Director James Wan and writer Leigh Whannell have arguably switched horror genres and indisputably launched one of the longest-lasting and most influential horror film franchises in recent memory with the first part of the film Seen films in 2004. Fusing themes of detective noir fiction with the tone and guts of French horror cinema’s controversial New Extremity movement, they created a clever, suspenseful and unforgettably shocking thriller unlike anything the world had seen before .
The following eight episodes (and counting) would continue to follow the terrifying challenges of the morally corrupt serial killer (a term used loosely here) John “Jigsaw” Kramer (Tobin Bell) and the apprentices as they attempted to uphold his legacy with increasing detail Deathtraps – which the sequels arguably deal with a little more. However, we cannot deny that we are excited to see what “games” the upcoming tenth part has in store, X seenwhich will hit theaters in October 2023. While we await one of the most anticipated horror movies to come, let’s relive its predecessors in streaming or digital rentals.
saw (2004)
Based on their short film of the same name, director James Wan and writer Leigh Whannell’s breakout feature follows two men (Cary Elwes, Whannell) who wake up trapped and chained in a disgusting abandoned bathroom trying to figure out what led to their kidnapping while they’re about it struggling to find a way out alive. A fun brain teaser that will keep you guessing until its brutal, twisted finale, Seen is arguably one of the best horror films of its time and certainly one of the most influential.
Stream Saw on Amazon Prime (opens in new tab).
Saw streaming on Tubi.
Stream Saw on Pluto TV.
Rent (or buy) a saw on Amazon (opens in new tab).
saw II (2005)
In the first episode, a detective (Donnie Wahlberg) successfully finds the elusive puzzle, but must figure out where to keep his next victims – including his own teenage son – before it’s too late. Darren Lynn Bousman is co-writing and directing the franchise for the first time in many saw II – which is about as suspenseful and subversive as the first, but certainly ups the ante on the gore.
Stream Saw II on Pluto TV.
Rent (or buy) Saw II on Amazon (opens in new tab).
saw III (2006)
While an ailing Jigsaw forces a doctor he recently kidnapped (Bahar Soomekh) to keep him alive as long as possible, Amanda (Shawnee Smith), the kidnapper’s newest apprentice and one-time victim, places a grieving father (Angus MacFayden) through a horrific test of morality. Pick up directly where saw II stopped saw III sees Bousman returning to the director’s chair alongside Whannell as screenwriter.
Stream Saw III on Pluto TV.
Rent (or buy) Saw III on Amazon (opens in new tab).
saw IV (2007)
Even beyond death, Jigsaw continues to cause grief to people — namely, two FBI agents (Gilmore Girls Starring Scott Patterson and Athena Karkanis) who must search the remains of the killer for answers, and a SWAT commander (Lyriq Bent) in a race against time to rescue them. For Bousman’s fourth time at the helm of the franchise, IV seen got a new group of authors in the form of Firmly Writers Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan.
Stream Saw IV on Pluto TV.
Rent (or buy) Saw IV on Amazon (opens in new tab).
saw V (2008)
Five new victims are put to the test under the tutelage of Jigsaw’s new heir, Det. Lt. Mark Hoffman (Costas Mandylor), whom Agent Strahm (Patterson) wants to bring to justice. Melton and Dunstan are back as writers from V seenbut leading the way this time is first-time director David Hackl, who would also helm an all-star cast in 2015 Into the grizzly maze.
Stream Saw V on Pluto TV.
Rent (or buy) Saw V on Amazon (opens in new tab).
Saw VI (2009)
Mark Hoffman continues to honor Jigsaw’s legacy as the FBI moves closer to his operation as he tries to bring a group of corrupt insurance executives to justice in his own twisted way Saw VI. Kevin Greutert, who served as editor on the previous five chapters, makes his feature-length debut with this installment, which introduces a unique new set of traps into the mix, including one found on a children’s playground carousel.
Stream Saw VI on Pluto TV.
Rent (or buy) Saw VI on Amazon (opens in new tab).
Saw: The Final Chapter (2010)
Cary Elwes reprises his role as Dr. Lawrence Gordon in the franchise’s seventh film, which follows a self-help guru (Sean Patrick Flanery) whose fabricated claims of being a Jigsaw survivor end up really putting him in the hot seat. Led by returning director Greutert and originally released in 3D, Saw: The final chapter was marketed as the last installment in the series, which of course it wasn’t.
Stream Saw: The Final Chapter on Pluto TV.
Rent (or buy) Saw: The Final Chapter on Amazon (opens in new tab).
Jigsaw Puzzles (2017)
Though he’s been dead for more than a decade, John Kramer – the sadistic kidnapper aka Jigsaw – becomes the prime suspect when a new series of horrifying deaths by elaborate traps emerges. The Spierig Brothers steer away from the sci-fi genre in a new attempt to reinvent the gory franchise puzzlewhich certainly has some of the most inventive traps yet.
Stream Jigsaw on Peacock (opens in new tab).
Rent (or buy) Jigsaw on Amazon (opens in new tab).
Spiral (2021)
Det. Zeke Banks (Chris Rock) investigates a series of deaths that indicate a new criminal genius is on the loose, following in Jigsaw’s footsteps. Darren Lynn Bousman returns for the franchise Spiralwhich doesn’t just star in rock, sprang from the comedian who is also producing the ninth installment, largely inspired by David Fincher’s acclaimed thriller. Se7en.
Rent (or buy) Spiral on Amazon (opens in new tab).
Congratulations. You survived the first nine Seen movies. Now we can only wait and see which new scary games will start and when X seen hits theaters on Friday October 27, 2023. Until then, game over.
