The movie starts with two guys and one dead body trapped in a derelict bathroom. Adam (Leigh Whannell) and Dr. Lawrence Gordon (Cary Elwes) are each chained to pipes at opposite ends of the large room. In the middle is a bloody corpse with a bashed-in skull. Adam and Larry each have microcassettes with their instructions from an unknown bad guy. Unless Larry kills Adam by six, Larry's wife and daughter will be murdered.

In this SE7EN wannabe of a film, Monica Potter plays Larry's wife, and Danny Glover plays a discredited detective who is investigating the case. A repetitious and tiresome movie, it is filled with moments you'll want to forget and that will make you shut your eyes or wish that you had. I'm sure there's an audience somewhere for this sick sort of story, but I couldn't stomach it.

SAW runs a tediously long 1:40. It is rated R for "strong grisly violence and language" and would be acceptable for older teenagers.