SAW II (2005) - REVIEW

Extremely different tone and vibe from the first movie but I appreciate the departure. It's a solid entry into the series that on a first watch would keep anyone guessing and on a rewatch makes it fun to connect the dots and see the clues play out. Donnie Wahlberg is entertaining as a dickhead cop and Tobin Bell's performance is really fantastic, you can tell he's having a lot of fun with his screentime and gives a very memorable performance with each line delivery....

Read the rest of my 4-star review here: https://boxd.it/4W5M9J

SAW (2004) - REVIEW

(watched on October 1st)

First horror film of October for me. Always a good time revisiting this one. A staple of the 2000s that for better or worse changed the genre entirely from here on out. Along with insanely gruesome gore featuring some of the most memorable traps of the franchise, everyone in the cast came to play ball to truly sell the horror of it all. Cary Elwes is such a standout in everything he does but I almost forgot how great Danny Glover is in this as well. Tobin Bell's voice work here is remarkable and still sends chills down my spine. Leigh Whannell's writing feels entirely real and his presence on screen is really incredible. A masterclass in horror filmmaking courtesy of James Wan. Many have attempted to imitate the nature and vibe of this film but no one has come remotely close since and I believe this would easily grace a top spot in a Top 10 Horror Films of All Time list if I were to ever attempt to make one.

Perfect. 5/5