Joey Magidson
The Sunday Scaries are upon us once again! Yes, as the weekend concludes, most of us feel an oncoming sense of anticipatory dread about the week ahead. Anxiety about work manifests itself into a feeling that’s known as the Sunday Scaries. However, we at Awards Radar are here to combat that, by taking back the name. Now, we want you think about a horror-centric piece on the site when you hear the term. So, let us continue on with another installment of the Awards Radar Sunday Scaries! Today, we’re going to be returning to a ranking of one of my favorite horror franchises, now that it’s newest installment is out…
Ladies and gentlemen, if it’s Halloween (or in this case, late September), it must be Saw. That was the promotional tag over more than half a decade for one of the horror’s most interesting franchises, and it was always one of the catchiest. With the release of Saw X last weekend, bringing the series back to its roots felt like a perfect opportunity to do an update of my list. Yes, today I’ll be ranking the Saw films again, which now number ten strong. What started as a small independent horror movie has grown into one of the most densely plotted franchises ever. Fair warning, there will be some spoilers in this piece, so keep that in mind.
Before we get to the actual ranking of the fright flicks, it’s worth noting that this series is decidedly not for everyone. If you don’t have a strong constitution for gore, it can admittedly be a struggle. Likewise, if you weren’t a fan of the first one, you could end up lost a sequel or so in as the plot folds in on itself (and only got more convoluted from there). The ranking will keep things as simple as possible, so curious newbies can get a little something out of it, even if the franchise is anything but simple. The mythology here is as dense as any series cinema has put forward, especially when it comes to horror.
Here is how the Saw franchise stacks up:
10. Saw IV
With a beginning that rather audaciously starts with Jigsaw’s autopsy, this sequel follows Lieutenant Rigg (Lyriq Bent) as he goes from sidekick to previous protagonists to player of a deadly game. His desperate search for the missing Detective Matthews (Donnie Wahlberg) coincides with the FBI stepping in to work with police to figure out just what the hell is going on.
The weakest of the series is still a passable entertaining horror flick. As a Saw sequel, it performs one of the more ambitious twists since the first one, with the events of the film happening at the same time as Saw III. This was the point where the original creators, James Wan and Leigh Whannell, stopped having any hand in the proceedings. It also marked director Darren Lynn Bousman‘s final appearance until a glorious return with Spiral: From the Book of Saw. Finally, it’s the first to take place after John Kramer’s death. It’s admittedly a mess, with too many plot lines competing for attention but none really being compelling. In terms of overall filmmaking, it’s a low point for the franchise, though hardly without its charms for fans.
9. Saw: The Final Chapter (AKA Saw 3D)
Originally meant to be the end of the series (as well as a two parter), this one sees a purported Jigsaw survivor in Bobby (Sean Patrick Flannery) put to a test after profiting off his lie. At the same time, Detective Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) is in the final stages of eliminating his enemies, with John Kramer’s wife, Jill Tuck (Betsy Russell), at the top of the list. The end result is what was meant to be the franchise’s conclusion, though obviously that wasn’t the case.
Besides a poor use of 3D, this felt slightly rushed to wrap things up. Originally, there was supposed to be a two-part ending, so that feeling is warranted. Bringing back Dr. Gordon (Cary Elwes) was satisfying fan service, though focusing on a new villain, Detective Hoffman, on a revenge mission leaves something to be desired. Still, bringing things into the daylight at times was a nice change of pace, while the gore feels slightly more old school than usual. Something this has in common with Saw IV is a forgettable series of traps. Catch me on the right day and this is the bottom of the lot, though much of its similar charms to the last one on the list remain.
8. Saw V
By opting against having much of a twist, this ultimately is the most generic entry of the franchise. It works well enough on its own terms, but the special sauce is missing, hence its middle placement on this list. While Hoffman attempts to throw the Feds off of his tail, Agent Strom (Scott Patterson) pieces together the clues. At the same time, one of the best games of any sequel is occurring. A group is trapped and forced to work together in order to survive. At least, that’s Jigsaw’s intent. As per the victims in this franchise, they’re oblivious to the smart way to go about things.
Having this one take place all over the series’ chronology is a bit much, but it really doubled down on the complicated backstory. The film continues to see timelines fold in on themselves, making the A to Z of Saw mythology a pretzel shaped path. The main trap was among the most moral of any, though it’s an egregious example of the “game” being the least essential to the plot. Saw V joins Saw IV and Saw: The Final Chapter as the lesser installments, though fans mostly get what they want. From here on, it’s the better moments in the series!
7. Jigsaw
Here is the first time that the powers that be tried to bring the property back. This is the effort that tried to reboot the franchise in a way, while still trying to do what Saw did best. The results were fine, but nothing to go crazy about. Long after the events of the original seven movies, a new series of deaths leads a city to speculate that Jigsaw is back. When I reviewed this one years ago, I included this bit: “Jigsaw is a smoother and less rushed production than what’s come before it. In the process, it improves on some aspects while fumbling others. In that regard, it fits in with the previous sequels. Your mileage may vary, though it’s hard to imagine a fan hating this. Likewise, it’s almost impossible to imagine a detractor being swayed. A specific audience is being catered to once again.”
The passing of time could move this one down a peg or two, but consider it just under something like Saw III right now. Again, we can go back to something from my old review: “Compared to the other films in the franchise, this is middle of the road stuff. Of course, it can’t reach the heights of the first one, which launched a sub-genre and featured some shocking originality. Likewise, it doesn’t fall into the lesser outings’ trap of creating the unnecessarily obtuse backstory.”
6. Saw III
The end of Act I in the franchise marked a real transition point. We see John Kramer (Tobin Bell) meet his fate, Amanda (Shawnee Smith) in all her glory as his accomplice, and a game that actually hits emotional notes. The struggle of Jeff (Angus Macfadyen) is never about his physical pain, but the emotional scars he needs to work through. The ending is among the cruelest in the series, though it was also a moment that the sequels would return to later on.
Something you notice here is that there’s a shift in the games. No longer are people being tested based on something they’ve done. Now, some are pawns in a larger game, with their survival based on the actions of the game’s “subject.” James Wan and Leigh Whannell were involved with the script for the last time here, keeping it somewhat closer to the spirit of the original, even as it was finding its new rhythm. After this entry, most of what follows and still marks the sequels’ MO can be traced back to here.
5. Saw II
The first of the sequels, back when it was kind of a novelty to see that small flick have its story continued. Picking up shortly after the original, this builds on the relative quaintness of what’s come before. Detective Matthews finds Jigsaw and learns that his son Daniel (Erik Knudsen) is part of a group playing a new game, a group that includes previous survivor Amanda. For the first time, we see structure messed with, mainly in terms of withheld information and chronology of events.
A quick sequel after the surprise success of Saw the year before, this is better than it has any right to be. Essentially retconned from an original idea by filmmaker Bousman into a Saw production, it does a lot right. The traps are strong, the twists are surprising, and you get all the Tobin Bell you can ask for. If there’s a weakness, it’s that the game players are forgettable, with one (Beverley Mitchell) having the most disappointing fate of any character in the franchise. There’s also a repetitiveness to the game, something that would be corrected in future installments.
4. Saw VI
Folks, Jigsaw gets political! Going the social commentary route, this is a look at the pre-Affordable Health Care Act insurance situation in America, though obviously with a Saw spin. Insurance executive William (Peter Outerbridge) finds himself choosing which of his employees live and die, while Hoffman continues framing Agent Strahm for his work. Letting the movie have something to say elevates it above all of the sequels.
Giving the series a metaphor was a wise decision. Morality plays have always been a staple of the best moments in the franchise. As such, going all in with a political agenda adds a layer here. Plus, for the first time, the game player is someone the audience really has no interest in seeing live. Conversely, the other subjects in each trap are the ones you care about. There’s even a dark sense of humor to the choices William needs to make. It’ll never top the original, but it’s head and shoulders above all the other installments.
3. Saw X
Going back to almost the beginning and focusing on Tobin Bell‘s John Kramer is so obvious it’s surprising it took this long to do it. By letting Bell play Kramer in Jigsaw’s early days, they find surprisingly new material to traffic in with Saw X. This here is some of what I had to say about the newest installment:
The Saw franchise has shown incredible life over the years. What was just a small independent horror film has now become one of the biggest properties in the genre. After going nonstop for over half a decade, there were pauses, but it always comes back to Saw. While both Jigsaw and Spiral: From the Book of Saw weren’t quite able to relaunch it back to its horror heights (though the latter is one of the best films they’ve done), Saw X has a great chance to do it. By going back to its roots, namely with the return of Tobin Bell, this is what many have been asking for. The results are deeply satisfying, provided that this is your sort of thing.
Saw X is both old and new, which very much works in its favor. Taking place in the early days of the series, when the central character was still alive (remember, there have now been seven follow ups to the third installment, where he died), this one is able to fill in blanks, while also telling a different kind of a story. Here, you’re with Bell’s character throughout, which is a notable difference. Not only is his presence a real boon to the work, it almost makes for a bit of nostalgia. Overall, this is an upper echelon Saw film.
2. Spiral: From the Book of Saw
I may be in the minority, but I was really taken by this spinoff of sorts for the franchise. By focusing on crooked cops, many of whom have a grudge against Detective Zeke Banks (Chris Rock), there’s a new flavor at play here. That being said, while someone like Samuel L. Jackson being in this series is a real novelty, what actually happens is very much in the style of Saw. This here is some of what I said in my rave review of the film:
The Saw franchise has long needed an injection of fresh blood. Even coming from someone who loves the horror films, the last installment, Jigsaw, was proof that things were at an inflection point. The movies were certainly enjoyable, but the initial idea and social commentary had been set aside for a more and more complex mythology. It was always going to take some sort of radical change to keep these flicks going, or else their time would have passed. Enter Chris Rock, who is a fellow fan, and yet was able to pitch a huge departure from what’s come before. The result is something that continues in the world of Saw, but isn’t really a reboot or a sequel. Truly, Spiral: From the Book of Saw (or Spiral, for short) is its own thing. Not only is that an exciting prospect for cinephiles, it results in an incredibly strong motion picture.
1. Saw
Was I ever really going to choose anything other than the one that started it all? Of course not. The genius of the movie is found in its simplicity. We begin in a grungy bathroom, one that Dr. Lawrence Gordon (Elwes) and Adam (Whannell) are trapped in. As they learn about their situation, we see that a serial killer known as Jigsaw is testing those who he feels do not appreciate life. Dr. Gordon, once considered a suspect by Detective Tapp (Danny Glover), must kill Adam or have his family put to death. It all builds up to one of the great twists of the past 20 years. Yes, it’s that good.
A modern horror classic, this is not without its faults. Compared to all of the sequels, it’s very cheap looking. Still, the amount of elbow grease and genuine cleverness put forward by Wan and Whannell is worthy of applause. The structure is rock solid, the twist is an all-time great, and it remains entertaining to this day. You often see a franchise, especially in horror, peak with the original, and that’s the case here. Without as much narrative corkscrews, it’s as straightforward as Saw gets. The rest may be guilty pleasures of sort, but this is a defensible strong film.
Stay tuned for another Sunday Scaries installment next weekend!
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