plenty of gore and an interesting plot. my only complaint is that it gets kinda boring only focusing on two main people in the same room for the whole movie.

J Roark

Posted 756 days ago

What's there to say, it's Saw

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