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Saw III could have been the end of the series. It killed off it’s primary antagonist in Jigsaw and wrapped up everything it could. That’s not how horror franchises work though, do they? While it’s easy to say that the massive 165-million-dollar box office of Saw III is responsible for the production of Saw IV, the truth is that the movie was greenlit before the third entry ever hit the theaters. How would the story progress after the death of John Kramer? Who would be in the directors’ chair to follow up the most successful film in the franchise? What would the original creators have to do with this movie? Sit back and prepare for another game as we find out what happened to Saw IV.

Saw IV opens with the audience witnessing an autopsy. It takes place immediately after Saw III with John Kramer, Jigsaw himself,...

Move over, John Kramer — there's a new twisted vigilante in town! And this ain't just any old bloodthirsty kook either: it's Hannibal Lecter himself, Sir Anthony Hopkins. Yes, in David Yarovesky's upcoming single location thriller Locked, Hopkins plays William, a Jigsaw-style cool, calm, and collected killer who traps unsuspecting lout Eddie (Bill Skarsgård) in his luxury SUV when the down-on-his-luck thief tries to steal his car. Thus ensues a battle of wits as William employs all sorts of cruel, car-based torture to punish Eddie while his hostage fights for survival. And you can check out the trailer for the Sam Raimi produced horror thriller, a remake of original 2019 Argentinian effort 4x4 (which itself has been remade once already as 2022 Brazilian flick A Jaula), below:

"I just want to introduce you to a little taste of hell," Hopkins' William — only heard, never seen — tells Eddie in this cheek-clenchingly tense first trailer for Locked.

Jigsaw continues the legacy of John Kramer (Tobin Bell) after his death but with two major twists, as is tradition in the Saw saga. Seven years after the supposed “final chapter” of the Saw saga with Saw 3D, an eighth installment arrived to shake up what the audience thought they knew about John Kramer and his whole history as the Jigsaw killer. Directed by the Spierig Brothers, Jigsaw introduces viewers to a new group of “players” in Jigsaw’s twisted games, all of them chosen as they have some dark confessions to make.

Parallel to the game, Jigsaw follows the efforts of Detectives Brad Halloran (Callum Keith Rennie) and Keith Hunt (Clé Bennett) to find the copycat Jigsaw killer that has started this new game, as Kramer died in Saw III. Working with Halloran and Hunt is pathologist Logan Nelson (Matt Passmore) and his assistant Eleanor Bonneville (Hannah Emily Anderson...

It seems pretty weird how movies are getting released in 2024 and are competing against one another for the top spot at the global box office. Although Disney is in a win-win situation after Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool & Wolverine, fans are not so happy with the whole ordeal.

2024 was a weird year for Hollywood movies | Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures

Films competing is a normal thing. However, the Hollywood roster of movies for 2024 was quite diverse, weird, and unnatural as several cinema classics collided alongside modern Gen Z pieces of art. The end result was naturally a disaster.

The Roster of Hollywood Movies For 2024 Was Quite Weird

Although we haven’t pulled out the New Year champagne yet, we are getting closer to the New Year celebrations and the end of 2025. Being one of the not-so-great years for Hollywood movies, 2024 has seen a lot.

A still from Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool & Wolverine | Credits: Marvel Studios

Back in January,...

The Saw franchise is one of those that’s become a big part of pop culture, especially since it came out in the 2000s. It really made its mark in the horror world, shaping a generation of fans who still love it today. No wonder the eleventh movie is set to hit theaters next year.

Still from Saw (Credits: Lionsgate)

But with so many films, it can be hard for the same person to keep directing for so long. James Wan, one of the creators of the franchise, decided to step away from the project shortly after the first movie. However, in a recent interview, he shared that he would have taken a different approach if he had stayed. He also seized the chance to reveal whether he might return to the franchise someday, which would definitely be surreal.

James Wan Says He Would Return To The Saw Franchise Under...

Over 10 films to date and an 11th scheduled for late September of 2025, Saw is a franchise that rivals most in terms of both output and fandom. It had a run of 7 straight films over 7 years which began with the out of nowhere Saw in 2004 and culminating with Saw 3D in 2010. Its consistency may have trailed off temporarily with scattered entries following in 2017, 2021, and 2023, but the series as a whole is well known and has branched off into nearly every conceivable type of media. From comics and novels to video games and toys, Saw may just be primed to start another legendary run in the 2020s. Saw III was a runaway train that is still the highest grossing film in the series, but it was almost not even made after the original creators were done. With traps that were some of the most creative and even including Tobin Bell’s favorite...

James Wan’s Saw turns 20 this year and is back in cinemas. A look at one of the most influential horror films of all time:

There’s a comparitively small group of horror films that have, one way or another, changed the genre. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Night Of The Living Dead, The Blair Witch Project and Psycho have all left their mark, but more recent films aren’t always considered to be as impactful as the genre’s older offerings.

Yet, today’s horror landscape would look very different without James Wan’s Saw, which debuted in cinemas in October 2004 and recently returned to UK cinemas to mark its 20th anniversary. Saw kickstarted the so-called torture porn subgenre of horror along with Eli Roth’s Hostel, but it also brought in a whole new approach to the genre. What if the killer wasn’t just sadistic, but also...

The 10 Freakiest Film & TV Dolls of All Time — From Chucky to M3GAN - Main Image

When people think of something scary for Halloween, usually they think up some kind of big scary monster or psychopath with a weapon; but there’s also some horror to be found from the exact opposite of big monsters—creepy little dolls.

The horror genre has had some very memorable creepy dolls for decades, and we take a look at some that are worth checking out for anyone looking to get spooked for the Halloween season.

Chucky (Child’s Play)

Probably responsible for a lot of trauma for millennials when it comes to dolls, Chucky made his debut in 1988’s Child’s Play. His origin is that Chucky was originally serial killer Charles Lee Ray who was dying in a toy store, and in a last-ditch effort committed some voodoo to transfer his consciousness into...

James Wan, director of the very first Saw film and longtime producer of the franchise, has revealed his favorite Jigsaw trap. Wan developed the story of the first Saw movie alongside Leigh Whannell, and the film ended up spawning one of the most iconic horror franchises of all time. Since the original was released in 2004, there have been a total of ten Saw movies. Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the very first installment, Wan reflected on the franchise's iconic traps and revealed which one is his favorite.

Perhaps it shouldn't be a surprise that Wan chose a trap from the first Saw movie, the only entry in the franchise he has directed. In an interview with People, Wan admitted that the reverse bear trap remains his favorite Jigsaw trap. Read his full quote below:

It's really the jaw trap. I mean, that one has become so iconic. Obviously, it ended up being on the poster,...

Over the course of 20 years and 10 movies, the "Saw" franchise has delivered some seriously disturbing traps. Initially created by Jigsaw/John Kramer (Tobin Bell), a terminally ill man who believes he's able to deliver a kind of morally superior justice through his complicated and brutal puzzles, the traps are probably the franchise's greatest draw. There are devoted fans who dive deep into franchise lore and can easily explain the entire complex "Saw" timeline, of course, but the average movie goer just wants to see what kind of twisted, gory traps the filmmakers have come up with in each installment. It's like the "Final Destination" films and their increasingly complex, Rube Goldberg-like deaths, as both franchises lean into creative and horrifying deaths, occasionally with some level of humor or wry wit peppered in. The "Saw" movies have some truly great traps, like the pit of needles in "Saw II" and...

Saw's Jigsaw has come to life in a creepy, gender-swapped cosplay that imagines if Billy the Puppet were female, giving a new perspective to the series. Throughout its 10 core entries, the Saw movies have seen John Kramer (Tobin Bell), otherwise known as Jigsaw, kidnap dozens of people and makes them go through torturous gauntlets, a twisted form of getting them to appreciate their lives more. The killer utilizes Billy the Puppet, a pale, black-haired ventriloquist dummy with red swirls on his cheeks, to deliver messages to his victims, acting as the face of his serial killer alter ego.

Now, AshleyArtistryy_ has released a cosplay of herself as Jigsaw's Billy puppet, bringing the Saw villain to life in a gender-swapped rendition. She sports white facepaint and red lipstick, alongside wavy black hair and red contacts to match the puppet's eyes. Painted on her cheeks are two small spirals, while she wears a red bowtie,...

We want to play a game, readers.

To celebrate 20 years of James Wan and Leigh Whannell’s twisted franchise, Bloody Disgusting and Lionsgate are teaming up to give away three (3) copies of this year’s brand new Saw 10-Film Blu-ray Collection to a few lucky fans. Spanning 17 hours in total, this set includes every film in the franchise, begging for an October binge.

Here are all the details…

“All 10 films from the most successful horror franchise in movie history – including the latest chapter, Saw X – are collected here in one terrifying set. Rewind to the beginning, when Jigsaw first springs his diabolically ingenious traps on the morally wayward, then travel his long road of pain all the way to Mexico in the newest entry’s untold story of John Kramer’s quest for a cancer cure, inspiring his most personal game yet.”

Enter here or below!

Still want more Jigsaw and John Kramer?...

While Tobin Bell had a long career of background roles, bit parts, and supporting characters in film and television before fully breaking out as John “Jigsaw” Kramer in the long-running “Saw” franchise, he understands why it took so long for him to enter the public conscious as an artist. Speaking to the Los Angeles Times for a recent interview in honor of the film’s 20th anniversary, Bell shared his view of why scary movies as a whole have such power over people.

“It’s a visceral experience that you can’t control,” he said. “You’re not just sitting, passively watching. All of a sudden you [jumps up from his chair, startled]. Some people like that. Not my cup of tea, necessarily. When I was a kid I didn’t like going to horror films. As soon as the scary part of a film would come up, I’d be down behind the seat.”

In...

The horror classic Saw is back to terrify audiences once again as it celebrates its 20th anniversary this October with a special Unrated re-release in theatres across the United States. Fans of the iconic film will have the opportunity to experience James Wan’s directorial debut as it was meant to be seen—dark, twisted, and full of suspense—when Saw: Unrated returns on October 20 and 23 through Fathom Events.

The anniversary celebration kicked off at Beyond Fest in Los Angeles, where original cast members and filmmakers reunited for a special black carpet event. Director James Wan, writer Leigh Whannell, producers Oren Koules and Mark Burg, and stars including Cary Elwes and Tobin Bell joined forces once again, with Billy the Puppet making an eerie appearance on the scene. The celebration included a special screening of the unrated version of the film at the Egyptian Theater, followed by an energetic Q...

Saw X appears to have reinvigorated the Saw franchise, so while we wait for Saw XI to come along, we here at Arrow in the Head have decided to take a look back at the previous films in the series to compile a list of the Best Saw Traps. There were many traps to choose from, but the idea here was to narrow it down to the best trap (or trap scene) from each individual movie. Check out our picks below, and let us know what your favorite traps were in the comments section.

Saw – Reverse Bear Trap

Of course this one had to make the list, since it’s the most popular trap in the entire franchise and the one most strongly remembered by the general audience. The reverse bear trap caught so much attention when it showed up in the first film, they brought it back in a couple of the sequels.

The promise that John Kramer will continue to wreak havoc as the Jigsaw killer in Saw 11 is a huge relief after the disappointment of his supposed replacement earlier in the franchise. After Saw X became the best-reviewed Saw movie ever made and a hit at the box office, the franchise is bigger than ever. Set for a theatrical release on September 26, 2025, Saw 11 is the most highly anticipated Saw film in years, and that's a lot of pressure to live up to.

Tobin Bells latest Saw 11 update is a positive sign for the upcoming sequel. Apart from being touted as a direct sequel to Saw X, the details of Saw 11 are being kept under wraps. That said, in a recent interview, Bell promised that John Kramer is not done, suggesting hell be back in Saw 11. Previously, the cliffhanger ending of Saw X seemed to suggest that the franchise would be repeating...

Tobin Bell owns a metal briefcase that he uses to house nine composition books, each one containing the notes he took to prepare to play John Kramer, a.k.a. Jigsaw, in the movies that make up the Saw franchise.. Soon, he’ll start taking notes in a tenth book, because Saw XI is on track for a September 26, 2025 release – and he has confirmed to the LA Times that Kramer is “a main part” of the latest sequel.

The LA Times reports that the first page of the notes Bell took for the original Saw “includes a drawn spiral interrogating the likes, dislikes and motivations” of his character. The other pages “are occupied by a series of questions about the character. They start with the most basic details — ‘Where am I?’ for example — and evolve into increasingly specific queries until they form an inverse triangle brimming with insight he’s deciphered on his own.

While the franchise started out as a low-budget horror movie, it takes a lot to have the Saw movies explained from the increasingly complicated timeline. Despite the franchise's popularity, it hit a point where some critics complained that the further along the series progressed, the harder it was to keep up without having seen every entry in it, preferably recently. Whether that was a big issue is debatable, Saw definitely tried its best to tie everything together for most of its run in a way that other horror series didn't always try.

For the first eight movies, the series all followed one relatively consistent Saw plot point centered around John "Jigsaw" Kramer. However, the spinoff ninth installment Spiral took place years later with a copycat killer of sorts. 2023's Saw X pulls off the shocking move of bringing Jigsaw back into the fold despite the fact that he died way...

Quick Links Most Recent Saw XI News Saw XI Release Date Saw XI Cast Details Saw XI Story Details Saw XI: Further News & Info

Stretching the limits of sequels, even for a genre known for its copious amounts of follow-ups, Saw XI is officially on the way with plenty of terrifying news on the Saw sequel. 2023's Saw X was a return to what made the first Saw so well-received compared to its sequels, and it reinvigorated the tired franchise. The most recent Saw movie was a relatively grounded thriller focusing on John Kramer, something likely to continue in Saw XI.

Set between Saw and Saw 2, Saw X eschewed much of what made entries like Saw 3D so critically panned. It told John Kramers story, making him a sympathetic character once again instead of a trap-creating boogeyman who exists only as a name and reputation (as has been...

Saw XI will feature the return of Tobin Bell's Jigsaw. The character, whose real name is John Kramer, is a cancer patient and engineer who places his victims in deadly traps to teach the survivors moral lessons about how to embrace life. Although he died during the events of Saw III, the complicated interlocking timeline of the franchise has allowed him to appear in nearly every installment of the 10-part franchise, which will soon include the upcoming Saw XI after the success of 2023's Saw X, a prequel centering Bell's character between the events of the first two movies.

While speaking with the Los Angeles Times, Tobin Bell confirmed that Jigsaw will once more be playing a major role in Saw XI. He expressed enthusiasm for the fan response to Saw X and explained that "it's all in the writing," saying that he hoped the quality of the...

The Saw ending revolutionized horror, starting a billion-dollar franchise with a unique concept and mind-blowing twist. The movie's intense narrative, centered around survival instincts and moral choices, set the stage for a series of gruesome traps. The original Saw's twist ending, revealing John Kramer as the real Jigsaw Killer, remains unmatched in the subsequent sequels.

When it was released in 2004, the Saw ending completely changed the horror landscape, starting a blockbuster franchise filled with shocking twists. The influential film had a budget of just $1 million dollars and went on to make $100 million worldwide (via Box Office Mojo), started a billion-dollar franchise, and turned director James Wan into one of the most in-demand directors of the 2000s. That's an even bigger success considering it has a "rotten" 50% on Rotten Tomatoes. But while the franchise went on to focus more on the signature graphic violence, the original movie had a compelling thriller narrative.

Yesterday, we shared some images that offered a preview of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre experience that’s coming to Six Flags Great Adventure and Six Flags Over Texas as part of their Fright Fest celebrations this year. Now we’ve learned of another horror movie-inspired experience that will be part of the Six Flags Fright Fest event, as Six Flags is teaming up with Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the original Saw film with an experience called Saw: Legacy of Terror! This one is coming to Six Flags Great Adventure, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Six Flags Over Texas, and Six Flags Over Georgia and will be running from early September through November 3, 2024. We have some promotional images at the bottom of this article.

Here’s the information: Just in time for Halloween season, Saw – the landmark film that spawned an iconic horror franchise – celebrates its 20th Anniversary this year.

Over time, movie and TV franchises can outgrow their titles, leaving them with names that no longer accurately represent the content. TV shows like "Lost" and "New Girl" shift focus over time, moving away from their original premises even though the titles remain the same. Franchises like "Saw" and "Friday the 13th" may no longer make sense due to changes in characters or plotlines, causing the titles to feel outdated.

It's natural for long-running franchises to evolve over the years, but some change so drastically that their titles no longer make sense. A good title should capture something fundamental about a movie or TV show while making audiences excited to watch it. However, if a franchise drags on for long enough to change what it's about, this can leave it tied to a title that doesn't fit.

TV shows can't just change their titles halfway through their run if it...

Jigsaw's timeline twist revealed Kramer's first apprentice, creating confusion. Final Destination 5 did the timeline twist better, making it more impactful and with a purpose in the franchise. Saw II and Saw IV also played with timelines, but Jigsaw's twist was just to shock viewers.

As is tradition in the Saw saga, Jigsaw had a plot twist that led to another, one of them a timeline twist, and if you liked that one, this $157.9 million horror movie is a must-watch. The Saw saga seemed to have reached its end in 2010 with Saw 3D, also known as The Final Chapter, and though it gave a surprising but satisfying end to the franchise, it was brought back to life seven years later with Jigsaw. Directed by the Spierig Brothers, Jigsaw is set a decade after John Kramers (Tobin Bell) death.

Jigsaw sees the start of a new game with five new players,...

Eleanor escaped the barn at the end of Jigsaw, and never learned Logan was the copycat killer. Eleanor's final scene hints at her being picked up by Logan or Detective Hunt. A surprise character could have been Dr. Gordon, Kramer's other alive apprentice.

Jigsaw had a couple of plot twists that added to John Kramers backstory, but it missed one final twist reveal as it never revealed who picked Eleanor Bonneville (Hannah Emily Anderson) up at the end. The Saw saga seemed to have come to an end in 2010 with Saw 3D, also known as The Final Chapter, but the franchise had a lot more to tell. The saga came back to life seven years later with Jigsaw, directed by the Spierig Brothers, and set after the events of Saw 3D and a decade after Kramers death.

Jigsaw follows a new game with five victims, but as Kramer is dead,...

Warning: major spoilers for 2017s Jigsaw.

There are many (though some subtle) hints throughout Jigsaw about its double timeline. The players never acknowledged they were in a Jigsaw "game" and didn't recognize Billy. Anna and Ryan didn't question John Kramer's appearance, even though he was supposedly dead.

Jigsaw revived the Saw saga when it had supposedly reached its end, and as is now expected in any Saw movie, it has a twist ending that leads to another twist reveal, but there were clues to this throughout the whole movie. The Saw franchise arrived to revive the gore genre with the story of John Kramer (Tobin Bell), who put others in life-threatening situations as tests of their will to live and to teach them a lesson about all their crimes and questionable actions. Kramers legacy seemed to have ended with Saw 3D, but the franchise came back to life seven years later with Jigsaw.

Jigsaw, the seventh film in the Saw franchise, just hit Netflix, and new audiences are seeing the movie for the first time—leaving many to wonder how Tobin Bell’s John Kramer is alive in the film.

Those fluent in Saw mythos know that John Kramer died at the end of Saw 3, at the hands of Jeff Denlon, the player of Jigsaw’s game in the third installment. Moments before, his apprentice, Amanda, was shot and killed—taking a chunk out of the killer’s legacy.

Jigsaw, which takes place roughly 10 years after Saw III, shows Tobin Bell’s killer alive. The plot even teases that he somehow cheated death to once again terrorize those undeserving of life.

Read full article on The Direct.

The Saw franchise features 10 movies with Jigsaw, a villain who kills at least 80 victims through complex traps. Jigsaw's elaborate torture devices make his murders even more terrifying. Aiming to awaken people to the value of life, John Kramer's tragic backstory reveals his motivations for becoming Jigsaw.

The Saw film franchise has brought many murders to the big screen. Over the years, Jigsaw, the violent persona created by John Kramer, has given the Saw series an extensive timeline. Known for taking a puzzle-piece-shaped chunk of flesh from those who fail to survive his brutal tests, Jigsaw has killed a variety of victims with sinister technology. From a Venus Flytrap collar to a reverse bear trap, Saw shows some of the most painful deaths.

Oftentimes, Jigsaw positions his victims themselves to contribute to their own deaths. Due to the passive style of Jigsaw's crimes, he would argue that he has never directly killed anyone.

The Saw franchise is known for its gruesome and intricate traps that test victims' morality, pain tolerance, and ability to stay calm under pressure. Here are some of the most brutal traps featured in the Jigsaw movie: The Shotgun Keys: This trap involves a double-barreled shotgun that the victims must use to free themselves. However, one of the victims, Anna, panics and accidentally shoots herself in the head instead of her fellow victim, Ryan. This trap is brutal because it highlights the victims' inability to follow simple instructions and leads to a gruesome death. Edgar Munsen's Test: This trap involves a scavenger hunt where the victim, Edgar, must find a trigger to activate the murderer's trial in a barn. The chase sequence adds a level of brutality to the trap, but the actual death by sniper fire is relatively quick compared to other Jigsaw traps.

2017's Jigsaw offered a whole...

Six Flags Fright Fest is giving Halloween Horror Nights a run for its money this year, with Variety previewing the impressive lineup of franchise-based haunted houses this morning.

Much like Universal Studios, Six Flags is going IP-heavy for Fright Fest 2024, with franchises including Saw, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Trick ‘r Treat in the mix this year!

They’re joined by haunted mazes based on The Conjuring, Stranger Things, Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead, and even the popular DC Comics zombie-horror series DCeased.

Variety details in their exclusive breakdown, “Fright Fest is set to open on September 7, 2024. Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey and Six Flags Magic Mountain in Los Angeles will have the bulk of the haunted house mazes, with Texas Chainsaw Massacre exclusive to Great Adventure and DCeased exclusive to Six Flags Mexico.

“The remaining Six Flags locations across the country will have a mix of the mazes.

Six Flags is bracing for the scariest time of the year.

The amusement park has unveiled its cinematic partners for Fright Fest, the annual weeks-long celebration of Halloween. For the signature haunted mazes, Six Flags has teamed with creatives behind the “Saw” movies, the “Conjuring” films, “Stranger Things,” “Trick ‘r Treat,” “Army of the Dead,” “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and creepy comic book “DCeased.”

Fright Fest is set to open on Sept. 7. Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey and Six Flags Magic Mountain in Los Angeles will have the bulk of the haunted house mazes, with “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” exclusive to Great Adventure and “DCeased” exclusive to Six Flags Mexico. The remaining Six Flags locations across the country will have a mix of the mazes above. Click here to buy tickets and find out specific park-by-park details.

Read more about the attractions via the official loglines below.

The “Saw” franchise...

Jigsaw's twisted tests brought few Saw survivors, forcing them to sacrifice for life. Some survivors outsmarted the traps while others faced immense trauma and guilt. Not all Jigsaw victims were redeemable, as some faced impossible challenges and brutal deaths.

While he claims to not be a serial killer, Jigsaw is one of the most effective murderers in horror, leaving few Saw survivors. John used the Jigsaw identity to help wayward and damaged people reform, learning to have a new appreciation for life by making a sacrifice of blood and flesh to survive. He claimed he was helping people appreciate life more, yet most people failed his twisted tests. Though there have been a few Saw survivors Jigsaw didn't initially kill.

Many of the people Jigsaw targets across the 10 Saw movies are far from sympathetic characters, and watching them get theirs can be a form of catharsis. As sadistic as John Kramer was,...

“You always attack a movie scene as late as you possibly can. You always come into the scene at the last possible moment.” This bit of advice from the great screenwriter William Goldman has guided most moviemakers. The overwhelming majority of films begin with trouble already brewing and end before everything can be settled. But sometimes, a filmmaker takes the opposite approach. These visionaries begin as early as possible, even after the opening of a different movie. Thus, the prequel was born.

Seriously though, most prequels come less from the minds of creatives and more from studios trying to milk every dollar from their sweet, sweet IP. For that reason, audiences have rightly developed a general skepticism toward the concept. But every once in a while, a genuinely talented filmmaker finds value in telling the story before the story. They use the plot beats we already know to give their...

Saw XI writer Marcus Dunstan recently provided an update on the ongoing development of the popular horror franchise's upcoming eleventh installment, slated for a September 26, 2025 release date. According to his conversation with Screen Rant, Saw XI is an "angry" film with "something new to say."

Dunstan previously co-wrote the scripts for Saw IV, Saw V, Saw VI, and Saw 3D with fellow scribe Patrick Melton. He's returning alongside director Kevin Greutert. In addition to directing the acclaimed tenth film Saw X, Greutert also directed Saw VI and Saw 3D.

Grossing more than $1.1 billion worldwide, Saw is a mega-popular horror franchise originally conceived by Leigh Whannell and James Wan, who produced the original 2004 film that introduced us to the twisted mind of John Kramer and his serial killer alias Jigsaw.

While popular with horror fans, the Saw film series has never been beloved by critics. Until Saw X. A surprisingly refreshing take on the genre,...

John Kramer's identity as Jigsaw was subtly revealed through his drawings before the big twist. Clues like Jigsaw's line about a disease and Zep's behavior hinted at Kramer's identity in Saw. The "x marks the spot" clue and other subtle hints in Saw add excitement to the viewing experience.

Saw has one of the best and most shocking reveals in horror history, but a big part of it was subtly spoiled much earlier, though its very easy to miss. In 2003, James Wan and Leigh Whannell made a short film titled Saw that served as the basis for what would become one of the most profitable and popular horror franchises in recent years. The short film was followed by the feature-length movie Saw, written by Whannell and directed by Wan in his feature directorial debut, which became a critical and commercial success.

Told in a nonlinear narrative, Saw follows Dr....

The Saw franchise is a blockbuster horror series though the first seven entries have been something of a mixed bag in terms of reviews from critics and audiences. Jigsaw, the 2017 reboot, struggled to capture the glory of previous Saw movies. The traps were less ingenious, and the movie moved away from the satirical nature of the original series, making it less playful. Spiral: From the Book of Saw, while lacking Tobin Bell's Jigsaw, attempted to evolve the franchise beyond a character that died six movies ago. It starts slow but goes full Saw eventually. The final twist was predictable, making it a good but not great movie.

The Saw movies rank as one of the most successful and influential horror franchises of the 21st century, although the Saw movies ranked greatly varies. Saw premiered in 2003, and the massive hit propelled filmmaker James Wan into the Hollywood mainstream. Two years...

Saw X was a surprising success, netting $111 million worldwide despite a $13 million budget. The film's unique storyline and connection to the franchise's lore elevated it above recent entries. Tobin Bell's performance as Jigsaw made Saw X a worthwhile watch that challenges the series' original themes.

Although 2023s horror box office was dominated by the likes of Five Nights at Freddy's, The Nun II and Scream VI, the best franchise entry of the genre last year was a much-belated reboot of a franchise so firmly rooted in the 2000s its amazing theres already been two attempts in recent years.

Saw X was a more-than-respectable success when it released in October 2023. Made on a $13 million budget, Kevin Greuterts movie netted $111 million box office gross worldwide. Adjusted for inflation, thats a far cry from the mid-2000s heyday, but a pretty great return for a series that felt tired in 2010. And given...

It makes sense that one of the most sadistic horror movie franchises of all time was inspired by the process of dealing with the healthcare system. In an interview with The Av Club timed to the release of "Saw 3D," writer and first film star Leigh Whannell spoke about the origins of Jigsaw, explaining that the idea for the killer came to him while he was waiting to get an Mri.

Whannell told the outlet that franchise co-creator James Wan came to him with an idea for the first film's beginning and end, but it was up to Whannell to flesh out the details surrounding the movie's major twist. "Basically the conundrum was, 'Okay, two people are stuck in a room, they've been put there by somebody. Who put them there and why?'" Whannell recalled. The answer came to him when he ended up stuck in a room, too -- but in his case,...

Saw XI will be a direct follow-up to Saw X, continuing the successful storyline set up in its predecessor. Director Kevin Greutert's return bodes well for Saw XI, as he knows firsthand what made Saw X successful and can replicate it. By focusing on a quality story instead of convoluted twists, Greutert can keep the franchise moving in a positive direction.

One specific detail about the upcoming sequel in the Saw franchise, Saw XI, is encouraging in regard to whether or not the latest entry can live up to the high quality benchmark set by its predecessor, Saw X. The 2023 installment acted as both a direct sequel to the original Saw and a prequel to the later entries, and it saw the return of Tobin Bell's John Kramer and Shawnee Smith's Amanda Young. Saw X notably achieved a high benchmark for quality, as it achieved the highest...

Kevin Greutert is returning to direct 'Saw XI'.The 58-year-old filmmaker - who was at the helm of last year's horror blockbuster 'Saw X' - has worked on every film in the franchise, whether it's as an editor, director or executive producer.As reported by Bloody Disgusting, Greutert will direct his fourth film in the iconic series, having also taken charge of 2009's 'Saw VI' and 'Saw: The Final Chapter' the following year.The next instalment is set to drop on September 27, 2024, but it's not thought that 'Saw X' writers Josh Stolberg and Pete Goldfinger will be back to pen the new screenplay.The last movie saw Tobin Bell return as iconic killer Jigsaw, Aka John Kraymer, alongside Shawnee Smith reprising her role as his apprentice Amanda Young.Reflecting on its success and the positive reaction from fans, Greutert told The Hollywood Reporter...

The "Saw" films will continue to slice and dice their way into theaters until morale improves -- or until audiences finally get tired of the über-successful horror franchise. If the universal acclaim and strong box office performance of "Saw X" proved anything, however, it's that a return to its roots was sorely needed. As the eleventh film in the series is scheduled to release later this year, that theme is about to continue in a big way.

We haven't been told much about the cast or even the plot of "Saw XI" since the sequel was first announced back in December of last year, though it's been easy to imagine the creative team picking up on the ongoing prequel storyline almost exactly where they last left off. While the involvement of the man, myth, and legend Tobin Bell remains unclear, we now know that at least one other franchise veteran...

Revealing the hidden identity of the villain in a film is a fun and surprising twist that elevates the movie. Great filmmakers use subtle clues and red herrings to conceal the true nature of seemingly innocent characters. Hiding the villain in plain sight transforms a good film into a great one, showcasing the ingenuity of the filmmakers.

Enjoying a movie and deciphering the identity of the antagonist is a fun experience. In a well-crafted film, the revelation that the villain was present all along is a surprising twist. Great movies often feature a well-hidden villain who catches audiences off guard. Great filmmakers camouflage the antagonist within the cast, unveiling their motives at a strategic moment. Such films boast the most wild plot twists that no one saw coming, introducing apparently benign characters with unsuspected sinister intent. When executed with precision, the act of concealing the villain in plain sight transforms...

The Saw franchise has been collected together in various different sets over the years, with new ones usually coming along whenever new installments join the twisted saga.

There was a Saw 7-film Blu-ray Collection as well as an 8-Film Blu-ray Collection – and they’re both criminally cheap on Amazon, selling for just over $10! – and it’s through Amazon that we’ve learned this week that a brand new Saw 10-Film Blu-ray Collection is on the way!

Celebrating 20 years of the Saw franchise that was originally created by James Wan and Leigh Whannell, the Saw 10-Film Collection includes every movie in the franchise up to this point.

That includes Saw X, of course, which just revived the franchise last Halloween!

According to Amazon’s listing, Lionsgate will release the Blu-ray set on March 5, 2024. The current price is $79.99, which isn’t bad when you realize you’re getting Ten movies.

Saw 11 needs longer runtimes to allow for more content, better pacing, and character development. The return of escape room style traps could bring nostalgia and add a modern twist to the franchise. Saw 11 should focus more on John Kramer and his complex character, providing further development and backstory.

Saw 11 is hitting theaters in the fall, and there are a number of things audiences and franchise fans hope to see in the sequel. The first Saw movie was released back in 2004, meaning that Saw 11 will be on screens during the franchise's 20-year anniversary. The introduction of the chaos of John "Jigsaw" Kramer's (Tobin Bell) mind completely redefined the horror genre as a whole, and there's no doubt that Saw 11 will continue to do so.

With so many films in the franchise, there is the concern that Saw 11 may not be to the same standard as some of its predecessors. While there...

The release of Saw 11 one month before the franchise's 20th anniversary misses a big opportunity to celebrate. Releasing Saw 11 on the anniversary date or the Friday before would be a better timed release for the franchise.

Saw 11 already has a release date, but it ignores a perfect one with which it could have celebrated a big franchise milestone. The Saw franchise is far from over and will continue to expand with an eleventh movie, known for now simply as Saw 11. After the disappointment of Jigsaw in 2017 and the 2021 spinoff movie Spiral, the Saw franchise went back to John Kramer (Tobin Bell) in Saw X. To reunite with Kramer, Saw X is both a sequel and a prequel, set between the events of Saw and Saw II, and it set up a sequel that is also expected to serve as a prequel to one of the previous movies.

Saw X followed...

Saw X's streaming release date and destination service were finally confirmed.

Arriving as the tenth movie in Liongsgate's horror mainstay, Saw X took Tobin Bell's John Kramer, aka Jigsaw, on a trip to Mexico in search of an experimental procedure to cure his advanced cancer. 

But alas, the serial killer found himself up to his old tricks and laying a series of deadly traps for the con artists behind it.

Read full article on The Direct.

2023 was a good year for villains. With social media discourse at an all-time low, public figures taking constant swipes at each other, and A.I. poised to render all news meaningless, it seems like the year was filled with nefarious people coming out of the woodwork to make our lives a little more stressful.

But no matter what nightmares we saw playing out in real life, we could rest in the knowledge that something equally evil or maybe even worse would be showing at our local cineplex or streaming platform. The horror genre is filled with larger-than-life foes from centuries-old monsters to futuristic killers and this year gave us villains in spades.

Some are humorous, some tragic, some pulled from reality, and some difficult to pin down. But regardless of their stories, the following ten villains made our lives just a little more terrifying – and if we don’t honor them here,...

Saw X's success with John Kramer as the lead suggests that Saw XI will likely continue this trend. Mark Hoffman's appearance in the mid-credits scene of Saw X sets him up as the next apprentice to appear in a Saw movie. Logan Nelson, Kramer's first apprentice, would be a better option to explore in the story of Saw XI, filling in the gap in their working relationship and bringing back a character that is more similar to Kramer in personality.

Though Saw X sets up one character's return, Saw XI needs to bring back a different Jigsaw apprentice. John Kramer's back in the front seat as the Jigsaw Killer with the assistance of his apprentice Amanda Young in the 2023 film Saw X. The film was expected to flop because it turned Kramer into a hero, but it did exceptionally well, grossing 111 million dollars against a 13 million dollar budget...

Following the release of Jigsaw, it wasn’t clear where the Saw franchise would go, but I doubt anyone expected Chris Rock to pitch the next evolution of the series. Spiral: From the Book of Saw starred Chris Rock as a detective tracking down a Jigsaw copycat and was the first movie in the franchise not to include Tobin Bell. Unfortunately, Spiral only grossed $40 million worldwide and received mixed reviews from critics, squashing any potential sequel.

However, franchise producer Mark Burg isn’t ruling out a Spiral sequel. “Maybe one day we’ll come back to doing a sequel,” Burg told GamesRadar. “Chris Rock would love to do one, but our focus, because of the success and the response to Saw X, is Saw 11.” Saw X featured the grand return of Tobin Bell as John Kramer/Jigsaw, which is clearly what the fans wanted. Not only was the film a box-office success,...

Saw 11 will be a direct sequel to Saw X, continuing the story and potentially featuring key characters like Cecilia, Tobin, and Shawnee. The next movie has the potential to break from the franchise's original formula by focusing on Cecilia seeking revenge on Jigsaw. The success of Saw X has shown that keeping the story centered on Jigsaw and his relationship with Amanda can create a meaningful chapter and lay the groundwork for further stories.

Following the success of the recent movie, producer Oren Koules offers an early tease of Saw 11 story details. The tenth installment in the horror franchise took the story back to between the first and second movies, exploring Tobin Bell's Jigsaw as he submitted a group of con artists to a game after tricking him into believing they cured his cancer. Following the movie's landmark success, including becoming the best-reviewed Saw installment to date, an eleventh...