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Reliving A Dangerous Game: Remembering The Saw Franchise’s Best Traps

Can you believe it's already been ten years since James Wan kickstarted one of the most successful horror franchises in genre history? While the Saw movies have gone on to rake in millions and millions of festive Halloween dollars, manned by numerous writer/director teams, it all started when Wan and his creative cohort Leigh Whannell created a horror movie with a better twist than M. Night Shyamalan has ever achieved. After blowing horror audiences away, Lionsgate Entertainment and Twisted Pictures realized the moneymaking potential behind future Saw movies, resulting in an October movie-going ritual that saw seven franchise films in total.

4) Saw V: The Decapitator

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Ah, the good ol’ decapitation device from Saw V! I’m not sure why I love this one so much, but what’s a Saw franchise countdown without some rolling heads? This trap is revealed early on in the film when the characters realize their game has begun, feeling the tight collars strung around their necks. In typical Saw fashion, a recording explains that their only chance at survival is smashing open the glass boxes in front of them and unlocking their leashes with the key inside. Sounds easy, except that the leashes are all connected to the same wire, so if one person runs forward towards the boxes, the others are pulled backwards, closer and closer to a very sharp device that will easily decapitate anyone pulled back with enough force – which is what happens after time runs out.

What appeals to me most is the “survival of the fittest” nature this trap harnesses, because the only way everyone survives is through teamwork. As long as the victims go one by one, everyone should have the opportunity to free themselves and move onto the next death-dealing trap. Instead, people fight and selfishly run out to the boxes, not giving a crap about anyone else. Saw movies never disappoint as far as kills go, so it’s obvious that someone isn’t making it through without a deadly haircut, and the scene delivers mightily as a poor woman’s body flies backwards, removing her head with one swift cut.

Note to self – never seek out Jigsaw for a haircut.