Lionsgate and Blumhouse, co-owners of the SAW film rights, have announced a new director – right in time for Halloween. The studios took to twitter to share a tease. Jigsaw, his twisted apprentices, and the traps that have made them all famous, are coming back to theaters. The tease features Billy the puppet rolling forward from his basement corner with signature laugh announcing “the game continues.” it then pans to a new script for “Untitled SAW Movie” directed by Mike P Nelson. Nelson’s credits include Wrong Turn and Silent Night, Deadly Night. His latest, Beware Boiuña , seems poised to strike fear into audiences. Announcing his new Untitled SAW movie is icing on the cake.
The SAW series are a series of gruesome Giallo-type films pioneered by Australian director James Wan and writer Leigh Whannell. The series focused on John Kramer, a serial killer who has never (technically) legally killed anyone. Instead, Kramer gives them a “choice” to escape horrific traps that maim and could kill them. Those who survive are “instantly rehabilitated” according to the killer’s twisted sense of ethics. Those who survive end up broken but largely embracing his crusade against the tyrannies of the system that breaks people that humans are caught up in. SAW asks viewers just what is a human life worth, and what is it worth to save it?
As the franchise turns almost 30 years old, there’s a new focus on the films. A new collaborative game called SAW: Genesis focuses on a history beyond Kramer’s games (perhaps suggesting the killer was inspired by the look of Billy and his torture devices rather than devising them himself.) The game’s release has been delayed to early 2027. It seems as if, as the film franchise approaches it’s 25th anniversary, the games are poised to begin again.
SAW thru SAW:X are currently streaming on various platforms.
