Horror Movie Saw's Concept Origins Detailed By James Wan (& It Couldn't Be More Fitting)

Aug 24, 2023

Horror movie Saw director, James Wan, details how he conceptualized the story's premise, and the revelation couldn't be more fitting.

The idea for Saw came from a shower thought and a bathroom, according to Saw creator James Wan. The hit horror franchise launched the careers of James Wan and his co-creator Leigh Whannell after it tore through the indie scene and came to dominate the horror landscape. Saw follows the intricate plans of John Kramer, the infamous serial killer Jigsaw, as he torments his many victims through traps and schemes.

While Jigsaw may have risen to fame, Wan explained to The Hollywood Reporter that Saw has some humble origins. The world-renowned killer only got his start because Wan had a shower thought about two people and a toilet. Check out his quote below:

"It was the mid-to-late ’90s, and Leigh [Whannell] and I really wanted to cut through the noise of all the indie movies that were coming out at that time, so we spent a whole year thinking about story ideas. And one day, as I was in the shower, I thought, 'What about a movie with two people stuck in a bathroom with a really grungy toilet? They have no idea how they got in there, and they’re chained to opposite sides of the room.' So I only knew the rough setup, and then I knew how I wanted the story to end with Jigsaw, this person who put them in that situation. And so I pitched a really simple setup and finale to Leigh, and he was like, 'Oh, wow. Let me think about it.' So he went off, and he came back to me with Saw.

Saw's humble origin is another example of why the franchise has been successful. With a budget of just $1.2 million, the first Saw iteration made over $100 million, proving that the concept and execution drew enough interest. It's hard not to be interested in a world where a serial killer runs unchecked while setting up intricate traps that give victims a chance to escape.

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The Saw ending also helped to give its killer depth. After receiving a terminal cancer diagnosis, the character who would become Jigsaw eventually elects to begin teaching others a lesson through his traps. It sets him apart from other horror killers, who could be killing for the thrill, to release repressed urges, or simply because they can. Jigsaw's goal to teach lessons to his victims raises the stakes because it increases the chance that the victims can somehow survive and grow.

Billy the Puppet's iconic look has also created a perfect symbol for the franchise. The puppet is eerie, but he reflects the low-budget style and is enough to send fear into the hearts of victims and viewers alike. Saw may have some humble origins, but that's why it's so successful.

Source: THR