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This Villain was Headlined on October, 2024. | ||
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| “ | I want to play a game. | „ |
| ~ Jigsaw's most famous catchphrase. |
| “ | Game over! | „ |
| ~ Jigsaw's other famous catchphrase. |
| “ | Those who don't appreciate life, do not deserve life. | „ |
| ~ Jigsaw's philosophy and most basic motive. |
John Kramer, also known as the Jigsaw Killer or simply Jigsaw, is the main antagonist of the Saw franchise.
He is a former civil engineer who after helplessly watching his wife be assaulted by a drug addict, which resulted in the death of his unborn son, decided to become a serial killer who targeted those who harmed others. John's philosophy is that those who damage and harm others do not deserve to live a fruitful life themselves, and must be stopped at any cost. He thus makes murder machines and traps, in which his victims must either mutilate themselves or die.
He is aided on his schemes by his many apprentices, including Amanda Young, Mark Hoffman, Lawrence Gordon and Logan Nelson (but few of his apprentices betrayed and deceived him like Amanda Young, who shot Dr. Lynn Denlon by letting her mental health issues take control of her after she helped to keep Jigsaw alive by removing the tumor from his brain and have a brain surgery and not listening to Jigsaw's orders, thus failing her second and last test after her first test, The Reverse Beartrap). John is ultimately killed by his final personal victim, Jeff Denlon, who slashes his jugular open with a saw.
He is portrayed by Tobin Bell, who also played Peter Kingsley in 24 and Savitar in The Flash.
Personality
| “ | Yes, I'm sick, officer. Sick from the disease eating away at me inside. Sick of people who don't appreciate their blessings. Sick of those who scoff at the suffering of others. I'm sick of it all! | „ |
| ~ John Kramer expressing his distaste for all. |
John Kramer believes that human beings have an instinctual will to live in the face of death and that years of evolution have caused their survival instinct to dull and now, people are unable to appreciate their lives. After losing his unborn child and getting diagnosed with cancer, he unsuccessfully tried to commit suicide, which, as he claimed, opened his eyes about the human race. Now a changed man, he vowed to test everyone's will to live for the greater good. As Jigsaw, Kramer targets those he considers to be ungrateful to live, including criminals and people with extreme personal issues.
Though the nature of his tests are incredibly brutal, Kramer shows no enjoyment in the suffering of his victims. Instead, he believes that it will help them re-evaluate themselves, as most of his victims have already hit the rock-bottom in their lives. He is deeply sympathetic to surviving test subjects such as Lawrence Gordon after he amputated his leg to escape and roots that they live. This sympathy was also shown when he was saddened by Cecilia killing Gabriella, despite Gabriella having passed her test and his wish for her to be taken to the hospital.
However, Kramer takes a small amount of enjoyment in his tests as he smiled when hearing the screams of the imprisoned detective Matthews (who previously beat Kramer to near-death, so maybe he was happy to hear him screaming for assaulting him) and targeting the corrupt William Easton for his apprentice Mark Hoffman to test after his death when he refused to treat his cancer despite just claims his mission could never be personal (though it might not have been and he simply wanted to break Easton's biased philosophy, as John wasn't the only victim of William's policy). John also targeted the Pederson Group after they had scammed him, to prevent them from targeting anyone else, though the consequences of this game did seem to reinforce his views on the Games never being personal.
Kramer is also deeply distasteful for killing as he does not consider himself a murderer due to always giving his victims a chance to escape their fate. On a technicality, Kramer became too weak to even put test subjects in their tests and relied on his apprentices to do most manual labor for him such as abducting and implicating victims, so he rarely participated in even second-degree murder.
Though John saw his games as his life work and wished for them to continue after his death, his main reason for recruiting his apprentices, he also showed that he was ready to abandon his new work if he believed he could survive. When he was tricked into believing his cancer had been cured, he disposed of one of his sketches of traps that he was planning for future games and showed that he truly did value the new lease on life that he thought he had been handed. The discovery that he had been scammed, and other innocent people had died because of the con that they had fallen for, reinforced his desire to continue his work and reverted him to his previous mindset.
Jigsaw's Victims
Jigsaw had many victims, a number being patients at the clinic. Some of the most notable are:
- David — He fills Amanda's role in the original Saw short, and is portrayed by the same man who played Adam. He was placed in a Reverse Beartrap and managed to escape by obtaining a key which was located in a dead cellmate.
- Cecil Adams — The man responsible for the loss of John Kramer's son and the miscarriage of Jill Tuck while he attempted to rob the clinic. He was captured and placed in a chair where his arms and legs were restrained with blades. Jigsaw had some kitchen knives that Cecil had to push forward in to "bring out the ugliness inside of him" for the chair to break so he can escape. Cecil escaped but he attempted to attack Jigsaw which led to his death when he tried to charge at Jigsaw who stepped aside and Cecil fell on razor wires.
- Mark Rodriguez Wilson — A software analyst who lied about being ill several times just to not do his job. He was captured and placed in a room with a flammable substance smeared all over him, Jigsaw had a slow going poison inside of him and the antidote was within a safe. There was a candle for light, and broken glass was everywhere on the floor, the combination to the safe was written on the wall. He failed as the candle ignited him, burning him alive.
- Seth Baxter — A murderer who killed Mark Hoffman's younger sister. As a dangerous act of revenge, Hoffman captured Seth and placed him in a Jigsaw-style trap, the Pendulum Trap. He was told to crush his hands to escape and did so, but even when he did, he was never meant to win. Hoffman watched as Seth was cut in half by the swinging Pendulum blade. The police assumed this was an act by Jigsaw.
- Paul Leahy — A person with a good life with wife and children. However, he was suicidal and ran a straight razor across his wrists. He was captured and placed in the Razor Maze Trap where he had to go through razor wire to find the exit and escape or else the door will close forever. He failed, and died when he was cut multiple times by razor wire.
- Donnie Greco — A drug dealer in prison who was part of Amanda Young's test. Jigsaw captured him and surgically planted the key to the Reverse Beartrap within his stomach. Amanda, when told what she had to do to escape, disemboweled Donnie with a scalpel to obtain the key.
- Amanda Young — Amanda Young was the first Jigsaw accomplice we met, and she was an interesting case because once upon a time, she too was a potential victim. She's introduced in the first Saw film, the only known survivor of the killer at the time, and then in Saw II, she's an apparent victim again, being locked in a house with several other new victims, seemingly because she has relapsed into self-destruction, so Jigsaw needs to teach her a lesson again.
However, we eventually learn this isn't the case, as Amanda is actually working with John Kramer. She's become a disciple of his, and he's become a father figure to her. In the end, Amanda largely fails as a great accomplice to Jigsaw because she's unable to truly understand his methods. She is so committed to Kramer that she's never able to take control herself, but she's also willing to kill without giving her victims a chance, proving that she never truly embraced Jigsaw's methods.
- Adam Stanheight — A photographer who constantly spied on people including Lawrence Gordon. He was captured and placed in the Bathroom where he had to not get killed by Lawrence until 6:00 AM to escape. Adam was shot in the shoulder and when Zep entered the room, Adam managed to kill him but died in the Bathroom when he was left to rot.
- Lawrence Gordon — We meet Dr. Lawrence Gordon in the very [first Saw movie]
He's chained by his leg to a pipe and must fight to survive. At the end of that film, he crawls off bleeding and missing a foot, but he's free. For years, we had no idea what happened to him after he left that room, but in Saw 3D, also known as Saw: The Final Chapter, we learned that he did survive, and like Amanda Young before him, he ended up going to work for John Kramer.
As a surgeon, Gordon's skills were vital to the events of the entire franchise. Every time specialized skills were needed to be able to make a trap work, it was Gordon who made that happen. While all of Jigsaw's other apprentices knew of each other and even worked together, it seems nobody but John Kramer himself had any idea that Gordon was out there, which made him the perfect person to follow Kramer's final instructions. As far as we know, he's still out there and apparently has a couple disciples of his own.
- Zep Hindle — A hospital orderly who was enviously hating and was badmouthing people instead of attempting to improve his own life. If Lawrence failed to kill Adam at 6:00 AM, Zep would kill Gordon's family and then receive the antidote to the slow-acting poison circulating his body from Jigsaw. Zep entered the Bathroom in an attempt to kill Lawrence but was murdered by Adam.
- Michael Marks — A police informant who was captured by Jigsaw for being an informant, "a rat" " a snitch" as he calls him "unworthy". He was placed in the Venus Flytrap where, if he failed to escape, the mask will close onto his head and pierce him with many nails placed inside. The key to unlock it was surgically planted in his right eye, Michael was forced to use a scalpel to severe his eye and get the key. He failed to escape, and was killed when the trap closed.
- Gus Colyard — A businessman who committed embezzlement, so he was captured by Jigsaw and placed in the Nerve Gas House. He died when he was shot in the eye by a security trap, the Magnum Eyehole. The number on his neck was a red two.
- Obi Tate — An arsonist who set fires to buildings and even assisted Jigsaw in capturing victims for the Nerve Gas House. Though he was also captured and placed in the Nerve Gas House, as well as being forced to go through the Furnace trap to obtain an antidote. He was burned to death in the Furnace. He had a green eleven on his neck.
- Jonas Singer — A man who was involved in a gang. He was captured by Jigsaw and placed in the Nerve Gas House. Jonas was killed when Xavier violently struck him in the back of the head with a nail-studded bat.
- Laura Hunter — An unemployed woman who was captured and brought to the Nerve Gas House for repeating larceny. She died when she was poisoned by the gas.
- Addison Corday — A prostitute and an associate of Eric Matthews. She was captured and taken to the Nerve Gas House. Addison attempted to get an antidote but her wrists got trapped in the Razor Box and she died from blood loss when the blades started to repeatedly slice at her trapped wrists.
- Xavier Chavez — A drug dealer who was captured and sent to the Nerve Gas House. One of the traps, the Needle Pit, was meant for him but he violently threw Amanda Young into it. He then killed Jonas Singer and Daniel Matthews killed him by slitting his throat with a hacksaw.
- Daniel Matthews — The son of Eric Matthews who was captured and transported to the Nerve Gas House. He killed Xavier Chavez with a hacksaw.
- Eric Matthews — A corrupt detective who also committed brutality. Hoffman managed to capture him and he was placed on top of an Ice Block with a chained noose around his neck. He was killed when two ice blocks positioned on both sides of his head smashed into each other.
- Jeff Denlon — An unemployed man who wanted revenge for the death of his son throughout his life and refused to continue living and carry on. He was captured by Jigsaw and placed in a series of tests. He was shot by Agent Strahm but not before he managed to kill both Amanda Young and John Kramer.
- Danica Scott — A woman who witnessed the death of Jeff Denlon's son and didn't help. She was captured and trapped, strapped naked, in the Freezer Room. She was frozen to death.
- Judge Halden — A judge of Whitmore Magistrate Court who lightly sentenced Timothy Young for reckless manslaughter. He was captured and placed in the Pig Vat but survived and escaped. Though he was killed when the Shotgun Box Trap was accidentally set off, nearly completely blowing his head off.
- Timothy Young — A medical student who killed Jeff Denlon's son in a Hit and Run incident. He was captured by Jigsaw and placed in the Rack Trap where Jeff, to save him, had to use a key. When Jeff failed to save him, Timothy was killed when his neck got snapped by the Rack.
- Lynn Denlon — A doctor and the wife of Jeff Denlon who cheated on him. She was captured by Jigsaw and the Shotgun Collar was placed on her, where several detonated shotgun shells would blow her head off if she failed to save John Kramer. She succeeded but Amanda refused to release her and shot her in the shoulder, angering Jeff who killed both Amanda and John thus indirectly killing his wife.
- Troy — A prison convict with repeated prison sentences who was captured by Jigsaw and placed in one of Amanda Young's inescapable traps. He had to rip off every chain from him but he was unable to remove the one located in his jaw. Troy died when the bomb in the room went off.
- Detective Allison Kerry — A Detective who overly enjoyed working in situations involving death, which made her seem to be "dead on the inside". She was captured and placed in one of Amanda Young's inescapable traps. She was placed in the Angel Trap where she had to retrieve the key within acid or else her rib cage would be ripped out. Allison succeeded in the trap but it was constructed in the manner that she couldn't win, and she died when her rib cage was destroyed.
- Art Blank — A criminal defense attorney who defended several people for crimes they were guilty of. He was placed on a series of tests when he was captured by Jigsaw and was shot in the head by Daniel Rigg when he pulled out a tape which Rigg mistook for a weapon.
- Trevor — An alcoholic who was placed in a trap with Art Blank. He was captured and his eyes were sewn shut. He attempted to kill Art with a hammer but Art grabbed the hammer and killed him with it.
- Daniel Rigg — A SWAT Officer who was obsessed with saving everyone around him. He was captured and placed on a number of tests where, in the end, he was shot by Mark Hoffman.
- Brenda — A prostitute dealer who was involved in distributing young females into prostitution in favor of money. She was captured by Jigsaw and placed in the Hair Trap where Rigg had to free her from the trap she was in. The trap pulled her hair and she would have died by having her scalp ripped off if not for Rigg's intervention. She escaped but tried to kill Rigg, leading to her death when she was thrown through a mirror.
- Ivan Landsness — A violent and vituperative rapist who raped and murdered several women. He was captured and placed in a trap where he had to gouge his eyes out to prevent the timer activated from tearing him apart. He didn't survive and was torn apart.
- Rex — The abusive husband of Morgan who, alongside her, was captured and placed in a trap where, to save herself, Morgan had to pull out several spikes out of her body but it would kill Rex in the process as the spikes pierced several of his major blood vessels. With the help of Daniel Rigg, Morgan survived and escaped but Rex died.
- Morgan — The housewife of Rex who refused to testify against Rex for his abuse. With Rex, she was captured and to save herself had to pull out several spikes in her body but it will also kill Rex. With the help of Daniel Rigg, she escaped the trap but Rex died from the severe wounds.
- Malick Scott — A heroin addict and arsonist who was paid off with drugs to burn down an inhabited building (wasn't aware of people inside) where eight victims died in the fire. He was captured and placed in a series of traps and tests which he had to complete one by one in order to escape alive. He managed to escape.
- Brit Stevenson — A senior VP for Marshvard Real Estate and a con artist who orchestrated a plan to burn down a building, resulting in the deaths of eight people. She was captured and placed in a series of traps and tests. She managed to escape.
- Charles Saumn — An investigative journalist for "The Herald" who investigated, but then buried, the story of the building that was burnt down resulting in eight people dying. He was captured and placed in a series of traps and tests. When he was about to escape from the Ceiling Jars Trap, Luba Gibbs hit him in the back, then escaped and watched as Charles was blown up with the nail bombs.
- Luba Gibbs — A city planner who took bribes and pushed past building permits on the building which Brit (with help of Malick) had burnt down with eight people dead in the fire. She was captured and placed in a series of tests and traps. When she was about to kill Malick in the Bathtub Trap, she was stabbed in the neck by Brit.
- Ashley Kazon — An ex-fire Inspector who filed a false fire report on a building that was burnt down and eight people died in. She was captured and placed in a series of tests and traps. She died in the Collars Trap as she was decapitated by her collar when she failed to obtain the key.
- Agent Peter Strahm — An FBI Agent who knew of Mark Hoffman's identity as a Jigsaw successor and had to be disposed of to prevent Hoffman from being arrested. He encountered Hoffman in the Coffin Trap and trapped him in the bulletproof coffin, believing he finally won over him. But the truth was that the coffin was the only safe place in the trap and the way to win which he realized shortly after walls began closing in. Hoffman escaped and Peter was crushed to death.
- Simone — A lending banker who was a predatory lender and loan shark. She was captured and placed in the Pound of Flesh trap in which she and her competition, Eddie, needed to get the most flesh on the weights. Simone won the trap by severing her whole hand with a cleaver and escaped alive.
- Eddie — A predatory lending banker. He was captured and placed in the Pound of Flesh trap in which he and his competition, Simone, needed to get the most flesh on the weights. Eddie lost and the two drills in the helmet he was forced to wear pierced into his skull, killing him.
- William Easton — A health insurance executive who refused to provide health insurance for the seriously ill people which led to the deaths of John Kramer and Harold Abbott. He was captured and placed in a series of tests and traps which mostly made him decide the fates of his employees. He died in the end where Brent Abbott decided to kill him.
- Hank — William Easton's janitor who was smoking heavily while his health was bad. He was captured and placed in the Breathing Room trap with William Easton where one will die if he breathes too much. Hank fails and is crushed by a vice-like trap.
- Addy — William Easton's Secretary who assisted him. She was captured and placed in the Hanging Room Trap with Allen where William would have to chose to hang one of them by letting go one of two switches. Addy escaped.
- Allen — William Easton's file clerk who assisted William Easton. He was captured and placed in the Hanging Room Trap where William would have to hang one of the two. William was hung brutally and died.
- Debbie — William Easton's lawyer who defended him. She was captured and placed in the Steam Maze Room Trap where she had to traverse the small crawl through cages to reach William to safety. She escaped badly burned but attempted to kill William and died when she was speared through the head with a crossbow in the Head Spear Trap placed on her.
- Shelby, Josh, Dave, Emily, Aaron and Gena — William Easton's junior associates who were tasked by William to find errors, so the seriously ill won't get insurance. They were all captured and placed in the Carousel Trap where William was forced to rescue two out of all of them, the victims who weren't chosen would be fatally shot by the trap's shotgun. The only survivors were Shelby and Emily.
- Pamela Jenkins — William Easton's sister who sensationalized Jigsaw and twisted the facts for her own personal gain. She was captured and involved with Tara's test, making her choose if William lives or dies. Pamela watches her brother painfully die.
- Tara Abbott — Wife of one of the people for whose dead William Easton was responsible, namely Harold Abbott. She was captured and forced to spare the life of William Easton or have him killed. She wanted to kill him, but couldn't bring herself to do so and her son, Brent, killed him instead.
- Brent Abbott — Son of one of the people for whose death William Easton was responsible. Brent was captured and was forced to spare the man's life or have him killed. After his mother failed to have him killed, Brent pushed the "DIE" button which caused hydrofluoric acid to get pumped into him, slowly killing him and melting his insides out.
- Brad — The boyfriend of Dina who was being manipulated to commit crimes for her. He was captured and placed in the Public Execution Trap where Brad had to choose between Ryan or Dina. To save Dina, he had to kill Ryan with the saw. To save Ryan, he would have to allow the middle saw to kill her. Brad attempted to save her but eventually realizing she doesn't care about either of them, he allows her to die.
- Ryan — Another boyfriend of Dina who was being manipulated to commit crimes for her. He was captured and placed in the Public Execution Trap where Ryan had to choose between Brad and Dina. To save Dina, he had to kill Brad with a saw. To save Brad, he had to allow Dina to die by the middle saw blade. Ryan deeply cut his saw blade into Brad's chest, but seeing how she doesn't care about him eventually, he allows her to die.
- Dina — Girlfriend of both Ryan and Brad who manipulated them into committing crimes for her as well as cheating on them. She was captured and placed in the Public Execution Trap. In the beginning both men began fighting but eventually they allowed her to die and get cut in half by the saw.
- Evan — A member of the Skinheads who was racist and was an engineer. He was part of the Horsepower Trap and was trapped in a car and had to rip off his back to escape then pull the lever to prevent the deaths of himself and his skinhead friends. He failed and his friends died, and he was then fatally flung through the windshield when his car crashed into another car.
- Jake — Part of the Skinheads who was racist and was an engineer. He was part of the Horsepower Trap and had to allow Evan to save him, as he was chained up to a large wooden wall. The car Evan failed to stop crashed into him.
- Dan — Part of the Skinheads who was racist and was an engineer. He was part of the Horsepower Trap and had to allow Evan to save him, he was chained up and the chains were impaled in his jaw and arms which were connected to the car. Evan failed and his jaw and arms were ripped off by the chains.
- Kara — Part of the Skinheads who was racist and was a mechanic, being also the girlfriend of Evan. She was part of the Horsepower Trap and had to allow Evan to save her. She was tied up underneath a car wheel. Evan failed and her head was crushed by one of the wheels.
- Alex — The boyfriend of Sidney who was captured because of their relationship problems and was placed in the Lawnmowers Trap. One had to die by falling into the lawnmowers, but both of them were fighting while clinging to life. Alex fell and was sliced apart by the lawnmowers.
- Sydney — The girlfriend of Alex who was captured because of their relationship problems and was placed in the Lawnmowers Trap. One had to die by falling into the lawnmowers, but both of them were fighting while clinging to life. Sydney hit Alex, causing him to fall and be sliced, making her the winner.
- Bobby Dagen — An author and self-help guru who was captured for a series of tests for falsely stating he was in a Jigsaw trap and subsequently profiting from those lies. He had to find and save his wife before she dies. He gets to his wife but fails to save her, though he himself survives.
- Nina — Bobby Dagen's publicist who knew of Bobby's lies. She was captured and placed in the Speak No Evil Trap where Bobby had to pull the key out of her throat via fishing hook before the rods killed her. Noise would make them advance. Bobby was going to free her but she was killed after her neck was impaled by the rods.
- Suzanne — Bobby Dagen's lawyer who knew of Bobby's lies. She was captured and placed in the See No Evil Trap where Bobby had to keep the poles who were going to kill her supported for at least 30 seconds. Bobby couldn't hold them for enough of time and Suzanne's eyes and mouth were impaled.
- Cale — Bobby Dagen's closest friend who knew of Bobby's lies. He was captured and placed in the Hear No Evil Trap where he would be hung by a noose if he had fallen away from the hallway with a few beams and wooden planks to support him. He failed and was hung.
- Joyce Dagen — Bobby Dagen's wife who was being used as a trophy for Bobby. She was captured and placed in the Brazen Bull Trap where Bobby had to hook two cables into his pectoral muscles then raise them high above the ground to free her. He failed causing Joyce to get trapped inside the Brazen Bull and burned to death.
- Anna — John’s neighbor who killed her baby by smothering it with a pillow and framed her husband for the act which lead to his suicide. She was placed in the Murderers’ Trial where she and 4 other victims had to go through several traps to escape. Her final test was to be chained in a room with Ryan and had a shotgun with their keys inside. She misinterpreted John’s word and tried to shoot Ryan with the shotgun, only to accidentally shoot herself with gun.
- Carly - Was a thief that once stole a lady’s purse containing her asthma pump. When the lady gave chase, she suffered a fatal asthma attack and died. Carly was place in the Murderers’ Trial where she managed to win the first trap and move on to the the next trap where she’s learned she had been injected with poison and would soon die without a antidote. There were three needles, one of which contained the antidote. On the needles were numbers, one of which was the amount of money Carly had stole. Though Carly knew which one it was, she panicked and refused to share the info leading to Ryan stabbing her with all three needles causing her to die from one of the needles that contained acid.
- Mitch — Had sold John’s nephew a bike without a working brake and due to not sharing the info caused the nephew to be killed in a collision with a truck due to him being unable to stop the bike. Mitch had been placed in a test with Ryan, Anna, Carly and Logan. He managed to get through several of the traps, but in the fourth trap, Mitch placed upside down in a cylinder that would kill him if he didn’t use the brakes at the bottom. Though Anna managed to stop the trap for a few moments, Mitch failed to hit the brakes causing the trap to restart and kill him.
- Logan Nelson — The last entry in the Saw franchise, Jigsaw, introduced a new apprentice to the family in the part of Logan Nelson. Nelson was a doctor who, once upon a time, made a mistake and screwed up John Kramer's X-rays, an error that may have cost the man his life. He ended up joining Kramer's cause after nearly falling victim to it, helping to build many of the traps that would end up being used in the games throughout the years.
Nelson gets apprentice points for creating a game all by himself, though. By virtue of the way Jigsaw works as a film, we never actually see that game, so it's difficult to tell just how good it is. He also makes it through the film alive, which is more than we can say for most apprentices. Having said that, it's hard to put Gordon high on the list because he is such a small part of the franchise compared to the rest of the people on this list.
Rise of Jigsaw
Kramer was a successful civil engineer who got into property development, in particular, a building called Gideon, the name he would choose for his beloved, future son.
Cherish your life
| “ | Cherish your life, your life. | „ |
| ~ Jigsaw |
"Cherish your life" was the motto of John's rehab clinic (being the concept of all his traps), which his wife ran. His rehab clinic was the place where his pregnant wife was attacked by Cecil, who attempted to rob it for drugs on Amanda's request. From his car John saw Cecil running away, discovering his wife injured after going inside to see what had happened. John rushed her to a hospital, but while his wife survived his child did not. As a result, John became enraged and detached. As if things weren't bad enough, he was soon diagnosed with colon cancer by his doctor, Lawrence Gordon. He attempted suicide by driving off a cliff. Surviving, but with severe injuries, he then decided to dedicate the rest of his life to teaching people to appreciate their own lives and those of others through physical and psychological torture, starting with Cecil.
Traps
Jigsaw usually builds deadly traps for his subjects, which are often a symbolic representation of what Jigsaw perceives as a flaw in the person's life. Jigsaw calls these tests "games", and tells the person the "rules" of the game usually by audio or video tape. The rules are tasks that the person must perform in order to pass the test and survive; however, the tasks often involve extreme self-mutilation (although there have been occasions where it is possible for the subject not to harm themselves if they are clever enough, such as the Hand Trap). On occasion, Jigsaw has used psychological torture for the subject's test.
The subject of one of Jigsaw's games is therefore always presented with an opportunity, the aim of which is to reinvigorate the potential of the subject, jump-start the survival instinct and instill a celebration or "savoring" of life. Jigsaw intends through these traps to force his victims to prove to him that they are "worthy" and "deserving" to continue living, and also for them to learn to abandon what he perceives to be their vices: he even viewed survival from his tests to be 'immediate rehabilitation'. Jigsaw often expressed a desire for his victims to succeed, but stressed that their fate was always in their own hands. The video and audio tape instructions for his games often echo this idea: "Live or die. Make your choice."
These traps come in 6 forms:
- Standard Traps — Devices or scenarios to a victim or victims, usually with the effect with causing serious bodily harm or death if not removed by completing a given task in a specific time period. Examples are the Reverse Beartrap and Death Mask.
- Competition Traps — Traps involving two or more victims who can survive these traps but only at the expense of the other victim's failure. Examples are the Bathroom and Pound of Flesh.
- Tests — A test that involves a victim being given "rules". The outcome of the test is affected by whether or not the victim follows the rules and wins, or breaks the rules and loses. Losing often results in some sort of loss such as suffering serious injuries or the death of loved ones and/or friends. Examples are Zep's Test and Eric's Test.
- Trials — A series of tests and traps that the victim(s) must face involving psychological torture from the beginning of the trials up until the Final Test. Examples are Rigg's Tests, William's Tests and Bobby's Tests.
- Final Tests — The last test in the Trials. Culminates in a final decision that is designed to directly relate to and put to use what the victim has learned from their Trials. Examples are Jeff's Final Test and Ice Block.
- Security Traps — Traps designed for security reasons. They can be used to halt the progress of the victims and prevent them from proceeding, or to protect Jigsaw and his apprentices from the police or other attackers. Examples are the Quadruple Shotgun Hallway and Magnum Eyehole.
Relationships
- Billy the Puppet: Billy is a mechanical ventriloquist puppet designed by John Kramer. He was the messenger for his victims and was a recurring item throughout the Saw franchise. It was used to inform the victims of Jigsaw's deadly games about the rules and instructions they had to follow in order to survive and in the event of their survival, it would deliver a message of congratulations. Typically Billy would appear via video on television or TV, though occasionally a doll would appear physically in dramatic fashion, such as riding in on a tricycle, standing on a small platform behind the panel with a noose of barbed wire around its neck the platform folded away, causing Billy to swing forward and hit the glass panel, or crashing through a window in a cage.
- Jill Tuck: John was married to Jill years before taking up the role of the Jigsaw killer. Their marriage was generally happy until Jill miscarried their unborn child, Gideon, after being struck by a door by Cecil, a junkie who was robbing her clinic. John became very distant and after being diagnosed with cancer and surviving his suicide attempt, he began his role that would gain him the name Jigsaw. Still, despite his change, he still loved Jill, guaranteeing she would not be connected to his crimes, and leaving instructions in his will for his associate to carry out revenge if Jill was killed.
- Amanda Young: One of his earlier victims, John kidnapped her and placed her in a device known as the Reverse-Bear Trap, which she had to escape. After freeing herself, John approached her, as she believed he genuinely helped her become a better person with her test. Believing he truly saved her, he took her up as his apprentice and she followed his commands as he taught her to carry out his work when he died. He showed much care for her as she showed devotion to him, and was sorely disappointed upon learning Amanda was designing traps to be inescapable, going against his philosophy. He still saw hope in her and was willing to test her again, for her to spare someone's life and was saddened as she failed and died.
- Mark Hoffman: John abducted Hoffman after learning Hoffman had tried to pass a murder as another one of Jigsaw's killings. He chastised Mark on making his trap unwinnable, that every person deserved a chance to fight to survive. But John saw potential in Mark, and took him up as an apprentice. John acted more critical towards Mark's work, as Mark wanted to design tests his own way that differed from John's. John was also unsettled by Mark's brutality and overall disregard for human life until he betrayed/deceived both John and Billy by killing John's ex-wife, Jill Tuck.
- Logan Nelson: One of John's doctors who accidentally switched his brain x-rays with another patient's which prolonged the time before he was diagnosed. Jigsaw kidnapped him during one of his earlier games (before the events of Saw), but freed him after deciding he didn't deserve to be killed because of an honest miscalculation. The bodies from the game were never discovered, and Nelson would later take up the Jigsaw name and recreate the same game to see if he was "as talented" as John was.
- Lawrence Gordon: A successful surgeon with a seemingly normal life. However, he becomes ensnared in the sadistic games of the Jigsaw Killer, also known as John Kramer. He was actually involved with Jigsaw in some of his earliest experiments with his twisted ideology of forcing people to appreciate life by putting them through extreme physical and psychological tests.
Quotes
| “ | Rigg: Get his ass out of here. [Eric starts to leave] John Kramer: Actually, I will need to remain here while you deal with your problem, Detective Matthews. Eric Matthews: What problem? John Kramer: The problem in that room. [Eric goes to a room full of monitors, and sees his son in one of them.] Eric Matthews: What the f*** is that?! Hey! Hey! What the f*** is that?! John Kramer: It's your son Daniel. You remember him, don't you? Eric Matthews: I know who he is, you piece of shit! What's he doing on that f***ing monitor?! John Kramer: Well, I haven't looked at the monitors for some time, so it would be hard for me to say, but I would imagine he's cowering in a corner with a look on his face-- Eric Matthews: You motherf***er! [Runs forward - Rigg restrains him] You motherf***er! Where is he?! Where is he?! John Kramer: Where is he? That's a problem you're gonna have to solve before it's too late. He has about two hours before the gas creeping into his nervous system begins to break down his body tissue and he begins to bleed from every orifice he has. [Smiles] Oh, yes. There will be blood. Eric Matthews: Tell me where he is. John Kramer: He's in a safe place. |
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| “ | Eric Matthews: What do you want with me? John Kramer: A little of your time, Detective. Eric Matthews: I don't have any time. John Kramer: You asked me what I wanted and I told you. Believe me when I tell you your son is in a lot of trouble. Eric Matthews: And if I give you a little bit of my time? What then? John Kramer: I only want to talk to you. Everyone else must leave. Those are my conditions. Eric Matthews: No. It's a crime scene. Nobody leaves. John Kramer: They don't have to leave the building. They just have to leave this area long enough for me to talk to you. If you agree to that, then you will see your son again. Eric Matthews: If I don't see my son, I swear to God, I'll rip your f***ing head off. John Kramer: I don't intend to mock you, Officer, but I'm a cancer patient. How could you possibly put me in any more pain than I'm already in? |
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| “ | Eric Matthews: Okay. Let's talk. John Kramer: Sit down. [Eric grabs a chair and sits in it] I want to play a game. The rules are simple. All you have to do is sit here and talk to me, listen to me. [Eric puts a walkie-talkie on the floor] If you do that long enough, then you will find your son in a safe and secure state. We haven't been properly introduced. My name's John. Eric Matthews: I thought you liked to be called Jigsaw. John Kramer: No. [Laughs] It was the police and the press who coined the nickname Jigsaw. I never encouraged or claimed that. The jigsaw piece that I cut from my subjects was only ever meant to be a symbol that that subject was missing something. A vital piece of the human puzzle. The survival instinct. Eric Matthews: This is all really, really interesting, John. But right now I'd really like for you to talk to me. John Kramer: I am talking to you. You're not listening. Don't forget the rules. Eric Matthews: I am listening to you, but all I'm getting is the same sick f***ing bullshit that comes about two seconds into every interview I've ever done with one of you f***ing people. John Kramer: Well, that's an interesting approach to police work, isn't it? Aren't you supposed to be convincing me that I'm your friend, lulling me into a false sense of security so that I'll confide in you? Eric Matthews: It's a little hard to follow the manual when you've got my son, John. John Kramer: The manual? What do you really want to do to me right now, huh? What would you have done five years ago? Would you have followed the manual then? Would you have broken my jaw with a flashlight? Eric Matthews: You seem to know a whole lot about me. John Kramer: I know you were once considered a fearless police officer. Do you feel a whole lot safer now that you only sit behind a desk? Eric Matthews: I feel a whole lot of things right now. John Kramer: But you feel alive. That's what you feel, and that's the point. [Pauses] Would you... kindly get me a glass of water? [Holds up a paper cup] I would very much appreciate that. |
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| “ | John Kramer: You see, Detective. Darwin's theory of evolution and survival of the fittest, based on his little trip to the Galápagos, no longer applies on this planet. We have a human race that doesn't have the edge or the will to survive. Eric Matthews: What the f*** do you want?! John Kramer: It's hard to remain calm, isn't it? When your son is walking around on those monitors. Eric Matthews: I can't give you what you want if you don't tell me what the f*** it is. John Kramer: I told you what it is. Just remember the rules. Eric Matthews: No, you said you wanted to talk. Then you said you wanted to play a game. You're talking, but it means nothing! John Kramer: What do you think the cure for cancer is, Eric? Eric Matthews: What? John Kramer: The cure for cancer? What is it? Eric Matthews: I don't know what it is, but I know it's not killing and torturing people for your own sick f***ing pleasure. John Kramer: I've never murdered anyone in my life. The decisions are up to them. Eric Matthews: Yeah, well, putting a gun to someone's head and forcing them to pull the trigger is still murder. John Kramer: Since when has force been a problem for you? Why are you so desperate to get your son back? Eric Matthews: 'Cause he's my son... John Kramer: What's the last thing you said to him before you left him? [Flashback, showing Eric and his son] Eric Matthews: Well, then go! [Present] John Kramer: Seems to me that the knowledge of your son's impending death is causing you to act. Forgive all his sins, to wipe the slate clean. Why is that we're only willing to do that, when a life is at stake? Eric Matthews: I've always loved my son. That's never changed. John Kramer: No, no. It's changed now. You see, the knowledge of death changes everything. If I were to tell you the exact date and time of your own death, it would shatter your world completely. I know. Can you imagine what it feels like to have someone sit you down and tell you that you're dying, hmm? The gravity of that, hmm? That the clock's ticking for you. In a split second your world is cracked open. You look at things differently, you smell things differently. You savor everything, be it a glass of water or a walk in the park. Eric Matthews: The clock is ticking, John. John Kramer: But most people have the luxury of not knowing when that clock's gonna go off. And the irony of it is that that keeps them from really living their life. It keeps them drinking that glass of water, but never really tasting it. Eric Matthews: You can still fix this, John. John Kramer: Yeah, but can we fix you? Eric Matthews: Me? John Kramer: I'm not fixable. I've got cancer. Eric Matthews: [in disbelief] You're using cancer as an excuse for what you do? John Kramer: No. The cancer isn't what started me in my work. It was the moment I decided to end my life... that started me in my work. I had literally driven myself to suicide, and I had failed. My body had not been strong enough to repel cancer cells, yet I had lived through a plunge off a cliff. But, to my amazement, I was alive. And I was determined to spend the rest of my days testing the fabric of human nature. Do you understand, Eric? Eric Matthews: You got a chance to do something. Do it right now, John. Just tell me where my son is. I'll help you. John Kramer: I don't need your help, and I can tell you still don't understand. Those who don't appreciate life do not deserve life. Eric Matthews: My son appreciates his life. John Kramer: But do you appreciate yours? Do you appreciate your sons? Eric Matthews: [Hits the table] Oh, this is shit! [Stands and walks away] John Kramer: Don't forget the rules. If you want to find your son. [Eric ignores him and leaves] |
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| “ | [Eric begins tearing apart and trashing John's files] John Kramer: How will you get your conviction without all this evidence, Eric? Eric Matthews: I don't need this shit to convict you. John Kramer: So go ahead. Destroy it. Eric Matthews: I will. John: Destroy it all. Just know it will not save your son if you do. Eric Matthews: You kill my son, I kill you. John Kramer: Go ahead. Why wait? We both know the sort of person you are, sir. The sort of person who guns down an unarmed suspect. In fact, the sort of person who plants evidence in order to obtain a conviction. The sort of person whose wife leaves him and his son hates him. Eric Matthews: Shut the f*** up! |
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| “ | John Kramer: Hello, Dr. Denlon. You may not remember me, but I most certainly remember you. I was a guest... at your hospital once. Lynn Denlon: Where am I? John Kramer: Do you remember me? [Amanda tosses Lynn a folder containing John's diagnostic report] Lynn: I've seen you on television. Lawrence Gordon was your doctor. John Kramer: I was his patient and he was mine. As you can see from that report, my prognosis isn't good. Would you agree? Lynn: There's no preventative treatment for what you have. John Kramer: I remember you saying that to me once before in almost the exact same tone. Leave it to a doctor to find such a cold, clinical way of saying I'm dead man walking. Looking at me, how long would you say I have left? Lynn: I'd have to examine you. Even then, a frontal lobe tumor is unpredictable. The growth depends on the rate of mitosis versus apoptosis and- John Kramer: I'm sorry, but is all this crude medical equipment around me causing you to believe that you're still inside a hospital? Lynn: No. John Kramer: Then why are you speaking to me in that graduate-school medical jargon? [beat] Look at me! Now you look at me. I asked you a simple question: Based on your experience, how long do you think I have left? Lynn: It's not a simple answer. Based on your file, I'd say... not long. John Kramer: Death is a surprise party. Unless, of course, you're already dead on the inside. Unless you're the type of person who swallows antidepressants to hide the pain. Turns their backs on their husband and neglects their child; who has every possible advantage in life but chooses not to advance. |
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| “ | Lynn: What do you want from me? John Kramer: What do I want? I want to play a game. The rules of the game are simple. The consequences for breaking them are great; death. You are being tested. Your will is being tested, your will to keep someone alive. Can you do that? Can you follow the rules and grant someone the gift of life? Lynn: What is this?! No, get it-! [Amanda places a large collar onto Lynn's shoulders] John Kramer: The device you are wearing is hooked to my heart rate monitor. The second that heart rate monitor flatlines, or you move out of range, an explosion will go off in that collar. Your life and my life will end simultaneously. Lynn: Please. Please don't do this to me. I have a family. I have a family. Amanda: Let me give you the simple version: you will keep him alive, whatever it takes. No excuses, no equivocations; no crying. Lynn: What do you mean, "Keep him alive?" Amanda: [turns Lynn's head to show her a room full of monitors] Out there, on those screens, we have another test subject. A man. He will face a series of tests [Arms two shells] You have to keep John alive until he makes it through. [Arms the third shell] If he completes all of his tests and John is still breathing... [Arms the fourth shell] then I will remove your collar [Arms the final shell] and you're free to go. John Kramer: You're a vital piece of my puzzle, Dr. Denlon. A critical part of what could be my final test. Amanda, it's time to start our game. |
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| “ | The rules of our game have been very clear. You need to abide by those rules. | „ |
| ~ John Kramer to Amanda after threatening Lynn. |
| “ | Amanda. Do not be afraid. Your life has just begun. | „ |
| ~ John Kramer to Amanda Young. |
| “ | Suffering? You haven't seen anything yet. | „ |
| “ | Never compare your suffering to mine. | „ |
| ~ The original script version of the previous quote. |
| “ | It’s up to you.. Live or die Jeff, make our choice. | „ |
| ~ John Kramer's last words during his death while resonating a tape towards Jeff’s failed judgement. |
| “ | This Halloween... I will judge you... your blood shall flow... throughout the land... for I have spoken. | „ |
| ~ A tagline for Saw III featuring Jigsaw quoting Ezekiel 21-33-37 or Ezekiel 21:30-32. |
| “ | You've got it all ass backwards here. These politicians, they say the same thing over, and over, and over again. Healthcare decisions should be made by doctors and their patients, not by the government. Well now I know they're not made by doctors and their patients, or by the government. They're made by the f***ing insurance companies. | „ |
| ~ John to William Easton after his request for healthcare coverage was denied by Umbrella Health. |
| “ | You think it's the living who will have ultimate judgement over you, because the dead will have no claim, over your soul. But you may be mistaken. | „ |
| ~ John to William Easton when leaving Umbrella Health. |
Tapes
| “ | Rise and shine, Adam. You're probably wondering where you are. I'll tell you where you might be. You might be in the room you die in. Up until now you simply sat in the shadows watching others live out their lives. But what do others see when they look into the mirror? Now, I see you as a strange mix of someone angry, yet apathetic. But mostly just pathetic. So are you going to watch yourself die today, Adam, or do something about it? | „ |
| “ | Dr. Gordon, this is your wake-up call. Every day of your working life you have given people the news that they're going to die soon. Now, you will be the cause of death. Your aim in this game is to kill Adam. You have until six on the clock to do it. There's a man in the room with you. When there's that much poison in your blood, the only thing left to do -- is shoot yourself. There are ways to win this hidden all around you. Just remember, X marks the spot for the treasure. If you do not kill Adam by six, then Alison and Diana will die, Dr. Gordon... and I'll leave you in this room to rot. Let the game begin. [whispers] Follow your heart. | „ |
| “ | Hello, Paul. You are a perfectly healthy, sane and middle-class male. Yet last month you ran a straight razor across your wrist. Did you cut yourself because you truly wanted to die, or did you just want some attention? Tonight, you'll show me. The irony is that if you want to die you just have to stay where you are, but if you want to live, you'll have to cut yourself again. Find the path through the razor-wire to the door. But hurry. At three o'clock that door will lock, and then, this room becomes your tomb. How much blood will you shed to stay alive, Paul? | „ |
| “ | Hello, Mark. If you are so sick, then why do I have so many photos of you up and about? Let's put your so-called "illness" to the test. Right now, there's a slow acting poison in your veins. The antidote is inside the safe; the combination to the safe is written on the wall. Hurry up and program it in, but watch your step. By the way, that's a flammable substance smeared on your body, so I would be careful with that candle if I were you... or all the people you've burned with your act just might have their revenge. | „ |
| “ | Hello, Amanda. You don't know me, but I know you. I want to play a game. Here's what happens if you lose. The device you are wearing is hooked into your upper and lower jaw. When the timer in the back goes off, your mouth will be permanently ripped open. Think of it like a reverse bear trap. Here, I'll show you. [on videotape, a mannequin's head is destroyed by the device] There is only one key to open the device. It's in the stomach of your dead cell mate. Look around, Amanda. Know that I'm not lying. You better hurry up. Live or die. Make your choice. | „ |
| “ | Congratulations. You are still alive. Most people are so ungrateful to be alive. But not you. Not anymore. | „ |
| ~ John (through Billy) recruiting Amanda. |
| “ | Hello Mr. Hindle. Or as they called you around the hospital: Zepp. I want you to make a choice. There's a slow-acting poison coursing through your system, which only I have the antidote for. Will you murder a mother and her child to save yourself? Listen carefully, if you will. There are rules. | „ |
| “ | Hello, Michael. I want to play a game. So far, in what loosely could be called your life, you have made a living watching others. Society would call you an informant, a rat, a snitch. I call you unworthy of the body you possess. Of the life you've been given. Now we will see if you are willing to look inward, rather than outward, to give up the one thing you rely on in order to go on living. The device around your neck is a death mask. The mask is on a string timer. If you do not locate the key in time, the mask will close. Think of it like a Venus Flytrap. What you're looking at right now is your own body, not more than two hours ago. Don't worry. You're sound asleep, and can't feel a thing. Taking into account that you are at a great disadvantage here, I am going to give you a hint as to where I have hidden the key. So listen carefully. The hint is this: [TV screen shows an x-ray.] It's right before your eyes. How much blood would you shed to stay alive, Michael? Live or die, make your choice. | „ |
| “ | Greetings...and welcome. I trust that you are all wondering where you are. I can assure you that while your location is not important, what these walls offer you is important: salvation, if you earn it. Three hours from now, the door to this house will open. Unfortunately, you only have two hours to live. Right now, you are breathing in a deadly nerve agent. You've been breathing it since you arrived here. Those of you familiar with the Tokyo subway attacks will know its devastating effects on the human body. The only way to overcome it and walk out that door is to find an antidote. Several are hidden around this house. One is inside the safe in front of you. You all possess the combination to the safe. Think hard. The numbers are in the back of your mind. The clue to their order can be found over the rainbow. Once you realize what you all have in common, you will gain a better understanding of why you're here. X marks the spot for that clue, so look carefully. Let the game begin. | „ |
| “ | Hello, Obi. I want to play a game. For years you have burned those around you with your lies, cons, and deceits. Now you will have a chance to redeem yourself, for the games you've played with others, by playing one of mine. Inside the device in front of you are two antidotes for the poison coursing through your veins. One is my gift to you for helping me kidnap the others. The second is yours to donate. However, one will come with a price. Remember Obi: Once you are in Hell, only the devil can help you out. | „ |
| “ | Hello, Xavier. I want to play a game. The game I want to play is very similar to the game you've been playing as a drug dealer. The game of offering hope to the desperate, for a price. I think we can agree that your situation is desperate. So, I offer you hope. The price you pay is that you must crawl into the same pit of squalor you force your customers into. By entering this room, you have started a timer. When the timer expires, the door in front of you will be locked forever. Only in finding the key before the timer runs out can you unlock it and retrieve the antidote inside. I will give you just one hint where to that key is: It will be like finding a needle in a haystack. Let the game begin. | „ |
| “ | Hello, Troy. I want to play a game. This game will take place in a room not much bigger than the one you've spent most of your life in: a prison cell. Despite all of the advantages and privileges that you were given at birth, you have returned to prison again and again. More comfortable in chains than you are in freedom? Tonight, we will see how far you are willing to go to break those chains once and for all. Live or die, Troy. Make your choice. | „ |
| “ | Hello, Kerry. I want to play a game. Up until now, you have spent your life among the dead, piecing together their final moments. You're good at this because you, like them, are also dead. Dead on the inside. You identify more with a cold corpse than you do a living human. I believe you want to join your true family - indeed your only family - in death. The device you are wearing is hooked into your ribcage. And by the time this tape has finished, you will have one minute to find a way out. At the end of that minute... you should know better than anyone what happens then. There is a single key that will unlock the harness, Kerry. It's right in front of you. All you have to do is reach in and take it. But do it quickly. The acid will dissolve the key in a matter of seconds. Make your choice. | „ |
| “ | Hello, Jeff. Over the past few years, you have become a shell of your former self, consumed with hatred and vengeance. Vengeance against the drunk driver who killed your only son. Vengeance against the killer who, to your surprise and dismay, was set free after a hasty trial. Today, however, it will be you who will be put on trial. To escape from where you are, you will have to face a series of tests. You will have to suffer to move through each of them. But with each one, you will have a chance-- a chance to forgive. When you complete the tests, I promise you will finally come face-to-face with the man responsible for the loss of your child. That will be your ultimate test. Can you forgive him? You better hurry, though. In two hours, the doors will lock and this place will become your tomb. This is what you've been waiting for, Jeff. Let the game begin. | „ |
| “ | Welcome to your first test, Jeff. In the past three years, you've cursed the names of all those you thought were responsible for the death of your son. You fantasized those accountable will pay. Well, in this room you will find a woman in front of you chained in place. This will prevent her from running... much like she did the day your son was hit. Her name is Danica Scott. She was the only witness present at the scene of your son's untimely demise. If not for her own self-absorption and cowardice, she could have brought your son's killer to justice. Now it is you who has a chance to bring her to justice. You alone can grant her the gift of life before she freezes to death. Behind the pipes on the back wall, you will find the key that will free her and bring you one step closer to the man responsible for the loss of your child. Will you claim the key to save only yourself, or can you find it within you to save another? Make your choice. | „ |
| “ | Jeff, when the judge presiding over your case sentenced your son's murderer so lightly, your soul never recovered. Now you have the power to sentence his soul straight to hell. Or you can forgive. The key that will free him is hidden inside your son's possessions. Possessions you have clung to for far too long. Now, if you flip the switch on the incinerator beneath you, a fire will cleanse you of this obsession and destroy them all, leaving only the key remaining. It is also the key that will bring you closer to the man accountable for taking your child. He doesn't have much time, Jeff. Let the game begin. | „ |
| “ | Hello, Jeff. If you're listening to this, that means that the confrontation you so long dreamed of is finally unfolding. In your head, he is a cipher, a symbol of your life changing. A symbol of death. I present him to you now as a simple human being. His name is Timothy Young. He is 27 years old, a medical student with a mother and a father just like you. A man whose life also changed the day your son died. That day, he made a terrible mistake. You believed he didn't pay for that mistake, and now is your chance to make him pay. The device Timothy is strapped to is my personal favorite. I call it The Rack. The human body is a miraculous creation. Ever wonder how far the arm can twist? This device is going to start twisting. There is a chance he might live, though, with your help. To your right is a box. At the back of a box is a key. It's tied to the trigger of a shotgun. The question you have to ask yourself is this: Are you willing to take a bullet for the man who killed your son? Does "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" apply here, Jeff? Make your choice. | „ |
| “ | [Theatrical Ending tape] Hello, Jeff. I made this tape as an insurance policy, if you will. And, if you're listening to it, then it's time to collect. I was your final test of forgiveness. And if you're listening to it, then you failed. Now you must pay the price. The price of living for nothing but vengeance. Now I will give you something to live for. I told you that you couldn't kill me, Jeff, but I didn't tell you why. And the answer is simple: I am the person responsible for the loss of your child. I am the only one who knows where your daughter is. She only has a limited supply of air, Jeff, and if you want to get her back, you'll have to play a game. | „ |
| “ | Hello, Jeff. I made this tape as an insurance policy, if you will. And, if you're listening to it, it's time to collect. I was your final test, Jeff. Your final test of forgiveness. And if you're listening to this, then you failed. Now you must pay the price. The price of holding on to all that anger. The price of driving your wife away from you. The price of living for nothing but vengeance. Now I will give you something to live for. I told you that you couldn't kill me, Jeff, but I didn't tell you why. And the answer is simple: I am the person responsible for the loss of your child. I am the only person who knows where your daughter is. She only has a limited supply of air, and if you want to get her back, you'll have to play a game. | „ |
| ~ John’s Tape to Jeff in the Directors Cut while succumbing to blood loss. |
| “ | Are you there Detective? If so, you are probably the last man standing, now perhaps you will succeed, where the others have failed. You think you will walk away untested? I have promised that my work will continue, you think it’s over just because I’m dead? It’s not over, the games have just begun. | „ |
| ~ John’s posthumous tape for Detective Hoffman warning the outcome of his death and legacy. |
| “ | If you're watching this, Jill, I'm long gone from this world. You are my heart. You always have been. You always will be. I'm not going to try to explain my actions of late. Suffice it to say that I find it difficult to forgive myself for what happened at the clinic. I permitted, indeed, encouraged your decisions regarding the people there. I saw danger and I should have acted sooner. I'm leaving you a box, today and its contents are of grave importance. Even though you and I don't always see everything eye to eye, I deeply believe in you and I believe that you will know what to do with these materials. | „ |
| ~ John's videotaped message to his ex-wife. |
Audio Samples
Trivia
- One thing about John Kramer that definitely stands out in comparison to other serial killers from popular horror films is that while he does kill many people, he doesn't wish for them to die even though he acts indifferent to their deaths. He even doesn't enjoy seeing them die in his traps, given his philosophy that he just tests the people to make them appreciate their lives. This arguably makes him one of the most complex horror film villains of all time.
- Another difference is that he is dead for the majority of his franchise, and doesn't have a supernatural return like other deceased slashers akin to Freddy Krueger or Jason Voorhees.
- Most of his victims are people who were callous toward the life of others (like William Easton) rather than people who lacked the will to live (like Paul Leahy).
- Though it's confirmed in Saw IV that John constructed Billy the Puppet as a toy for his unborn son Gideon, some fans have noted that the puppet design was very disturbing and horrific for what was meant to be one of the toys of a newborn child. Tobin Bell had expressed interest in exploring Billy's backstory in the ninth Saw film, but Spiral was ultimately an stand-alone film to the previous installments and didn't include neither Jigsaw nor Billy.
- It was implied in Saw IV that John had a different end design for Billy in mind, but the series of tragedies that befell his life made him change it into something more nightmarish to reflect his darker outlook on existence.
- A character modeled after Jigsaw and Billy the Puppet, named Pigsaw, appears in the Peruvian online game website Inkagames as the titular antagonist in the Saw Games, a game series based on the Saw franchise. Rather than a human, Pigsaw is a living puppet who wears a blue tuxedo (while black-grey tuxedo on the TV) and kidnaps fictional characters, YouTubers and other famous celebrities.
- There's a very popular, humorous theory since 2014 that John Kramer is an older Kevin McCallister, the main protagonist of the Home Alone films. The theory indicates that after his encounters with Harry and Marv, Kevin becomes mentally disturbed and starts making more complex and lethal traps over the years. Both Macaulay Culkin and Saw director James Wan have given their approval to the theory.
- Jigsaw is mentioned in the 2018 horror film Blood Fest.
- Despite enjoying playing Jigsaw, Tobin Bell has stated that he would be willing to move on from the role to allow other actors to play Jigsaw. However, most filmmakers associated with the franchise have stated that they have no intentions to recast the role.
- Billy made a cameo appearance in the 2017 anime TV series called Love Tyrant.
- Spiral is so far the only film in the series where John doesn't appear, but he is mentioned several times and a photo of his autopsy from Saw IV is seen. Despite this, Darren Lynn Bousman and his crew discussed about having John appear in the film until the final day of filming. One idea considered by Bousman involved Tobin Bell singing a Johnny Cash cover during the ending sequence so they could at least have Bell's voice in the film, but the idea was discarded for feeling too gimmicky. In contrast, the Josh Stolberg and Peter Goldfinger considered to have a post-credits scene where John met a young William Schenk after his father's death and gifted him with Mr. Snuggles, but the idea was discarded as well.
External Links
- Jigsaw on the Wikipedia
- Jigsaw on the Horror Wiki
- John Kramer on the Saw Wiki
- John Kramer on the Magnificent Baddie Wiki
 Villains
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Main villain Saw Saw II Saw III Saw IV Saw V Saw VI Saw 3D: The Final Chapter Jigsaw (2017) Spiral: From the Book of Saw Saw X The Scott Tibbs Documentary Saw: The Video Game Saw II: Flesh & Blood | ||
