What is the Scariest Saw Movie?

Categories
Featured Saw Franchise

How to Decide the Scariest Saw Movie of the Franchise?

The Jigsaw killer is almost always entertaining..some believe even based on a real killer. The facts remains true that there are traps, story lines and characters which are scarier than others throughout the various movies.  Thus, there is naturally a ‘scariest Saw movie’ and a ‘least scariest Saw movie’ in the franchise.  Determining the fear felt in a Saw movie boils down to a few important factors including:

  • Could one imagine being in the victim’s shoes?
  • Are the traps horrifying enough?
  • Do many victims meet their certain demise?
  • Is there enough pressure on the victims to be felt by the audience?
  • Are other victims dangerous to the protagonist(s)?
  • Is there any chance of survival?
  • Is the environment also dangerous?
  • Is the music and ambiance in the Saw movie scary enough?

These factors all make a difference in how scary a Saw movie is, as well as many other factors.

Jigsaw and Saw Movies Ranked In Order of ‘Most Scary’

There are nine Saw movies in the Franchise, including the latest Jigsaw (2017) movie, and the spinoff Spiral in 2021. With another Saw movie coming out soon it’s a good time to rank them in the order of “scariest.” Horror Enthusiast has ranked the movies from scariest to least scare factor as noted below…

Saw (2004)

image from the original and scariest saw film of a man on the floor crawling for his phone

#1 Scariest Saw Movie

As many Saw movies as there may have been, it is always hard to beat the innovative genius behind the original movie. Saw (2004) provides a psychological terror that had previously never been felt in the horror genre.  There was a “what if it were me” kind of feel to the movie and the audience became extremely empathetic towards the victims.  Because there were truly only two main characters, their story line could be involved, allowing the two men trapped in a room to slowly unravel the mystery.  The entire movie was a test for these characters…whereas other movies feature many tests.  Saw is ultimately the greatest psychological thriller of them all and firmly secures its rank as the scariest Saw movie of all time!

Saw II (2005)

2nd Scariest

The second scariest movie in the franchise is also the second movie. Saw II (2005) featured a poisonous house and super dangerous victims all responsible for coexisting and working together. The story line was so carefully sewn together as to keep the audience enthralled without overdoing it.  With a regular flow of empathetic horror and the pure shock of perfectly timed, periodic deaths, Saw II solidly earns its place on the list! It was also the best performing Saw movie in the United States.

Jigsaw (2017)

3rd Scariest

Jigsaw is underrated by fans.  Critics are hard on this film probably due to prejudice of the previous film’s title and story line insinuating it would be the ‘final chapter’ in the franchise. The truth is, however, Jigsaw is plenty scary and showcases some pretty realistic acting.  The mechanical engineering was believable and the ambiance was right to get pretty close to the fear felt in the second movie, Saw II (2005).

Saw III (2006)

4th Scariest

The story continues in an entertaining fashion. The traps are still creative, the characters are still developed just enough without overdoing it and the audience remains captivated.  As an added bonus, the movie also performed strongly at the box office too!  This was the best performing Saw movie, at the international box office, and the second best performing Saw movie at the United States box office (next to Saw II).

Saw IV (2007)

5th Scariest

Saw IV is the first movie in the franchise that starts to see a true drop in audience. It also becomes more about traps and the story line seems too in depth.  Many fans seem to claim that they do not enjoy the story as much at all. Even with a good twist, it’s still not as scary as the better half of the franchise.

Saw 3D: The Final Chapter (2010)

6th Scariest

No doubt that 3D movies are really cool. The special effects can be radical, however, 3D movies typically wind up being all about the visual effects and nothing more.  The story line felt a little lacking and the emphasis truly was only on 3D effects, rather than the terror that can be found in a single well-designed trap.  This movie was most expensive to produce and performed at the far low end of the Saw-revenue scale.  Given most of it was not scary at all, it has also earned a solid 6th place on the scariest list!

Saw V (2008)

7th Scariest

Saw V was okay, however, it drags the cast from the previous Saw movie through another grind and seems to underperform in all categories.  It did not do as well at the box office as its prequels and it is far from scary.  This movie ranks in at 7th scariest Saw movie in the series.

Saw VI (2009)

8th Scariest

Saw VI feels like it is dragging on and the traps feel redundant.  Most fans seem to care very little about the story line and this film greatly underperforms at the box office.  That said, it ends up being more about the torture and less about the fear, making this the least scariest Saw movie in the franchise.

Spiral (2021)

9th Scariest

This spin-off features a new Jigsaw copycat killer who targets corrupt police officers. While it introduces fresh elements, it lacks the consistent scariness of the earlier films, focusing more on suspense and crime thriller elements.

The Best Saw Movie For Scares

Illustration of the Jigsaw killer from the saw horror films

The Saw movies never seem to lack luster and they are always innovative.  It is never a bad decision to see a Saw movie. However, just like any other franchise and all competition: there is always a best and a worst. In the case of ‘Scariest Saw Movie Ever Made’, the original Saw movie takes the cake…hands down. The remaining Saw movies are wonderfully done in themselves, however, they are merely riding the tailcoats of the original masterpiece.

There is nothing like a good psychological scare like the one that lives in the original film.

Advertisements

Join "The Horror List" for Weekly Horror in your inbox






blank

Puzzle Box Presents Scary Urban Legend Video Series

Categories
Featured Haunted Places

Prepare to embark on a spine-tingling journey into the unknown as we unveil the darkest mysteries lurking within the shadows of urban legends. Today, we are thrilled to announce the launch of our scary Urban Legends short documentaries an electrifying video series that delves deep into the terrifying and enigmatic stories that have haunted our imaginations for generations.

Premiere video from the scary urban legends series from Sept 20th, 2024

In our series of spooky and unsettling urban legends viewers will be transported to the eerie heart of the scariest urban legends, where myths come to life and nightmares are born. Each episode of this gripping series will unravel the sinister tales of cursed objects, vengeful spirits, hauntings, and unsolved mysteries that have sent shivers down the spines of countless individuals. With a blend of expert research, bone-chilling reenactments, and discovered material with those who have encountered these legends firsthand, we promises an immersive experience that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Get ready to question reality and discover the truth behind the stories that have haunted our collective consciousness for years.

The first video “The Cropsey Maniac Urban Legend” premiered on youtube Sept 20th. Don’t miss your chance to join us on this hair-raising adventure into the world of urban legends. Brace yourself for the unexpected, and prepare to have your darkest fears brought to life as we uncover the chilling mysteries that have captivated and terrified us for generations.

You can follow our channel to get updates on the upcoming and new videos as they come out each month. Coming in October we have The Ghost Ship Jenny and The Beast of Bladenboro. Get ready to dive into the history of these legends and the different theories of what is happening in these dark corners of our world.

Advertisements

Join "The Horror List" for Weekly Horror in your inbox






blank

Evil Dead Rise – Blood Elevator Floor 666 Please

Categories
Best Of Best of Movies Featured Horror Reviews

Greetings horror fans, Puzzle Box Horror here with a review of the latest installment in the Evil Dead franchise, Evil Dead Rise. If you’re a fan of brutal violence, creative kills, dark humor, and gore, then this movie is a must-watch.

Alyssa Sutherland’s performance as possessed Ellie is otherworldly good. Her transition from caring single mother to bloody thirsty demon pays homage to the previous victims of the necronomicon. with her body language and movements being particularly unsettling post deadite transition. The effects, makeup, and prosthetics are all fantastic and stick to the more grounded practicals vs CGI. The gore is top-notch, with our lead deadite biting out a dude’s eye and spitting it into another guy’s mouth before yeeting a small child down the hallway. This was a no holds barred gore fest!

Evil Dead Rise strikes a perfect balance between being brutal AF and very messed up at times, while also being genuine to the franchise. There is less humor than the Bruce Campbell originals but it had it’s dark and snarky moments. It’s like the brutality of the Evil Dead 2013 remake mixed with hints of the bonkers style of the 1980’s originals.

Lily Sullivan’s performance as Beth is solid, and the film spares no one, not even the kids. The peephole shots are amazing, with some poor soul running across the hallway from one edge of the peephole to the other, with a deadite in hot pursuit, being particularly darkly comedic.

There are a few notable cameos and although we did not get Bruce Campbell directly as we might have hoped we got a chainsaw cameo and a shotgun cameo so we had at least 1/4 of Ash Williams in one shot. I’m still processing the redesign of the necronomicon cover, but either way the book plays its role with some really well done vinyl record additions.

blank

Another notable cameo is the blood elevator. A very well executed ode to Stanley Kubrick’s elevator scene in the 1980 horror classic “The Shining.” You could feel it coming like the wave of blood that ensued, but you were not disappointed when it delivered.

This standalone film is perfect for new viewers to the franchise, as there are no required carried-over characters or story threads to continue, making it very “new viewer friendly.” With that said there are enough ints you will miss if you have not seen the earlier movies. Evil Dead Rise is a simple, grounded, bloody, and terrifying installment that breathes new life into the franchise.

Lee Cronin has done an excellent job directing this movie, hitting that horror highway at top speed and never letting off the gas. Lily Sullivan announces herself as a new star in the horror genre, and Alyssa Sutherland steals the show with her fantastic performance.

Evil Dead Rise horror movie poster featuring a deadite woman

Overall, The Evil Dead franchise remains the most consistently awesome horror franchise in horror movie history. Evil Dead Rise is a helluva horror film and a must-watch for any horror fan.

Advertisements

Join "The Horror List" for Weekly Horror in your inbox






blank

Best Scary Costumes for This Halloween

Categories
Featured Lifestyle

Not shockingly we are more into the scary costumes for Halloween, or maybe it is shocking. At least we hope so! Halloween this year is sure to see some of the classic scary costumes. We had another Scream released, Halloween Kills, Texas Chainsaw Massacre and so many other great scary moves to use to inspire costumes this year. Let’s dig into our recommendations for scary costumes for this Halloween.

Krampus

I’m just not seeing enough Krampus out there each year. The anti Santa and nightmare fuel for European children dating back to something like 300 BC and here in the US since 2015. Krampus needs more representation this year and there are tons of Krampus options out there from the movie costumes to scary creative masks and full costumes. This is an old demon scene and although it takes a fair bit to pull it off there is no one way to do Krampus right so make it your own.

Check out some scary Krampus costume options here or click the images below.

blank
blank
blank

Ghostface

blank

Ghostface is one of those iconic and terrifying costumes and movie monsters. The killer(s) in Scream are literally wearing this now historic scary costume. This year there are several Ghostface variations and even child Ghostface costumes. Nothing sounds more frightening than being chased by 10 tiny Ghostfaces.

Get Ghostface costumes here

Cheddar Goblin

Cheddar Goblin Mask

From the Cult Classic Nic Cage Horror movies Mandy comes the Cheddar Goblin. It’s way scarier than it sounds. I mean what is more terrifying than Mac and Cheese and Goblins?

Bring home this green Cheddar Goblin Mask to your little goblins for a cheesy good time at dinner or for any occasion! Straight from the cult classic horror film Mandy, a Full overhead Mask that is comfortable and easy to wear. Great for use for Trick or Treating, Home Haunts, Haunted Houses, or any party! Could this also be Yoda’s evil macaroni eating twin brother quit possible!

Get the Cheddar Goblin mask here

Michael Meyers Halloween

blank

It’s never going to stop being scary. The dead facial expression. The immortal and unstoppable force of Michael Meyers. These Michael Meyers masks just keep getting more and more creepy each year. With another Halloween movie coming out just around the corner, you can rest assured this mask will instill fear in the neighborhood.

Get your Michael Meyers Masks here

Fulci Zombie

Based on one of the most iconic horror movies ever, Trick or Treat Studios is proud to present the Boat Zombie from the Lucio Fulci cult classic, “Zombie.” Pairs nicely with ripped up and bloody clothes. Outcomes are often screaming children and terrified neighbors. Isn’t that the point of scary costumes?

blank

You can get your own Fulci Zombie mask here

Lil Stevie the Sea Horse

blank

It’s the eyes that really do me in on this one. That and anything from the sea. Sea horror is just some of the scariest horror out there. The mouth moves on this oddly terrifying sea creature. Add some flippers or just a regular outfit and it’s sure to be a hit at that work party Halloween costume contest.

You can find this sea creature here.

Werewolf Full Costume

blank

It’s a classic and this one comes with everything you need, even the feet. Another mask with a moving mouth and the good folks and Zagone Studios who make this know how to create great costumes. This is one you can leave in your will to the grandkids. The Werewolf never goes out of style!

Get your werewolf costume here.

Aliens.. UV Aliens!

blank

We all got the memo that the government knows we got ourselves some aliens out there. Jordan Peele’s “Nope” really drives it home, see it if you have not yet!

UV Black Light Reactive Down to Earth Alien Costume Kit. A great alien mask that can double as an insect head that now reacts with black light. The Costume includes UV Reactive Down to Earth Mask, UV Green Skeleton Gloves and UV Green Skeletal Shroud. 

Become and alien here

Pinhead

blank

Hellraiser’s smartest and most diabolical demon from another astral plane – Pinhead! The classic played by Doug Bradley is sure to win the herts and souls of everyone you meet.

Get your Pinhead Mask here

So Many More Options

Our friends at Horror Hub Marketplace have thousands of costumes for the whole family and even some hand picked options for some of the scarier costumes. Get lost in the many masks, props, costumes and collectibles at Horror Hub. The sights you will see….

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Advertisements

Join "The Horror List" for Weekly Horror in your inbox






blank

Who is the Smartest Horror Movie Killer?

Categories
Featured Scary Movies and Series

HORROR MOVIE KILLER WITH THE HIGHEST IQ


When it comes to horror movie killers, some are simply smarter than others! As a horror fan, one realizes quickly that the variations between franchises and their villains can be widely diverse. Some horror movies feature hyper-intelligent killers who are able to outwit nearly any protagonist…keeping the audience’s jaw fixed to the floor. Other horror movies invite super dumb killers to the screen who chase their victims best, but with little to no cunning or wit at all! Ultimately, all horror movie killers can be ranked by IQ and their intelligence in kills. So who is the smartest horror movie killer?

Horror Movie Killers, Ranked by Intelligence (IQ)

Puzzle Box Horror has included the most notable killers along with their IQs per our expert opinion. Here is a complete list of our favorite horror movie slashers and killers ranked by intelligence!

Jigsaw [IQ: 158]

jigsaw with one of his genius traps
jigsaw in real life

Saw’s Jigsaw Killer, John Kramer is so smart that he continues to kill movie after movie, long after his autopsy where we see messages being extracted from his very corpse! One of the most influential factors which make Jigsaw the #1 Smartest Horror Movie Killer, is that he planned all of these additional killings (in one fashion or another) in advance of his own predicted death. If planning weren’t enough, Jigsaw’s traps absolutely reek of genius. He always manages to add a personal flair and the chance of painful retribution for his victims, ultimately making them the bringers of their own demise through choice.

Pinhead [IQ: 154]

what is pinhead's iq
how smart is pinhead

Clive Barker’s ingeniously sadistic Hellraiser series brought us one of the more recognizably stylish and unmistakably brutal of horror movie killers, Pinhead. Pinhead is an interesting entity; ominous and authoritative in speech and with a wide variety of demonic torture methods at his fingertips. Summoned with the Lemarchand Configuration, Pinhead draws from another realm entirely, making him far less restricted as a killer than someone of earthbound flesh. In all, Pinhead is one of the most powerful and intelligent killers on this list, with prospects of taking over the entire world!

The Zodiac Killer [IQ: 145]

Based on a real-life killer and told in meticulous detail (The producers even hired a private investigator to track down the real-life Zodiac survivor, Mike Mageau!) David Fincher’s Zodiac gives us a glimpse into a devious and cunning killer with an obsession with ciphers and cryptograms that he would send to the police, claiming that if they were not printed publicly then further killings would occur. The self-named Zodiac was never caught to this day, and some of his codes have yet to even be cracked!

Hannibal Lecter [IQ: 140]

Hannibal Lector's iq
how smart is Hannibal

Silence of the Lambs spawned Hannibal Lecter, a devious killer who is able to literally cut open someone’s skull, remove, cook and eat the victim’s brains, all right in front of their eyes! Hannibal is educated, assumes the identity of a doctor, and convinces others to kill and mutilate, making him a super manipulative killer, and the third most intelligent horror movie killer.

John Doe [IQ: 132]

David Fincher’s Se7en gave us one of the sharpest, and easily one of the downright creepiest killers to ever grace the screen with John Doe. As he plays out his master plan of sin-related carnage he stays two steps ahead of the pursuing detectives at all times, only appearing to them, and the audience, when he so chooses. Patient and methodical to a terrifying extent, John Doe is responsible for one of the most chilling endings to a horror film ever, and Kevin Spacey’s skin-crawling performance ensures he stays in your mind long after the credits roll.

Patrick Bateman [IQ: 125]

Mary Harron’s American Psycho is more a pitch-black deconstructive jab at yuppie culture than a straight-up slasher, though the gleefully psychotic centerpiece of this story, the sadistic Patrick Bateman, helps it tread confidently between the two. Patrick is cool, suave and sophisticated, wealthy enough to maintain an illusion of pure class while he satiates his bloodlust in the shadows. He seems to use serial killing as a form of self-improvement and while he is one of the more unstable entries on this list (see his reaction to a colleague’s superior business card for example) he is also one of the more successful and intelligent.

Freddy Krueger [IQ: 121]

Freddy Krueger with knife glove

Nightmare on Elm Street’s Freddy Krueger is a little predictable, but still puts on a really good show. Freddy pulls off a number of creative deaths and outsmarts a lot of really resourceful protagonists. One of the most important factors to consider, is that Freddy often comes back for victims that have survived the past movies, finding new ways to overcome and slay them. Freddy Krueger maintains a respectable 5th place when it comes to horror movie killer IQs!

Chucky [IQ: 111]

characters' myers briggs
Chucky

Child’s Play’s Chucky is a doll inhabited by a desperate fugitive serial killer, Charles Lee Ray. Charles is not too bright himself, often being outwitted or otherwise outdone by a child or other dimwit character. However, given the nature of most other horror movie killers, Chucky still rakes in a strong 6th place!

Ghostface [IQ: 102]

Ghost Face Horro rMovie Killer in his costume

Scream’s Ghostface killer ends up being two of the high school students involved in the plot from the start. Protagonist Sidney Prescott’s boyfriend (Billy) and her friend (Stu) are the killers, sharing the same outfit in order to manipulate the characters throughout the scenes faster and with less suspicion. Still, a team of high school killers hatch a plan smart enough to outscore a lot of the more traditional hack and slash jobs!

Michael Myers [IQ: 78]

what is michael myers iq
how smart is michael myers

Halloween’s Michael Myers has a variety of movies to showcase his intelligence, but he just doesn’t meet the bar! He is constantly outsmarted by characters that get away time and time again…most notably being Dr Loomis, who can be found in a number of Halloween movies constantly trying to reacquire and actually track Michael Myers.

Jason Voorhees [IQ: 69]

what is jason voorhees's iq
how smart is jason voorhees

Friday the 13th’s Jason Voorhees is portrayed as a disabled child in Freddy Vs Jason (2008) and has had several other references made throughout his films insinuating he is mentally challenged. He still manages to kill an astronomical amount of people rather quickly…probably because he is too stupid to play with his food!

Leatherface [IQ: 67]

Leatherface with his saw acting crazy and not so smart


Texas Chainsaw Massacre’s Leatherface wins the award for the most deranged killer, being that the character is literally mentally challenged. Leatherface is supposed to be the result of a redneck, Texas inbred family (referenced in some of the flicks themselves), who lives life by following family orders. Still, as low of an IQ as Leatherface might have, he is no less entertaining, finding ways to make the same types of kills interesting every time!

Final Word on Who is the Smartest Killer


Not all of the killers we see in horror flicks are slashers, making the running a lot harder for first place! There are many creative ways a smarter killer is able to showcase a death and a lot of these movies feature proof of exactly that!

Have a killer you’d like to see ranked? Leave your comment below and we’ll assess the monster/slasher and add them to the list!

Advertisements

Join "The Horror List" for Weekly Horror in your inbox






blank

Join The Horror List