Horror fans sit up and pay attention, as your world just changed forever. Blumhouse Productions has dropped the bombshell that they’ve acquired the rights to the iconic Saw franchise from Twisted Pictures. Lionsgate will retain its 50% stake and remain a production partner. 512138

This development, confirmed by Deadline earlier today, is a game-changing moment for the billion-dollar horror franchise and should breathe new life into it under the stewardship of a studio considered to be the modern masters of horror. As an added bonus, this move reconnects Saw with its co-creator James Wan, who’s best positioned to refresh or even fully reboot it.

Saw debuted in 2004 from Wan and Leigh Whannell, and rapidly dominated horror with its intricate traps, psychological depth, and the chilling presence of Tobin Bell’s Jigsaw. Ten films later and with over $1 billion grossed, its visceral horror and social commentary made it a true cultural phenomenon.

Blumhouse is acquiring the rights to the ‘SAW’ franchise, with Lionsgate remaining onboard as a partner.

James Wan will oversee the series moving forward.

(Source: https://t.co/V85lFh2oQ7) pic.twitter.com/0FBBKqexjC

— Cinema Wire (@CinemaWireNews) June 4, 2025

But in the last few years, even Jigsaw couldn’t put the pieces together. Spiral: From the Book of Saw (2021) underperformed, and Saw XI’s planned 2025 release was derailed by disputes between Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures. These setbacks left fans wondering if Saw was sputtering out like so many other sequel-heavy horror franchises.

Blumhouse to the rescue? 706c1i

If Blumhouse really is set on fully rebooting the SAW franchise, at least Tobin Bell got the perfect send-off he deserved! https://t.co/NDTjbXi1oA pic.twitter.com/z7AZatMzjO

— 𝚁𝚘𝚋𝚎𝚛𝚝 𝙰𝚗𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚗𝚢 (@robanthonyeadon) June 5, 2025

But Blumhouse are now Saw fans’ knights in shining armor. The studio has built a well-deserved reputation as a horror powerhouse, with hits like Paranormal Activity, The Purge, and Get Out. On top of that, they’ve proved they can bring back classic horror from the dead, as seen with Halloween and The Exorcist.

This deal may well have saved Saw. Blumhouse’s track record of smartly sustaining franchises (see The Purge spawning sequels and a TV series) shows it can deliver the consistency and craft Saw demands.

However, the acquisition isn’t without skepticism. Horror fans still grit their teeth over Blumhouse’s Halloween Ends (which is not as bad as everyone says!) and The Exorcist: Believer. But, with Wan set to play a role in this new era for Saw, I think we should be confident that a new entry will be fast-tracked and hit the mark.

Here’s hoping we get a full-fat Saw entry that shows younger horror fans why Jigsaw has such a fearsome reputation in the horror pantheon. Sure, the previous movies have pulled apart characters in terrible and impossibly sadistic ways, but I’m betting there’s still some gasoline left in the tank.

Some films celebrate their 20-year anniversaries through cast reunions, others through limited theatrical re-releases. In this horror movie’s case, the iconic face of the franchise hit the decks to spin unforgettable tunes for the audience.

It wasn’t a blood rave (sorry, Blade), but it was Emo Nite recently. It’s a time of celebration where everyone puts their bang over their one eye, finds the tightest fitting band shirt to wear, and belts out My Chemical Romance’s “I’m Not Okay (I Promise)” until the lungs burn and the cast from One Tree Hill pops out to say, “It’s okay, really.”

The special night also coincides with another pivotal event: The 20-year anniversary of Saw. Written by Leigh Whannell and directed by James Wan, the 2004 gory horror film introduced the world to Tobin Bell’s John Kramer, who also goes by the name of the Jigsaw Killer. Like an extra-demented Riddler, John loves to put people in traps to test their will to live and how much they’re willing to sacrifice in the process. He introduces the rules of the game through the signature Billy the Puppet, who usually peddles his way into scenes via a tricycle in later movies. And put it this way: He’s definitely not Kermit the Frog.

Emo Nite turned into Billy’s night, though. The puppet traded in his trademark tricycle for the turntables to get the audience moving with a setlist that’s murderously good. Two of the confirmed tracks he spun: Falling in Reverse’s “Good Girls Bad Guys” and AFI’s “Miss Murder.” Both fitting songs for the theme of Saw, really.

The evening turned into quite the treat for fans, as Billy posed for pics – including snapping a photo with the electronic duo Millionaires – and played all the bangers from the era. For the people who couldn’t be there, they left their thoughts on X/Twitter. One wrote: “What a rave.” Another said: “Now that’s a killer way to celebrate 20 years of Saw.” The best comment of the day, though, went to a commentator who wrote: “I read that as ‘Elmo Night’ and was so confused.” Hmm… Elmo vs. Billy: The Dawn of Puppets? Make it happen, Hollywood!

It’s wild to think how it’s already been two decades since Saw debuted in theaters. While time flies, the franchise hasn’t slowed down a single bit. There have been 10 movies produced and the end simply isn’t in sight for it, which is ironic since the mastermind, John Kramer, died in the third film. John’s teachings – and Billy – lived on, however, as his apprentices carried on the subsequent murder and mayhem.

However, Saw X proved to be smarter than the average bear, as it acts as an interquel of sorts, taking back the story to the events between Saw and Saw II. This way, it’s allowed John to return and be the focus of the action once again. Considering how the movie made over $112 million, as per Box Office Mojo, it shows there are still legs in this franchise after so long.

Expectedly, Saw XI is in the works and is likely to be a direct continuation of the story started in the previous film. It’s due to be released in 2025, so don’t be surprised to see Billy take a hiatus from his DJ residency and return to help his old pal, John Kramer. 

If you’re a thriller fan, then you’ve most definitely heard of the spine-tingling Saw franchise. First launching in 2004 with James Wan’s masterpiece, there have been plenty of different Saw films over the years, each with its own unique yet connected tales.

With so many additions, Saw is a perfect film series to binge, if you have the stomach for it, of course. Right now, there are 10 eye-catching movies within the franchise that can all be found on streaming services today, with Saw X being the latest entry in the bloody batch. 

Before you start your binge, however, you’ll want to make sure you’re doing it right by checking out the correct viewing order of the unforgettable horror series.

But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered in that regard, although it will be interesting to see where Saw XI ends up on this list, with the eleventh movie in the franchise set to release on Sept. 26, 2025. Until then, here’s everything you need to know about the watch order.

How to watch the Saw movies in order r3e5v

Watching Saw in order is extremely easy, as the most recommended way to do so is the same as the release order of the films, outside of one new change to this formula.

• Saw (2004) -Available to stream on Starz, Directv, & Pluto TV
• Saw X (2023) – Available to rent or buy on Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play, YouTube, and other platforms
• Saw II (2005) – Available to stream on AMC+, Directv, & Pluto TV
• Saw III (2006) – Available to stream on AMC+, Directv, & Pluto TV
• Saw IV (2007) – Available to stream on AMC+, Directv, & Pluto TV
• Saw V (2008) – Available to stream on AMC+, Starz, Directv, & Pluto TV
• Saw VI (2009) – Available to stream on Starz, Directv, & Pluto TV
• Saw: The Final Chapter (2010) – Available to stream on AMC+, Starz, Directv, & Pluto TV
• Jigsaw (2017) – Available to stream on Prime, Fubo, & MGM+
• Spiral: From the Book of Saw (2021) – Available to stream on Hulu, Fubo, & Directv

Regardless of the definite watch order, there’s absolutely no denying that long-time fans of the blood-splattered franchise continue to find themselves engulfed in the series’ complicated story. From strong ing characters aiding in the overall origin story of villain John Kramer to unforgettable kills, it’s clear the Saw franchise will be ed for years to come.

Ever since its official launch in 2019, streaming service Disney Plus has easily become one of the most popular streaming options, with the majority of its movies and TV shows being appropriate for children. But a blood-soaked horror franchise getting added to the platform might toss a wrench in those plans.

Of course, we’re talking about the recent addition of the jaw-dropping Saw franchise, with seven movies in the series being made available to stream on Disney Plus (although a Hulu subscription is also needed). And, no, this is not a joke nor a drill.

Kickstarting back in 2004 with James Wan’s Saw, it certainly didn’t take long before the OG masterpiece became a sensational hit in the horror community and spawned an entire franchise of equally grotesque flicks. Throughout the franchise’s duration, the movies have grossed over $1 billion, with that success looking to continue when Saw XI lands in theaters next year.

But despite the film series’ head-turning narrative and smile-tingling scenes — which the plethora of horror die-hards and adult moviegoers find to be captivating — it hardly comes as a major surprise that the feathers of parents have undoubtedly been ruffled due to the movies now being just one click away from their children’s eyes. In fact, a handful of modern-day movies have even required a “parents guide” tutorial or article to help notify parents if their kids should actually watch a particular film or not.

Then again, one could argue that keeping a close watch on what children watch should be the parent’s responsibility — not the responsibility of a streaming service that already hosts an abundance of horror content. So, for now, it’s best to keep the kids away from the horror section and allow Saw fanatics to engage in an unforgettable marathon rewatch as they enjoy the newest Disney princess, Jigsaw.

Whenever we’re deep into the scariest month of the year and Halloween is just around the corner, there’s no better time to dust off some old horror classics and explore some contemporary newbies (except for The Exorcist: Believer). Occasionally we even get a double whammy when October 13 falls on a Friday, making for a super spooky Friday the 13th ⏤ one of the creepiest dates there is. Of course, the best way to celebrate the occasion is to fill a bowl with candy corn, turn off the lights, and turn on those horror flicks. Though you can do this whenever the horror bug bites, here are some of the best movies to stream specifically on Friday the 13th, whenever it falls. Just be sure to pace yourself with that candy corn.

Renfield (2023) 732v2z

Renfield didn’t get a lot of love when it first came out, so why not give the Nic Cage and Nicholas Hoult black comedy the second chance it deserves? It’s a pretty great vampire flick with a unique take on the whole Dracula schtick. Nic Cage doing his Nic Cage thing is worth the price of ission alone, and at least one moment is guaranteed to make you laugh out loud.

Renfield is currently available to stream on Prime Video.

Get Out (2017) 5b491k

This is Jordan Peele’s first and arguably best horror movie, though you should give his others a watch, too. Back in 2017, Get Out established itself as an instant horror classic, with every scene ramping up the tension and mystery until the horrific truth is finally revealed. The protagonist Chris, played by Daniel Kaluuya, is visiting his girlfriend’s parents for the first time only to discover that they’re a bit, well, weird. Things only get weirder and more terrifying for Chris as he starts to learn that his girlfriend is not who he thinks she is, and neither are the people he’s currently surrounded by.

Get Out is currently available to stream on Netflix.

Hellraiser (2022) 2s1t5z

This is one of the rare instances where the remake lives up to, and maybe even sures, the original. The Cenobites in this film are more sadistic, scarier, and even more unrelenting as they hunt down a group of teens who unwittingly opened the box of sorrows. If you’re looking to get grossed out by nasty body horror and mutilation while at the same time being scared out of your mind, then this is the film for you. 

You can find Hellraiser on Hulu.

Alien (1979) 92p2

Everybody’s seen Alien, everybody loves Alien, everybody’s terrified of Alien, and for good reason. This film redefined the genre when it came out in 1979. The genius blend of sci-fi and horror was something that hadn’t really been done before and the film’s influence can still be felt today. Everything from the creature design, setting, and concept are all perfect nightmare fuel. Even if you’ve already seen it, why not watch it again? It’s still as scary as it was the first time and may even finally convince you that aliens are real.

You can stream Alien on Hulu.

Smile (2022) 5k3h2p

As it turns out, something as simple as a smile can be absolutely terrifying. This film has embedded itself into the minds of all who have seen it, and understandably so. It follows Dr. Rose Cotter as she grapples with the traumatic death of one of her patients who, as it turns out, was host to a parasitic demon that has now latched itself onto Rose. If you like paranoia-inducing horrors and are kind of creeped out by smiling people, then you’ll want to give this film a watch.

You can find Smile on Prime Video.

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) c643m

I figured this list was lacking in the ’80s slasher department, so here’s one of the best of all time. Let’s start with the antagonist himself, Freddy Krueger, who remains such an iconic and horrific movie villain that his burned face and clawed hands still make for a startling sight. Of course, the real horror comes from his unique way of hunting the protagonists ⏤ in their dreams ⏤ which is in no way terrifying when it comes time to go to sleep yourself after watching the movie (right?).

You can stream A Nightmare on Elm Street on Max.

It Follows (2017) 6d3p6p

Just like A Nightmare on Elm Street, this film captures the helpless feeling of being hunted by an entity that just can’t be stopped. In this case, it’s a demon that’s transmitted through sex. Once someone has it, the demon will start following them, normally at a walking pace. It can look like anyone and will not give up until the person es the demon on to someone else through intercourse. It’s a great concept for horror flick and doubles as a metaphor for STDs and the loss of childhood innocence. It may not sound very scary, but the acting, cinematography, and soundtrack all work to make this film pretty disturbing.

It Follows is available to stream on Netflix.

Saw (2004) 2v4k6c

Saw is more gory than scary, but to be fair, gore can be horrific in its own right. This film spawned one of the largest horror franchises in recent memory, and the fact that it’s still going strong almost two decades later without the need for a remake is a testament to the franchise’s durability. Out of the 10 films so far, I would argue that the first is still the best, but everyone is allowed their own opinions. It has a great premise and plenty of plot twists (before the franchise got silly with its over-elaborate traps and stories) and is all in all a solid horror film.

If you can stomach it, you can see Saw on Hulu.

The Thing (1982) 4v6p4r

There’s no question about it: this is hands-down one of the best horror movies ever made. The paranoia felt by our protagonists is so well expressed that even those watching start to feel it. Who is the Thing? It could be anyone, and even the ending is left open to interpretation. Of course, where this film really shines is with its practical effects, and when the Thing does reveal itself, it’s horrific, gross, and glorious. I have yet to see a movie since The Thing with such creative monster designs.

You can stream The Thing with an AMC Plus subscription.

The Shining (1980) 2j4pd

Okay, so I said The Thing was one of the best horror movies of all time, but this is actually the best film of all time. Maybe not everyone will agree, but hey, different strokes, am I right? If you like your spooks to be psychological rather than monster-driven, then The Shining has you covered. Stanley Kubrick is really in good form here, too ⏤ it’s possibly his best film, and that’s really saying something. There are so many iconic moments that have been recreated in pop culture ⏤ from the blood elevator to the twins to Jack Torrance smashing his way through a bathroom door with an ax ⏤ that odds are it’ll feel eerily familiar even if you’ve never seen it before.

The Shining is available to stream on Max.

When you think of comfort movies, the last category that should be on your mind is probably horror — especially given the genre’s overabundance of all things gore and maniacal violence.

And yet, it’s those ever-captivating qualities in particular which keep the horror-loving masses thirsty for more. From the enticing slasher suspense in The Strangers to the blood-curdling siren of Silent Hill, the horror community has appropriately adopted some of these spooktacular flicks as comfort watches.

Of course, when you think about the fact that butcher knife slices and ghostly hauntings feel like the farthest things from the definition of “comfort,” it almost feels insanely odd that these movies would be regarded in such a way. Then again, far be it from me as a die-hard horror fan to judge what other of the community deem as their own personal choice for comfort and security.

This specific subject matter was discussed in the r/horror subreddit, where a sea of commenters crowded the reply section with a variety of comfort-inducing horror features. One of the movies nominated was Jennifer’s Body, so perhaps that reasoning can be packed up by moviegoers enjoying watching Megan Fox as a high-schooler who takes pride in murdering her male classmates.

In another thought-provoking reply, one Redditor insisted that a collection of long-standing franchises such as Scream, Saw, and the Final Destination movies are their own personal first stop for all things comfort. Alongside those franchises, commenters have insisted that movies such as It Follows, Ready or Not, and The Thing are the absolute definition of comfort. And, you know what? I can’t help but agree.

Having already recouped its modest $13 million budget four times over at the global box office in its first week of release, Saw X is only going to edge further and further into the black as its theatrical run continues.

Of course, none of the many entries in the long-running horror saga have technically bombed given that they don’t cost much to produce, which in turn has seen it emerge as one of the most profitable IPs in cinematic history, one that’s earned in excess of a billion dollars worldwide on combined budgets of just over $100 million.

However, the one thing that had always escaped the series was critical acclaim, at least until Saw X shocked the world by landing its first-ever Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, blowing its nine predecessors out of the water with a mighty 82 percent approval rating.

Even if it sucked, there’s a strong chance at least one more sequel would emerge, with director Kevin Greutert essentially itting to The Direct that it’s destined to happen given the margins are already heavily in its favor.

“Well, you know, I know the people involved well, and they’re ordinary humans. And if this film makes a lot of money, they’re not gonna leave money on the table if there are future directions to go. I mean, when you say, though, that this film leaves open threads, it doesn’t necessarily answer a lot of questions that are cliffhangers for the other episodes. But for this one, some characters live and we don’t necessarily see what happens to them after that. I’m hoping that the audience does want to know what happens to them after that and that we someday can make another Saw that does answer it because I love these characters.”

Saw X didn’t drop in the long-running property’s first credits scene for nothing, so it’s really more a question of “when” the 11th chapter gets announced as opposed to “if.”

Since the early 2000s, the Saw franchise has disgusted us, terrified us, and thoroughly entertained us. James Wan released the original Saw in 2004, marking his directorial debut, and the consequential success led to other influential horror films such as The Conjuring and Insidious franchises. Consistently for very year since 2004, a Saw sequel was developed, and the pattern ended with a long hiatus between the seventh and eighth films as Jigsaw released seven years after Saw 3D.

Between 2004 and 2023, there have been ten installments of the Saw franchise released. Before Saw X landed in theaters today, Spiral: From the Book of Saw was the latest addition, attempting to reinvent the torture porn genre and revive an outdated franchise. In April 2021, Saw X, was confirmed to be in development, with the spine-tingling chapter being brought to fruition to kick off this year’s spooky season in a major way.

With ten Saw films spanning over 19 years and the production crews changing all the while, there were some successful stand-outs and some flat-out failures. So, before franchise die-hards flock to megaplexes in droves to witness Jigsaw’s latest outing, here is every Saw film, ranked.

10. Spiral: From the Book of Saw (2021) 102bn

As previously mentioned, Spiral: From the Book of Saw was the most recent Saw-related release, although not explicitly marketed as a sequel. The producers commented on Spiral’s significance within the universe, claiming that it was more of a standalone. Unfortunately, Spiral ranks the lowest on our list. Chris Rock was a saving grace, but not enough to make up for awful production values and a weak storyline that pales in comparison to its predecessors. Spiral attempts to reinvent the torture porn genre and breathe new life into a bygone franchise, but fails miserably.

All things considered, Spiral can be given praise for its attempt at changing up the franchise formula, but it ultimately falls short of giving the Saw franchise the boost it needs to regain relevance. Spiral was intended to focus on the corruption of law enforcers, but the theme seems hopelessly lost to generic approaches and an annoyingly predictable plot. Long story short, Spiral succeeds in tarnishing Saw’s good reputation for imaginative deaths and inventive plots.

9. Saw 3D (2010) a6p1n

Taking a very different approach than any other Saw film, Saw 3D was shot entirely in RealD 3D, using the SI-3D digital camera system rather than filming on a set and later transferring the footage to 3D. ittedly, the 3D element does add a certain flair to the seventh film, but 3D is often bashed for being unnecessary and distracting. In this case, like many others, the same rules apply.

The plot follows a man who, after falsely claiming to be a survivor of one of the Jigsaw Killer’s games in order to become a local celebrity, finds himself part of a real game where he must save his wife. Rather than John Kramer, the culprit behind the Jigsaw murders is none other than Mark Hoffman, an accomplice to Kramer instructed to continue his work after his inevitable death.

Saw 3D experienced commercial success at the box office, which seems impossible given the shocking reviews. Poorly acted, sloppily filmed, and a downright disgrace to the Saw brand, Saw 3D only ranks above Spiral for its irable attempt at revolutionizing the franchise using 3D effects to amp up the immersive scare factor. By the seventh film, the Saw narrative began to feel played out, thereby dooming its successors.

8. Jigsaw (2017) 675f3q

First there was Saw 3D. Then there was Jigsaw. In the film, the police investigate a new series of murders that fit the modus operandi of the eponymous Jigsaw Killer, who has been dead for almost a decade at this point. Essentially, John Kramer has a doppelgänger mimicking his procedures to continue the Jigsaw legacy. Honestly, ranking Spiral, Saw 3D, and Jigsaw was difficult; none of them deserve anything above last place, but Jigsaw has some redeeming qualities that give it a slight edge over the competition.

At least Jigsaw is relatively revolting, which is one of the main attractions for the franchise as a whole. Honestly, Jigsaw would have never been groundbreaking, nor even made waves in the Saw universe. It never encapsulates the core concept and delivers a half-baked retelling of the original Saw that disappoints rather than paving the way for a new era of horror. Jigsaw is undoubtedly a fun ride despite its flaws, whereas the others were plain awful. Needless to say, Jigsaw leaves much to be desired and its mind-blowing twist doesn’t live up to the expectations set by its predecessors.

7. Saw V (2009) 3p1f51

Many may disagree, but Saw V was thoroughly interesting. Finally, there came a continuation that focused less on senseless violence and gore and gave the audience a real takeaway message. Primarily focusing on five targeted low-lives, Saw V reminds its victims that survival depends on “acting against your instincts,” which, as we all know, means ignoring the fight-or-flight adrenaline rush and discarding that “survival of the fittest” mindset to work together and live.

As expected, the quintuple participants are in it for themselves from the get-go, and at the final test, when five dwindles down to two, the remaining victims discover that all of them could have survived if only they had set aside their selfish ways. Saw V had inventive torture devices, plentiful gore, and enough stable plot to keep the mindless violence significant as well as a less complicated and more engaging storyline.

6. Saw VI (2008) 241j6i

As we ascend the list, it seems painfully obvious that the earlier Saw films far outweigh the newer revivals. Still, Saw VI ranks lower than its siblings due to a clunky, confusing plot and unconvincing acting. At the time of its release, Saw VI was the lowest-grossing Saw film ever made (until the modern additions proved to be even worse). One of its exceptionally gripping moments comes at the very beginning, thereby ruining the tone by the halfway point. Anyone can it that watching a grown woman chop off her own arm is as grotesque as it sounds.

Consumed almost entirely by backstory, Saw VI is one of those throwaway placeholders in which the flashbacks overtake the actual plot. Sometimes not everything needs to be explained. People want blood and guts and gore, not overly dumbed-down explanations and tie-ins. However, Saw VI is a huge step up from the updated releases in that it stays true to its source material and keeps an air of consistency within its splatter film multiverse. Saw VI is faithful to the franchise and a satisfying filler, even if that’s all it really is.

5. Saw IV (2007) a3t1w

What can we say about Saw IV? Wow. The fourth installment has some of the best twists of any entry, which isn’t a bold statement in the slightest. Granted, nothing could ever top Saw VI‘s ending with Hoffman escaping the Reverse Bear Trap, but Saw IV has a more consistent storyline overall. It also fills in a lot of blanks with John’s backstory that give us some insight as to why he was driven to become Jigsaw, his relationship with his ex-wife Jill Tuck, and how Amanda Young fits into all of this.

The first act can be a little slow, we’ll it it, but the dynamic with Strahm and Hoffman redeems a few minor issues here and there. It also nicely sets up the ending of Saw V when Hoffman eventually kills Strahm. It’s the beginning of a rather perfect conflict between two wonderfully written characters. Rigg isn’t very likeable, so that’s a negative, but there’s so much Hoffman and a fair amount of John, which is all you ever need in a Saw movie.

4. Saw X (2023) 2y3k5

For a horror franchise that’s now reached a 10th movie, it’s certainly an impressive feat for Saw X to land so high up on this list. Touching back to its original roots and focusing on engineer-turned-torturer John Kramer, the 10th chapter centers around him traveling down to Mexico after being informed about a medical program which specializes in curing cases of terminal cancer. In the end, John discovers that the entire operation was merely a ruse, leading him to enlist the help of Amanda Young and Mark Hoffman to capture those who conned him and enact revenge.

The franchise’s 10th outing is undoubtedly a refined touch on a film series which has been seriously lacking quality content over the last few years. For the first time ever, eagle-eyed viewers truly witness a different side to John Kramer which is certainly more vulnerable and weakened. And yet, Tobin Bell’s groundbreaking performance reminds us all why this is his franchise.

3. Saw II (2005) 1w6x5t

Just a year after the immensely successful Saw, its immediate sequel, Saw II, was released. In the film, a group of ex-convicts are trapped by the Jigsaw Killer inside a house and must a series of deadly tests to retrieve the antidote for a nerve agent that will kill them in two hours. Among them, Amanda Young, the only known Jigsaw survivor, works undercover for John Kramer.

Much more is explained in Saw II regarding the motives behind the Jigsaw murders. Kramer reveals that he was diagnosed with cancer and gained a newfound appreciation for life that he wished to instil in others using pre-meditated and escapable torture methods that teach a valuable lesson upon survival. Saw II brilliantly references its predecessor and keeps the same momentum throughout that made the original Saw untouchable. Saw II lags behind in appeal, but outshines the first for its fool-proof ending without the cheat codes.

2. Saw III (2006) 6p326i

As the highest-grossing Saw film of the series both internationally and overall, Saw III solidifies itself as a worthy successor to the original. Above all else, Saw III brings the gore. After adding in the component of Amanda Young defying John Kramer’s methods and losing belief in his teachings, the traps were made to be inescapable, resulting in multiple deaths. While the gore may be overplayed, its presence feels intended and perfectly executed in light of the plot developments.

One of the biggest problems with Saw III was the script, which overuses flashbacks and loses the plot (which is actually a huge turning point for the remainder of the series) to more senseless deaths. There can be positives and negatives taken from Saw III’s gorier take on the tension-filled original. The acting is refreshingly believable and Saw III is ittedly the most enjoyable, period, of any other Saw film. If willing to overlook the frankly trying attempt at “gorier equals better,” Saw III is a wild and unmissable ride, forever cemented as one of the greats in the Saw legacy.

1. Saw (2004) 4h5b53

By now, it should have been expected that the original would come out on top. As seen with many other long-standing franchises, the original is — more often than not — the best. Saw is the shot-in-the-dark by James Wan that started it all. It gained a cult following from its commercial and critic success and has been considered one of the most revolutionary horror films of all time. Without it, the others would not have existed.

Saw grips its audiences with lofty ambitions and a deceptively clever plot with memorable scenes that far exceed any expectations. For such a low-budget film, the gory scenes were amazingly evocative and masterfully done given the limited resources. In its climax, Saw presents a satisfying resolution to the ongoing mystery that fits its ghastly undertone. Saw will always be considered an untouchable relic, credited with kickstarting a franchise. Its twisted morality can never be replicated, for Saw truly is the first of its kind.

Warning: The following article contains spoilers for Saw X.

At long last, the tenth installment in the ever-iconic Saw franchise has finally touched ground. Ever since early screenings last night, Saw X has immediately shifted wavelengths and become the latest sensation within the horror community. Centering around everybody’s favorite engineer-turner-torturer John Kramer, the spine-tingling tenth chapter delves further into Kramer’s iconic backstory and sheds lights on events which happened between Saw (2004) and Saw II (2005). 

Those aforementioned events showcase Kramer visiting Mexico after a fellow member from his cancer group reveals a particular medical program which utilizes a specific drug cocktail and surgery to cure cases of terminal cancer. John, who is suffering from a malignant brain tumor, views the trip to Mexico as his last hope before he succumbs to the illness in a few months. 

The climax of the movie ultimately reveals that the program in Mexico is nothing more than a scam operation, leading John to call in a few favors from some recognizable faces in Amanda Young and, eventually, Detective Mark Hoffman. On that same note, eagle-eyed viewers have begun to question whether or not Dr. Gordon makes his own appearance in the movie.

Who is Dr. Gordon? 2i644s

Viewers first meet Dr. Lawrence Gordon as an oncologist tasked with performing surgery on John Kramer after his diagnosis of terminal brain cancer. However, John soon learns that his tumor is inoperable and that Dr. Gordon isn’t as sensitive and caring as a doctor as he could be. Eventually, Dr. Gordon is trapped in an undisclosed bathroom in one of Jigsaw’s planned traps. To escape the trap, Dr. Gordon saws off his own foot and eventually escapes the bathroom.

After the eventual divorce from his wife and estranged relationship with his family, Dr. Gordon s Jigsaw later down the line as a primary antagonist. Simply put, the Saw fandom wholeheartedly believe that Dr. Gordon had suffered from Stockholm syndrome and that, along with the crumbling of his marriage, led him back to John Kramer to serve as an accomplice.

Is Dr. Gordon in Saw X? 435zz

Long-time fans of the gruesome horror franchise will undoubtedly be saddened to learn that Dr. Gordon is not in Saw X. Despite trusted sidekicks such as Amanda Young and Mark Hoffman making their long-awaited returns, the timeline events in the movie insist that Dr. Gordon did not yet Jigsaw as an accomplice. Seeing as the events in Saw X happen directly after Saw (2004), Dr. Gordon would have returned to his family in the hopes of repairing his marriage.

Actor Cary Elwes, who has famously portrayed Dr. Gordon over the years, responded to the chance of being in the tenth Saw movie earlier this year. In his response, Elwes wished the franchise and its creators well, but insisted that he is “not really involved” in the franchise at this point. Of course, you can never truly say never in regards to Hollywood, so perhaps die-hards will eventually come across Dr. Gordon again in the future. For now, it’s game over.

Saw X is currently playing in theaters now.

WARNING: Spoilers for Saw X to follow.

American actor Michael Beach has played countless memorable characters across his three-decade career. His more recent roles came in 2018’s Aquaman and now 2023’s Saw X. He’s also well-known for his portrayal of T.O. Cross on FX’s Sons of Anarchy. In Saw X, Beach has a ing role as a character called Henry Kessler – an associate of Cecilia Pederson who lures John Kramer into a surgical scam.

Kessler appears at the beginning of Saw X as a member of the same cancer group as John, who claims to have Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He encounters John again at a café to inform him about The Pederson Project, a supposed “miracle cure” for terminal cancer patients with no hope of survival from regular procedures. Henry assures John that Cecilia Pederson — the daughter of a famed Scandinavian surgeon — has saved several lives with her groundbreaking two-step program.

He shows John a large vertical scar over his abdomen from the “surgery” he underwent to remove the cancer. Henry is a willing accomplice to the fraudulent activities run by Pederson and it turns out he was never inflicted with cancer and merely acted as a scout to lure potential victims to Cecilia.

Henry is ultimately brought to justice by John and his apprentice, Mark Hoffman, in the post-credits scene. John enlists Hoffman’s help in tracking down Henry and after Henry is located, he is strapped to a device referred to as “The Belly Scratcher.” It seems to be capable of severing and disemboweling his torso, although we are not privy to the outcome of the trap and whether or not Henry survived.

The next terrifying chapter in John Kramer’s story has arrived in theaters everywhere, but if you’re on the fence about splurging on a trip to the movies, you might be swayed by the time commitment. From personal experience, it’s worth every penny regardless of the runtime, but it’s understandable to want as much time with John as we can possibly get.

Thankfully, we don’t have a repeat of Endgame on our hands. Saw X runs for 1 hour and 58 minutes, so you won’t be ignoring the urge to pee for too long after demolishing your Diet Coke during the trailers. Any die-hard Saw fans would kill to have John and Amanda for nearly three hours, but the squeamish among us would prefer not to endure 180 minutes of non-stop gore.

We know John meets his maker in Saw III after Dr. Lynn Denlon fails to remove his cancerous frontal lobe tumor. However, Saw X takes us back to a time where John is still perfecting his modus operandi. He hasn’t yet mastered the art of becoming Jigsaw and his eventual fate from terminal cancer looms overhead with each ing day.

Set between Saw and Saw II, the newest installment sees John enact his most personal game yet against a group of con artists — led by Cecilia Pederson — who swindled him out of $240k with a fake surgical program to remove his tumor. He is ed by Amanda Young, who survives Jigsaw’s test in the first film and later becomes his apprentice. After John finds out he’s been duped, it doesn’t take long for his “associate” (if you know, you know) to track down Cecilia Pederson and her colleagues to test their will to live.

“A lecture in moral decency… from you?” It still gives us chills. Catch Saw X in theaters now, if you have the stomach for it.

Horror junkies and moviegoers alike should be all too familiar with the name John Kramer. However, mass audiences know him better as Jigsaw or the Jigsaw Killer. For a total of eight feature-length films (discounting the soft reboot Spiral: From the Book of Saw), Kramer has tormented, humiliated, and murdered over 80 degenerates and authority figures in cold blood. After his introduction in James Wan’s Saw (2004), Tobin Bell’s John Kramer went on to become one of the most iconic and convoluted horror antagonists of all time, but his motives aren’t always crystal clear. While Kramer has declared hatred for murderers, viewers have been baffled for the last 18 years as Jigsaw continues to do nothing but murder — even indirectly — “to teach a lesson.” After all, holding a gun to someone’s head and forcing them to pull the trigger is still murder, whichever way you look at it.

What with Spiral debuting in 2021 (albeit to negative reviews) and Saw X — the franchise’s tenth installment — currently in theaters right now, there seems to be no more opportune time to recall Kramer’s complex history than right now. Even diehard Saw fans are well aware that the flashbacks-within-flashbacks and cryptic interactions have made the plot — while fascinating — extremely hard to follow. There seem to emerge multiple motives that propel John Kramer’s killing spree, whether he calls it that or not, but the message can get easily lost in translation what with all the intertwining stories. So, let’s take a closer look at Kramer’s biography, starting at the very beginning.

John Kramer started out as a promising civil engineer 5r581j

One of the most notable locations in the entire Saw franchise is the Gideon Meatpacking Plant, heavily featured in Saw III. When John Kramer worked as a civil engineer, he founded an organization dedicated to providing low-budget homes to low-income residents with his lawyer-friend Art Blank. Kramer and Blank purchased abandoned real estate and renovated them into affordable housing. The Gideon Meatpacking Plant was one of several locations owned by Kramer, but he never intended to use the property to propel his business. Rather, he would revitalize the once-was slaughterhouse and revert it back to its intended purpose.

Sometime after, Kramer met and married Jill Tuck, who worked at an addict recovery clinic under the motto: “Cherish your life.” Ironically, Kramer would go on to claim that motto under different circumstances. For some context, John had always deemed the will to live as the most vital element of human nature. When he met William Easton at an event organized by Jill’s clinic, he learned that Easton had invented a business policy to decide which clients would get insurance from the company he represented: Umbrella Health. From John’s perspective, the mathematic equation presented by Easton completely disregarded a client’s will to live, a moral choice that he fiercely disagreed with.

John and Jill were with child until a family tragedy occurred 5l206o

In 1994, Jill Tuck fell pregnant. John, inspired by the Gideon Meatpacking Plant, decided that his and Jill’s son would adopt the name Gideon. As John and Jill awaited the arrival of Gideon, John gifted Jill with a children’s bed and a ventriloquist puppet, Bobby the Puppet, which acted as the prototype model for Billy the Puppet, whom John uses as a mascot for Jigsaw’s killings later on. Despite happiness blossoming for John and Jill, the former grew concerned for the latter’s safety as she continued to work without maternity leave.

One time, John was forced to intervene when a brawl was incited between Cecil Adams and Gus Colyard, both of whom would become John’s victims. Cecil had complained about the long waiting times, which caused Gus to get violent and stir up an altercation. When John interrupted, he found all the more reason to worry for Jill’s safety, which turned out to be justified.

During one fateful night in the fall of 1994, John had parked outside of the clinic to wait for Jill when he was approached by Addison Corday, a local prostitute and another Jigsaw victim in Saw II. After being offered her services, John declined and instructed her to go home, remarking about her beauty and how this line of work didn’t suit her. Shortly thereafter, John saw Cecil running out of the clinic in a hurry. When John went inside, he found Jill squatted in pain and bleeding profusely. It turns out that Cecil had accidentally slammed a doorknob against Jill’s stomach out of anger, which led to a miscarriage.

Following Gideon’s death, John became a depressed recluse, withdrawing himself from Jill and Art, who frequently checked on him. Eventually, John divorced Jill.

John is diagnosed with terminal cancer and attempts to end his life 5z3e5x

It should be mentioned that until this time, John had suffered a deteriorating physical condition that wasn’t named until after he divorced Jill. When John’s health worsened, he went to the Angel of Mercy Hospital, where Dr. Lawrence Gordon diagnosed him with colon cancer and a frontal lobe tumor. However, Dr. Logan Nelson, sometime during one of John’s earlier visits, mixed up John’s x-rays with that of another patient, hence his cancer had evolved beyond conceivable care and became incurable.

Thoroughly dissatisfied with his diagnosis (as anyone would be) and the careless mistake of Nelson, John spiraled into an even deeper depression, even attempting to take his own life. He drove his car off a cliff, fully expecting to die. Much to his amazement, he survived, thereby gaining a newfound appreciation for life and rediscovering his will to live. From surviving the crash, John had learned to cherish life only when death was imminent. From that moment onwards, John chose to test other’s will to live in the hopes that it would teach them to value not just their own lives but the lives of those around them.

John conducts his first test and becomes Jigsaw 4n2d39

Due to the altercation that led to Jill’s miscarriage and inadvertently their divorce, John chooses Cecil Adams as his first test subject. After observing Cecil for a while, John discovers that his experience with Jill hasn’t changed him, nor has it curbed his reckless behavior. At that moment, John decides to teach Cecil a hard life lesson; he drugs Cecil into unconsciousness using a rag soaked in chloroform and transports his lifeless body to his workshop. When inside, John strapped Cecil to a chair with blades through his wrists. After a brief exchange in which Cecil begs for his life and John reiterates the purpose of his test, John fastens a device consisting of eight horizontal knives to Cecil’s chair, positioning them right in front of his face.

In doing so, John explains in a foreboding monologue that he has forgiven Cecil for Gideon’s death, but the test was intended to change him. He informs Cecil that in order to free himself from his restraints, he must push his face through the treacherous blades. If he doesn’t do so, he’ll bleed to death. Cecil begins pushing through the knives, but as this is John’s first invention, it inevitably backfires. The chair suddenly breaks away beneath Cecil, allowing him to move freely. He goes to attack John, who effortlessly evades the mindless charge with a casual side-step, forcing Cecil to fall into a barbed wire cage and subsequently bleed to death anyway. John cuts a jigsaw puzzle piece out of Cecil’s skin to symbolize his lack of survival instinct. And then, Jigsaw is born.

John gets conned in Mexico by doctors and vows to take revenge 533f2d

While John Kramer / Jigsaw did go on to torture a plethora of civilians as a way to make them understand the definitive choice between life or death, one of the driving forces behind John’s work is events that occurred in Mexico at the hands of a medical team. The mind-boggling events are fully depicted in Saw X, where John travels to Mexico after hearing of a particular medical program that treats those with terminal cancer. After the events in Mexico, John enlists the help of his assistant Amanda (and a certain detective, wink, wink) to capture the faux doctor and medical team that ran a low-key scam operation and took $250k from him.

The actions that unfold in Saw X serve as a sequel to James Wan’s Saw (2004) and a prequel to Saw II (2005), the latter in which John and Amanda continue to engage in setting up traps and provoking unsuspecting victims with the grueling choice of life or death. Dissatisfaction with his destructive illness and being tricked in Mexico ultimately pushes John over the deep end and causes him to dive further into his twisted work.

Jigsaw’s future and eventual death 3i612b

In the future, after developing a thirst for blood and “justice,” John Kramer would go on to kidnap and torment several more degenerates that he deemed ungrateful, selfish, and conniving, all while making each test survivable on the condition that the subject tap into their will to live — if they have one. Among the test subjects, Kramer encounters Amanda Young, a recovering drug addict; Dr. Lawrence Gordon, Kramer’s oncologist; Adam Stanheight, a sleazy freelance photographer; Metropolitan Police Detective Mark Hoffman and many more. Young, Gordon, and Hoffman would go on to become John’s apprentices.

There would be far too much to cover in all of the Saw movies, but John all the rest is fairly straightforward. John continues preparing ‘games’ and testing subjects — some of whom willingly his pursuit of justice — until his condition worsens to a vegetative state in Saw III. Amanda Young, Jigsaw’s only known survivor at the time, kidnaps surgeon Lynn Denlon — wife of Jeff — and orders her to operate on John’s brain to remove his tumor otherwise a shotgun collar will blow her head to pieces. In the end, Jeff completes his trial and confronts John, whom he murders by slicing his throat. Unbeknownst to him, Lynn and John’s lives were linked, meaning that should anything happen to John, Lynn’s collar would explode. While that seems to be the end of John Kramer, and it is, future Saw movies depict John in flashbacks that suggest Jigsaw has operated for far longer than we initially thought.

Through Young, Gordon, and Hoffman, John’s legacy continued and even long after his death, he still managed to terrorize victims for years.