SAW
Saw is a globally renowned American horror media franchise created by filmmakers James Wan and Leigh Whannell. Centered on the moralistic survival games of John Kramer (the Jigsaw Killer) and his apprentices, the franchise spans feature films, short films, video games, comics, and specialty publications.
Cronologia
Panoramica
The Saw franchise is an iconic horror property created by filmmakers James Wan and Leigh Whannell.
Spanning over two decades, the series revolves around the deadly, trap-laden survival tests designed by John Kramer—a cancer-stricken structural engineer known as the Jigsaw Killer—and his devoted group of successors.
Rather than seeking simple murder, Kramer forces his subjects through excruciating physical trials to test their will to live. Since its debut, the franchise has grown into a massive multi-media ecosystem. The overall catalogue encompasses ten feature films, proof-of-concept and promotional short films, survival horror video games, a prequel comic book, and interactive specialty pop-up books. Following a mid-quel resurgence with Saw X in 2023, the franchise expanded its cinematic future through a partnership involving Lionsgate, Blumhouse, and Atomic Monster.
Origini
The creation of Saw began in 2003 when Australian filmmakers James Wan and Leigh Whannell sought to pitch their feature-length horror screenplay to movie studios.
To demonstrate their vision, they filmed Saw 0.5, a proof-of-concept short film starring Whannell as David, a man trapped in the terrifying Reverse Bear Trap. Clips from this short were later repurposed for flashback scenes in early feature sequels.
The short film successfully secured studio backing, leading to the feature-length Saw (2004), directed by Wan and co-written with Whannell. Centering on two men—Dr. Lawrence Gordon and Adam Stanheight—waking up chained in a dilapidated underground bathroom, the sleeper hit captured global attention and spawned one of horror cinema's most recognizable franchises.
Personaggi
I PEZZI DI SAW
Collezionismo
For horror collectors, the Saw universe offers a rich selection of physical media, promotional items, and specialized print publications centered on Jigsaw's iconic mechanical traps. Key items include early home media releases packaged with exclusive mockumentary shorts, such as Full Disclosure Report (released with Saw II) and The Scott Tibbs Documentary (released with Saw III).
Comic book enthusiasts track down IDW Publishing's 2005 prequel release Saw: Rebirth, which offers an early look into Kramer's lore. In late 2026, collector print expansions saw a notable entry with Rizzoli's publication of Saw: The Ultimate Pop-Up Book: Jigsaw's Traps Come Alive, featuring interactive three-dimensional pop-up engineering of the series' most famous mechanical traps.
In late 2026, Lionsgate revived the franchise by partnering with Blumhouse and Atomic Monster to produce a new film directed by Mike P. Nelson.
