All 10 Saw Movies, Ranked

As someone who’s spent countless nights huddled under blankets during screenings of these films, I must say that the Saw franchise has a special place in my heart for its innovative blend of horror, suspense, and moral dilemmas. The original Saw (2004) stands out as the best in the series, much like a fine wine aged to perfection. Its simple yet captivating premise, coupled with the iconic reverse bear trap, set the stage for a genre-defining horror masterpiece.

This list was originally published in 2017 and has been updated with subsequent films. We’re republishing in honor of Saw’s 20th anniversary. Happy birthday, Jigsaw — please don’t make us play any games.

Unlike the gory horror films of the 1970s and 80s, today’s wave of torture movies, often referred to as “torture porn,” is characterized by visually striking violence set within harsh environments specifically designed for inflicting pain. This subgenre was particularly popular in the 2000s with films like “Saw” (1997, which sparked the US torture film trend), “The Collector,” “Hostel” (and many more from Eli Roth), works by Rob Zombie, and even “The Human Centipede.” Recently, there has been a lull in graphic violence on screen, but the tenth installment of the “Saw” series debuts this weekend, aiming to reignite your fascination with torture-themed entertainment.

The question is: Were the Saw movies actually good enough to merit getting back on the tricycle for a tenth time? The answer: Sort of! Like the sin hunters of the ’80s, the franchise’s diabolical Jigsaw (a.k.a. John Kramer, played by Tobin Bell) wanted to weed out the deviants and the ungrateful — but he typically gave victims a chance to redeem themselves and reclaim their souls with a fresh perspective on how to truly cherish the gift of life. Saw’s effectiveness as a fable is in the eye of the beholder, but it gets points for trying. As Jigsaw hits theaters, we’ve put together a ranking of all the Saw movies so far. None of these movies is good compared with, say, The Shining, but compared with one another, there are true winners and losers here. So let’s play a game.

10. Spiral (2021)

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=gzy6ORqE9IY

Title Device: The Shrapnel Cannon

In summary, the plot of this movie revolves around a series of gruesome murders reminiscent of those from the Jigsaw killings of old. The new film, “Spiral,” acknowledges the previous Saw movies as part of its continuity but does not follow the typical trope of everyone being in on it. The character Kramer is absent, and a new villain, Mr. Snuggles (a swine-costumed police officer), takes his place. This film maintains the tradition of the Saw series by featuring murders with specific purposes, though this time the theme revolves around police brutality and corruption, leading the killer to exact revenge through torturous deaths involving methods like electrocution, suffocating hot wax baths, and bloodletting.

The deaths in “Spiral” are still thrilling to watch, but the storytelling feels too conventional compared to the usual over-the-top plot twists of the “Saw” movies. Instead of filling the movie with intricate traps and gruesome deaths like before, it seems more focused on being a detective story. However, the original “Saw” films were known for their excessive, humorous complexity – think of them as complex labyrinths of violence!

9. Saw 3D (2010)

Title device: The flamboyant bull oven

In the world of Saw, the consistency of cast members is one of its key assets. However, Dr. Gordon’s reappearance as a prominent follower of Jigsaw, despite losing a foot to survive his own deadly game, makes it seem like characters in this universe are overly eager to ally with someone who tortured them in the name of tough discipline. If you’re a fan of Saw, the seventh film will hit the right spots, but after watching 3D, it’s understandable why the franchise needed a seven-year break.

8. Saw IV (2007)

Iconic Prop: The Ice-Block Grinder

As a die-hard Saw fan, I must admit that the fourth installment doesn’t shy away from throwing curveballs at you! You may have thought Donnie Wahlberg met his end in part two, but boy, were you wrong! He’s back with a vengeance! And speaking of surprises, you might have assumed Amanda and John were the only members of Team Jigsaw. Well, think again! There’s a cop in his pocket that you didn’t see coming! Remember that brief glimpse of John’s wife in a flashback from earlier films? Get ready to be blown away because she’s now a key player in this twisted plot!

7. Jigsaw (2017)

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=rF5viX42K3s

Featured gadget: The laser-engraved neckpiece

In simpler terms, the 2004 movie “Saw” isn’t terrible, but it’s not particularly thrilling either. The action in the torture chamber feels sluggish, with significant pauses between each round of torment. There’s a predictable plot twist that seems contrived, and the climax lacks the intense escalation found in previous films. However, the gruesome deaths and mutilations are well-executed, and it’s still surprising to see someone disintegrate from within after being exposed to hydrofluoric acid. The movie also has a bit of humor, which is a fresh addition. Although “Saw” can still startle, it seems less intense this time around. The seventh sequel isn’t bad, but it doesn’t stand out among the others.

6. Saw X (2023)

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=t3PzUo4P21c

Title Device: The Bone-Marrow Gamble

In this new installment of the franchise, they apologize for removing your toys in the previous film and bring back many favorites this time. Billy is back on his tricycle with his eccentric hairstyle. Some familiar faces from the Saw series reappear (without any spoilers), allowing you to cheer along. There’s plenty of humor, a particularly awful wig, and overall, it brings the enjoyable experience we were missing in Spiral. However, there’s a significant issue – despite some impressive kills and one of the most nauseating traps in the series thanks to a Gigli saw, it feels uncomfortable that Jigsaw is portrayed as killing Mexicans under the guise of righteousness in a warehouse. It would have been simpler to avoid this problematic power dynamic by casting the movie differently. So while Saw X offers an enjoyable experience for die-hard fans, it loses points due to this unnecessary mistake. Unfortunately, Saw X leaves a sour taste in the end.

5. Saw V (2008)

Signature device: The blood-collecting table saw
This one is fun because its central conflict is purely entertaining. An FBI agent named Strahm (Scott Patterson) is rightfully suspicious of the “hero” cop Hoffman, who revealed himself to audiences in IV as a longtime Jigsaw associate. Their cat-and-mouse game is good drama, but learning more about Hoffman’s dark side means we spend a ton of time in flashbacks learning his origin story, and seeing him ex post facto sewn into almost every Jigsaw kill that took place over the first few movies. The beginning of V also takes place chronologically before the autopsy of John Kramer, which means III, IV, and part of V exist before Kramer is fully caught and cut open. That is a lot of narrative stacking, and further emphasizes the serial-TV nature of the franchise, which is both a pro and a con.

The standout aspect of the game within V is exceptional: It involves another team challenge, where a group of questionable individuals (including Meagan Good and Julie Benz) must collaborate – which is essentially going against their inherent instincts – to endure their torturous prison filled with devices. There’s a blend of heartwarming camaraderie and redemption, but also brutal betrayals, creating an engaging dynamic for the murder-house series.

4. Saw III (2006)

Title device: Jigsaw’s stronghold

Similar to all “Saw” films, each detail intertwines significantly, but by the third installment, the plot becomes somewhat complex to follow. One might wonder how many tasks a handful of serial killers could possibly undertake. However, as it turns out, they can take on more than you’d ever imagine. The third movie doesn’t veer too far off course, but it does give the impression that Jigsaw is setting his participants up to fail, and if he truly wants them to find redemption, the game shouldn’t be quite so heavily biased in his favor. On the positive side, emotional depth prevents the third film from being overwhelmed by repetition. Unfortunately, Dina Meyer meets her end in the rib separator, a loss that is keenly felt.

3. Saw VI (2009)

In the sixth installment of the “Saw” series, the filmmakers cleverly address contemporary societal issues by targeting unscrupulous lenders and heartless insurance companies for punishment. The characters tested by Jigsaw in this movie are primarily individuals who profit from exploiting vulnerable home loan recipients or denying coverage to those with pre-existing conditions. While “Saw” has always been a moral allegory, the sixth film drives its message home powerfully. As the aesthetic of “Saw” evolves into something resembling a high-end Syfy series, this development seems fitting given the franchise’s television-like structure and the increasingly relevant themes of rampant capitalism.

In this installment of the Saw series, the individual navigating Jigsaw’s intricate maze is an insurance executive who had previously denied John Kramer’s application for experimental cancer treatment coverage. Contrary to expectations, he’s portrayed as a likable character, showing compassion and selflessness even within the deadly labyrinth at great personal risk. The movie also features additional complexities: Jigsaw’s ex-wife reappears and is shrouded in mystery, while a detective has assumed the role of Jigsaw’s successor, attempting to outwit the FBI. A character presumed dead resurfaces, and there are numerous flashbacks depicting the creation of the traps that were featured earlier in the series. However, it’s the central narrative that stands out, offering a fresh twist on the familiar storyline.

2. Saw II (2005)

Title device: The Jigsaw Trap House

In the movie ‘Saw II’, there’s no shortage of discussions about rules. By this point, John Kramer, who we now know as Jigsaw, has been revealed. He spends a significant amount of time conversing with Wahlberg’s detective, which provides him ample opportunity to expound on the importance of life and speak in enigmatic ways. It can get a bit overwhelming, but luckily, Dina Meyer is there to make the lengthy scenes more bearable just by being herself. Shawnee Smith returns as Amanda, the exceptional survivor of Jigsaw’s traps, adding the franchise’s most thrilling “Oh my goodness!” moment, and setting the stage for how intricate and expansive the ‘Saw’ mythology would eventually become. If you’re a fan of the ‘Saw’ films, ‘II’ ratchets up the violence without losing its footing, making it a solid sequel to the original.

1. Saw (2004)

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=S-1QgOMQ-ls

Revisiting the original “Saw”, it feels almost quaint against the gruesome intensity and intricate plotlines that subsequent films in the series developed. Yet, what sets this “torture” franchise apart is its attempt to weave a moral lesson into its very core. In the first “Saw”, Cary Elwes portrays Dr. Lawrence Gordon, a skilled doctor who finds himself trapped in a grimy basement bathroom with a photographer (Leigh Whannell, co-writer and star of the “Saw” short film), who had been secretly pursuing him for an unidentified client. Just like all Jigsaw’s games, they are forced to carry out harrowing acts of mental and physical torment to demonstrate their worthiness for survival.

Among all movies directed by James Wan, ‘Saw’ remains the outstanding one and continues to be hailed as the best; the question “How far would you go to survive?” continues to serve as an effective premise for a horror movie. The intricate contraptions designed to inflict pain were groundbreaking at their time. The tense moments set in the parking garage and dimly lit apartment, illuminated only by camera flashes, still send shivers down one’s spine. The ominous sound of Jigsaw’s gravelly voice emanating from the tape recorder remains as unsettling as ever, and the climactic twists still manage to take one by surprise. ‘Saw’ rightfully holds a significant position in the annals of horror cinema history.

2024-10-30 01:54