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Tobin Bell speaks up about finding out about the incredible ‘Saw’ twist on the first movie’s script

Tobin Bell, the actor who’s given life to one of the biggest villains in the modern horror movie genre through the Saw series, thinks back on the legacy of the first film in the franchise.

Tobin Bell, who plays the iconic John Kramer in the ‘Saw’ movies, has spoken again about one of the most shocking moments of horror cinema: the unexpected twist that surprised the public at the end of the first film. In a recent conversation, the actor recalled how that final revelation not only marked the beginning of one of the most successful horror franchises of all time, but also set a new standard for plot twists in the genre. With his character, Jigsaw, immortalized in film history, Bell reflected on the importance of that ending in consolidating the legacy of the saga.

Tobin Bell, John Kramer in the ‘Saw’ saga, reflects on the ending of the first film

Tobin Bell revealed at a recent film roundtable the enormous influence of the ending of ‘Saw’ (2004). “That moment at the end of the movie, when I read in the script that it was not something anticipated, I thought if it was done well, It would be one of those unforgettable moments in the history of cinema, and this has been demonstrated”, commented Bell.

The actor refers to the key revelation at the end of the first film, where the supposed corpse lying in the center of the room where Adam and Dr. Lawrence Gordon are trapped. He gets up and it turns out to be John Kramer., the real serial killer known as Jigsaw. Kramer had manipulated countless people into following his strict orders if they did not want to die, subjecting them to all kinds of extreme tests that served to “redeem” them and also divert police attention.

Jigsaw also explains to Adam that the key that was used to free him from the chain had been swallowed by the bathtub drain when he removed the plug., basically confirming that I was doomed from the beginning of the movie having lost the only key object that allowed him to escape.

With this iconic outcome, ‘Saw’ not only shocked viewers, but also cemented its place in the pantheon of modern horror cinema. Tobin Bell, through his interpretation of Jigsaw, not only gave life to one of the genre’s most complex and memorable villains, but also helped set the desired tone in future installments of the saga. The impact of the final twist of the first film continues to be a reference for the plot twists in the cinema, proving that a carefully constructed narrative can leave an indelible mark on film culture.

The legacy of ‘Saw’ and its enormous influence on horror films

The ‘Saw’ saga, created by James Wan and Leigh Whannell, focuses on the serial killer known as Jigsaw, whose real name is John Kramer, played by Tobin Bell. Unlike other horror movie villains, Jigsaw does not directly kill his victims, but places them in elaborate traps and deadly games that require making extreme decisions to survive. Each film presents different groups of people trapped in one or more of these “games” where they must face their own sins and mistakes from the past. Kramer’s disturbed reasoning is that each survivor will have learned a lesson about the true value of being alive and how much their decisions can influence the lives of others. With each installment, the narrative expands and more is revealed about Kramer’s past, his motivation, and the network of steadfast acolytes that continues his legacy.

tobin bell john kramer saw

At a commercial level, ‘Saw’ was a phenomenon since its premiere in 2004, helping to popularize the horror subgenre known as torture porn during the 2000s and paving the way for similar franchises such as ‘Hostel’, created by Eli Roth. With a low initial budget, the first film became a box office hit, generating a franchise that has produced multiple sequels, comics, and video games. The legacy of ‘Saw’ in horror films is significant; Not only did it redefine the limits of what could be shown on screen, but it also inspired a new wave of films that easily combined psychological horror and explicit violence, following in the wake of this saga. Although successive films have had mixed critical reception over the years, their impact on the genre is undeniable, and Jigsaw has become a modern horror icon as recognizable as Ghostface, Leatherface, and Michael Myers.

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