SAW Movies WORST to BEST / JIGSAW Speed-Art
Hey, I'm back with another Speed-Art! This one is of John Kramer. I think I did end up tweaking it a little bit before I started animating, but this is pretty close to the final design. So I uploaded The Evolution of Jigsaw / Saw or Jigsaw Explained to Tell It Animated last weekend, and for that video, I watched and re-watched all 9 Saw movies many times. This was probably the hardest script to boil down, so I paid close attention to these movies. While they're still somewhat fresh in my mind, let's rank all nine Saw films from worst to best!
9. Saw: 3D The Final Chapter
Saw: 3D The Final Chapter perhaps feels the most rushed of all the movies, pacing-wise and overall filming-wises It's pretty sloppy. That may be because filming in 3D is more complicated, but either way, it's no excuse for some of the lackluster acting and least thought-out death scenes. Like how does Hoffman have time to set up all those traps for the nazi gang at the start? And we're supposed to believe that Jill Tuck is now setting up the games for John Kramer in the meantime? It's all a hard pill to swallow, not to mention the Bobby Dagen character who is going through the main traps in the film is probably the least likable protagonist so far. Although, it did give us the meme of John Kramer wearing a baseball cap backward, so there's that.
8. Saw V
While I like learning about how Hoffman became Jigsaw's apprentice, Saw V is probably one of the oddest movies in the franchise. I like agent Strahm uncovering Hoffman's secrets, but the game that Hoffman is forcing the five protagonists to go through is probably the worst part of the movie, as all of the characters are so unlikable. I know they're supposed to be, but it makes their scenes just gory for the sake of being gory, and there's no one good to root for. Nonetheless, I still somewhat enjoy this movie, and the ending is pretty good when Hoffman gets away after Strahm hunts him down.
7. Spiral: From the Book of Saw
When I was making my ranking, I thought Spiral: From the Book of Saw would be higher on my list, but I somehow couldn't put it higher than here. It's a competently made film, but it just doesn't really feel like a Saw film, both in execution and in the villain that has taken Jigsaw's MO. The traps almost seem boring in comparison to Jigsaw's, and the voice he uses for the filmed parts is pretty laughable. Chris Rock and Sam Jackson do a good job in their roles, but the actor who plays Schenk I just didn't find believable at all. Still, it does have its positives. The overall story of someone killing corrupt cops is good, and the cinematography here is probably some of the best in the series. It just doesn't quite give me what I want from this franchise.
6. Saw IV
Saw IV is probably the one of my list that I wish I liked more, but it's just a middling sequel as it stands against the previous entries. Rigg makes for a good protagonist. He's sympathetic, and the traps he has to go through are interesting, but the reason why he is being put through the traps makes no sense. It's both because he's too good at his job and because he forgets to check a door before he walks through it. Is that really worthy of being tested by Jigsaw? Not in my books. But nonetheless, I really like the reveals at the end when we realize that this movie is actually taking place concurrently with Saw III, which actually makes it a prequel and not a sequel. Also, Hoffman's reveal is pretty good. I didn't see it coming the first time around, and it opened up the series to more sequels following this entry, so I do give it props for that.
5. Saw VI
Saw VI is actually one of the better entries in the series. Its pacing is smooth, and the main protagonist going through the traps, while not sympathetic, does raise a lot of questions about the healthcare system in America. I'm Canadian, so I don't think too much about it, but if you get sick in America and can't afford some sort of crazy-priced treatment, you basically just die. It's insane. I appreciate the scenes where the FBI starts to suspect Hoffman is Jigsaw's accomplice, and Hoffman just goes crazy. It's a great build-up, but unfortunately, the follow-up to this film has so many problems because this entry shows that by the 6th installment of a series, you can still bring new things to the table.
4. Saw II
Saw II is definitely a worthy follow-up to the first movie. You can tell they had a higher budget so the traps are a little more elaborate, but nothing too crazy. This is also the film where we learn more about John Kramer and why he does what he does, cementing him as a horror icon and differentiating himself from other slasher icons. He really thinks he's doing a good thing when he puts people in these traps. He's obviously insane, but there's just enough sympathy and understanding for his character to make him stand out in a field of horror icons. Also, the twist where we find out Amanda is working alongside John is probably the most organic twist in the sequels. Every film seems to have another twist at the end, but this one feels earned and well set up.
3. Jigsaw (2017)
Jigsaw is one of the few Saw films I saw in theatres. I watched it with my sister right before I moved across the country to more or less start a new life, so I have fond memories of this movie. It starts off more with an action sequence rather than a trap, but it's exciting nonetheless. We get introduced to Detective Halloran, who gets roped into stopping what they assume is a copycat of Jigsaw as he has been dead for ten years. So as an audience, we watch assuming things are happening in the present day with the traps, but we later learn that we're watching a prequel and the bodies being found in the present day are copycat killings. The prequel we're watching is one of John Kramer's first games, and the copycat in the present is Logan Nelson, a survivor of Jigsaw’s traps. He would go on to help John Kramer create his legacy. While I'm not a huge fan of the copycat and his story, I do like the games and the twist that makes you think John Kramer is alive. It's pretty effective, and the movie isn't super gory. It just tells a simple story with some good twists, exactly what I want from one of these films.
2. Saw III (2006)
Saw III is probably the best sequel. It really shows how meticulous John Kramer is despite being near death, but still managing to run a new game while he and Amanda force a doctor to try to save his life. The protagonist going through the traps is also the most sympathetic of the series, simply a grieving father who maybe has taken his life for granted since his kid died. And while I question why Jigsaw would put him through more pain, his story is one of the more interesting in the series, and the twist at the end where he is connected to the Doctor is one of the better ones. It really sets the series into motion following this film, and I must hand it to the writers. They're pretty ballsy to kill off their main villain in the third film, and still have six more sequels after this one. It was a risky move but paid off pretty nicely.
1. Saw (2004)
But of course, the first Saw is the best. Danny Glover and Cary Elwes both give great performances, and while you can feel the low budget of the film, they do a pretty great job of hiding it most of the time. And the twist where you're made to think Zep is the villain but find out he is just the victim is amazing. When Adam turns around and Jigsaw sits up from the bathroom floor, is absolutely iconic, and the music used is perfect. I also like the simplicity of the traps in this one. It just goes to show that you don't have to go over the top to make a good horror film and start an iconic franchise.
So what do you think? Should they continue the Saw series with a tenth installment, or would you prefer they leave it as is? Check out The Evolution of Jigsaw on Tell It Animated, and until next time, I’ve been Aaron and I'll tell you something later!