I was recently talking to a dear, closer personal friend about horror series and it didn’t take long for us to get on the Saw series…or SAW series…whichever you prefer.
Growing up in a super small town meant going to the theater was a lock just about every weekend. That was never more true than during Spooky SZN when the new Saw film dropped. It didn’t matter what happened in the previous story, I was paying for those last fifteen minutes when that sweet ass song played with the go-home montage showing us how all the dots were connected. I had such a good time talking about the series that I decided to go back through from start to finish, especially with the Chris Rock led ‘Spiral: From the Book of Saw’ coming out hopefully in early 2021. Let’s get gory, fam.
Ranking the Saw Franchise
1. Saw – The original is still my favorite because it always takes me back to the first time I watched it. Having not had any of it spoiled for me the first time viewing absolutely floored me. The games, the twists and Cary ‘Fucking” Elwes – there really isn’t anything not to like.
Favorite Trap: The Reverse Beartrap. Not only was this trap terrifying yet beautiful, but little did we know how important our survivor, Amanda, would be to the series.
2. Saw II – The first Saw film I snuck into theaters to see (15 year old me pulled the ole switcharoo by buying a ticket to that POS ‘The Fog’ remake then politely made my way over to the Saw sequel). I still really enjoy this one because of how personal the story is with Donnie Wahlberg and his kid being tied into the story. When we realize just how everyone connects to Wahlberg’s character, the story really kicks into second gear, leading to one of my favorite ‘reveals’ of the series.
Favorite Trap: The Needle Pit. Doesn’t matter how many times I watch this film, this trap will ALWAYS make me squirm.
3. Saw VI – The biggest surprise to come out of me going back to this series was just how much I enjoyed the sixth chapter of this series. This time around, Jigsaw has insurance companies in his sights and I’m totally here for it. The film also feels most like a ‘one off’ with not a ton of previous or post stories being linked into it. It’s also pretty wild to see Luke from Gilmore Girls fucking shit up in this universe.
Favorite Trap: The Acid Injector. THIS ONE IS FUCKING WILD YALL. The Shotgun Merry Go Round was a close second.
4. Saw IV – With how things ended in III there were all the questions of whether or not John Kramer was really dead and boy do they put that question to bed right away. This one is very ‘twist’ heavy but I always have a good time with 4. I like Rigg’s character and seeing some real low down dirty pieces of shit get their just desserts along the way makes for good times.
Favorite Trap: The Peeping Tom. Seeing a rapist getting their shit fucked up will forever make me go “HELL YEAH!”
5. Saw V – Where we really get into the meat of Agent Strahm not trusting Hoffman, which was a storyline I really got into. This one also has a super slept-on cast with Julie Benz and Meagan Good joining in on the universe as a part of a group of strangers having to go from game to game leading to an absolutely heart wrenching realization in the final room.
Favorite Trap: The Electric Bathtub. In a brutal series, the depths these motherfuckers go for this trap is some serous sick shit.
6. Saw III – More story telling in this chapter than a lot of the others with so many relationships coming to the forefront. There is A LOT of emotion tied up in this sequel, which sets it aside from a lot of the others, which makes for quite the taxing journey.
Favorite Trap: The Pig Vat. Not only is this trap totally scary and gross but like the film it makes for a really emotional moment for our protagonist in a series where so many detractors say it’s just gore for gore.
7. Saw VII – This one feels a bit like overkill with all the traps and twists. I like the idea of Jigsaw going after someone that lied about surviving a game, but we just get so far off the track that by the end, I find myself thinking meh. Shout out Dr. Gordon though.
Favorite Trap: The Hooks and The Brazen Bull. Tippy top brutal shit here.
8. Jigsaw – I enjoyed this one more on my first viewing but going back I just didn’t really care for it. There are definitely things I did like but so much of it felt like they were going for all the Saw tropes but without the Saw soul.
Favorite Trap: Silo of Death. It’s terrifying enough to think of being drowned in grain while being trapped in a silo but add in sharp things falling towards you and that’s nightmare fuel.
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John Mosley is the Swiss Army Knife of SoBros Network and the independent wrestling correspondent. He graduated from ETSU with a degree in Radio, TV and Film along with a minor in Film Studies. Since graduating he’s done pretty much nothing but watch, film, edit or commentate for local wrestling promotions and is the current color commentator for Resolute Wrestling. #Preds #Titans #DefendOrVacateConor. Follow on Twitter: @SoBroMose
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