It is not uncommon for critically panned movies to become box-office hits and cult classics. John Carpenter’sThe Thing, often considered one of the most influential movies of all time, ahorror movie that will always be a classic, was initially written off when it was released in 1982. Reassessment led to its acceptance as an immortal cult classic.
Critics often hate movie masterpiecesupon release, only to be proven wrong when these movies find their audiences and inspire filmmaking for years to come. Some of the greatest directors in film history, includingAlfred Hitchcock, David Fincher, and even Stanley Kubrick, have been victims of such critically flat reactions. Initially unimpressed, critics have embraced such films in later years.
One such example in recent years came from director James Wan, who has an interestingly diverse roster of films in his repertoire. He’s made the two DCEUAquamanmovies, Paul Walker’s lastFast & Furiousmovie, and a couple ofConjuringandInsidiousfilms each. However, the otherJames Wan horror franchiseproved critics wrong and is still going strong.
Critical Reaction To The First Saw Movie Was Not Positive
They Dismissed It As Torture Porn
Torture porn has been around since the conception of horror movies, as extremism and violence have been trademarks of the genre since its birth. However, James Wan’s sophomore feature film is credited with bringing the term into the 21st Century in a mainstream capacity.Sawis such a gory and gruesome film that there’s no better term to describe it.
At least that’s how critics reacted toSaw. They were quick to dismiss Leigh Whannell’s screenplay and James Wan’s direction, claiming it was poorly written with forgettable characters, and that its aim was to sensationalize violence. Most critics could only see the extreme violence in the film and refused to engage with its unique premise and itsgreat villain twist.
Sawwas seen as an excuse for deviant filmgoers to celebrate excessive violence, which made critics uncomfortable. Giving it poor ratings, some critics even claimed that it was a derivative film and didn’t offer much new to audiences. Let alone franchise potential, they saw no potential in the twisted and grisly thriller that’s celebrated as a cult classic today.
Not every critic hatedSawthough. Some lauded it for its unique ideas, especially the unprecedented sources of gore and shock. However,the movie was unanimously considered a B-tier filmwithout much reason to invest in it or be moved by it. No major critic saw enough cinematic quality inSawto recommend it or consider it a great film.
Saw Defied Critics To Become A Huge Success
It Achieved Milestones At The Box Office
Despite critics' skepticism regardingSaw, the film proved everyone wrong and made an astounding amount at the box office, becoming a bona fide hit and box-office success.James Wan became a household name overnight, and every horror fanatic started gushing about how uniqueSawis. It rejuvenated a genre that was still finding its footing in the 21st Century.
With a budget of around a million US dollars and global box-office earnings of around 104 million US dollars,Sawwas a significant hit with audiences. It became the most profitable horror movie after the turn of the century, and sinceScream, whichhelped reshape genre expectations with its characterof Ghostface. There was no doubt aboutSaw’s commercial success.
WhileSaw Xis the most critically acclaimed entry in the franchise, the firstSawfilm is still considered the best by most fans.
Critics couldn’t have been more wrong aboutSaw. Viewers found elements of it to be compelling, and its use of uniquely gory means of violence captivated an entire generation of horror movie buffs. While it was often treated as a taboo film due to its extremism,the box office numbers proved that there were enough people who enjoyed such films.
Saw Wasn’t Just A Commercial Hit – It’s A Legitimately Great Horror Movie
It Continues To Enthrall Audiences Two Decades Later
WhileSaw’s commercial success doesn’t necessarily prove its cinematic merit, it is a genuinely fascinating horror movie that didn’t deserve to be critically panned upon release. Theclimactic scene changed millennials' lives as kids, and is stillconsidered one of the greatest ending twists in film history. With palpable dramatic tension, the film keeps you glued to your seat.
From the bone saw to the toilet lid,Sawhas no dearth of murder weapons, and is an exploration of the human psyche under great stress. Watching the two protagonists unravel as they realize the gravity of their situation will satisfy any fans of the thriller genre. Both Cary Elwes and Leigh Whannell deliver compelling performances that convey their anxiety.
With a contained plot and just a few twists,Sawis as much a tense thriller as it is a psychological horrorfilm. Yes, the violence is real and extreme, but the psychological trauma of the characters' experience and of the fabled Jigsaw Killer’s reputation is perhaps the most terrifying aspect of the premise.
Sawcan also be considered agreat crime movie where the villain wins, because it has a significant number of crime thriller elements. From morally questionable characters and a central mystery, to surveillance and intervention by the police, it follows the structure of a crime thriller, but has the texture of a horror film, which earns it great respect today.
They Don’t Have The Same Impact
WhileSawdefinitely packs a punch and proves its critics wrong, the same isn’t true of its sequels. The earlier sequels continue the legacy of both Jigsaw as a killer, and the movie as a tight and contained thriller with a hooking premise. However, that’s not for long, as Jigsaw dies in the third film, and the franchise loses structure.
The latter films in the franchise are messy and incoherent, filled with retcons that are hard to follow.
TheSawfranchise has some frustrating movie plot holesthat become bigger and harder to ignore with every passing film. The shift in subgenre from psychological horror and crime thriller to police procedural, with no Jigsaw, severely hurts the franchise’s potential. The latter films in the franchise are messy and incoherent, filled with retcons that are hard to follow.
So, the laterSawmovies do justify their poor reviews, as is witnessed by the decline in box-office collections as well. Some of the sequels are dismissed by hardcore fans of the franchise as well, especiallySaw 3DandSpiral: From the Book of Saw. However, the films are still worth watching because the traps become increasingly creative over time.
2004
50%
2005
38%
2006
29%
2007
18%
2008
13%
2009
39%
2010
9%
2017
32%
2021
2023
81%
Spiral: From the Book of Sawis amessy horror movie with an incredible performanceby Chris Rock. Similarly,Saw 3Dhas some of the best traps in the franchise.Jigsaw’s retcons introduce plot holes, but its laser trap makes up for them. Fans of the Jigsaw traps always have something to look forward to in the sequels.
Saw X Proves The Original Movie’s Magic Hasn’t Run Out
It Rejuvenated The Franchise
The most recent entry in the franchise, 2023’sSaw X,is one of thebest horror prequels of all time, as it goes back to a time when Jigsaw was alive, and follows his activities before his notoriety in the States. Tobin Bell’s Jigsaw is the best part of the franchise, andSaw Xfurther proves that.
Bell’s unforgettable performance in the film shows a vulnerable side of Jigsaw that we barely get to see in the previous films. By going back in time,Saw Xfinally circumvents some of the issues created by the sequels and works within a cleaner timeline. While it has flaws, the film is a fantastic return to form for the franchise.
Saw Xhas one of the greatest Jigsaw moments, where he successfully predicts the actions of the antagonists and wins a dangerous gamble, proving how intelligent he is. The character gets fleshed out with a glimpse into the past, and without most of the recurring characters, the film focuses more on Jigsaw, something the franchise should have done long ago.
Finally,Saw Xalso hasincredible Jigsaw traps, a straightforward and emotionally charged narrative, unbelievable twists, and anxiety-inducing set pieces. It has all the elements that made the firstSawfilm such an iconic classic, and since the next film is supposed to continue as a prequel, there is hope forSaw XIas well.
Saw
Saw is the first installment in the horror franchise directed by James Wan. Released in 2004, the film follows two men who awake shackled in a derelict bathroom, discovering they are part of a sadistic game orchestrated by the enigmatic Jigsaw, requiring them to follow cryptic instructions to survive.
