The Saw movies are one of the most gruesome and sadistic horror franchises of them all! As much as the franchise focuses on the torture and suffering of its death scene victims…a few talented performers had their break out role in a Saw movie. Here are some of the most prominent actors and actresses which got their real start from dying in a Saw movie…
Leigh Whannell
Wayne is well known today for his roles in the Insidious franchise, among other films. Before Insidious, however, Leigh played Adam Faulkner-Stanheight in the original Saw movie…where all his magic began!
Erik Knudsen
The younger actor playing Detective Matthew’s son in Saw II, Erik Knudsen, saw a plethora of opportunities after his performance in the Jigsaw torture house! Being that Erik was only 16 at the time of the first Saw movie, he has had the opportunity to grow more diversely into the opportunities that have been presented. Some of Erik’s more recent work includes: Youth in Revolt (2009), Scott Pilgrim vs the World (2010), and Scream 4 (2011).
Shawnee Smith
Although Shawnee was known from the movie “The Blob” in 1988, it was not until she assumed her role of Amanda Young in the Saw franchise that she received mainstream success. Although she would receive many other roles in a number of other projects after the original Saw, she would also go on to play Amanda 3 more times in Saw II, Saw III and Saw VI.
Tobin Bell
There may be a little hesitation in adding Tobin Bell to this list, as he did have a huge acting history before Saw (dating all the way back to 1979, in fact). Truth be told, however, most of Tobin’s roles were uncredited or too insignificant to land him mainstream publicity. Playing John Kramer (aka Jigsaw) in Saw (2004), nearly 25 years after his first movie role, landed Tobin his international fame and household recognition status. Tobin would reap continued success from the Saw franchise for years to come.
Michael Emerson
Michael is another actor who had many roles before Saw, but did not seem to achieve mainstream success until making an appearance in Saw. After his role in the first Saw movie, Emerson would be picked up for a number of big projects and lead roles including: 4 seasons of Lost (TV), 5 seasons of Person of Interest (TV), and even the Joker in the 2013 Batman movie!
Final Notes
The Saw franchise is most notorious for the torture devices and creepy Jigsaw killer (doll included). Although the number of actors and actresses which get funneled through the death scenes is rather large, very few of the faces seem to turn up mainstream success afterwards. Still, the movies are made in an extremely realistic fashion and all actors or actresses who die a Jigsaw death deserve a round of applause!
Tritone’s love of horror and mystery began at a young age. Growing up in the 80’s he got to see some of the greatest horror movies play out in the best of venues, the drive-in theater. That’s when his obsession with the genre really began—but it wasn’t just the movies, it was the games, the books, the comics, and the lore behind it all that really ignited his obsession. Tritone is a published author and continues to write and write about horror whenever possible.
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 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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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!
Tritone’s love of horror and mystery began at a young age. Growing up in the 80’s he got to see some of the greatest horror movies play out in the best of venues, the drive-in theater. That’s when his obsession with the genre really began—but it wasn’t just the movies, it was the games, the books, the comics, and the lore behind it all that really ignited his obsession. Tritone is a published author and continues to write and write about horror whenever possible.
The scary little tricycle riding puppet from the Saw movies, more formally known as ‘Billy the Puppet’ is one of the most terrifying props used throughout the franchise. His oversized head and creepy eyes let the Saw victims and the audience know that danger is imminent. Usually Billy is around to explain to the victims why they are in the trap to begin with and the general rules of the game. He also tells people how to survive the games. James Wan (the original Saw director) did a great job making the puppet from scratch himself. However, many Saw fans still want to know, who plays Billy the Puppet as far as casting goes (what real life actor is credited with Billy the Puppet)? Who is the Billy the Puppet voice in Saw?
Tobin Bell Voices Billy the Puppet
Billy the Puppet is very diabolical in appearance. But the news the puppet has to relay is much scarier! That said, the actual voice used for the puppet to speak to the victims about the traps they are in…is all Tobin! He is the complete villain package, both playing the vigilante-style sympathetic killer that is John Kramer (the Jigsaw killer), as well as being able to voice his own accomplice-puppet!
Tobin Bell is a very talented actor. Whether he is showing face on the screen itself or simply loaning his voice, he knows how to captivate the audience with the power of his presence. He is without a doubt the PERFECT Jigsaw slasher for the Saw movies! And Billy the Puppet has been an excellent partner to Jigsaw. They are truly a very good fit, and thus, it is only appropriate that the Saw puppet is voiced by Tobin himself.
Final Notes About Billy the Puppet
Rusty wheels on a little red tricycle. White gloves to match an eerie white, humanoid-like face. Black unkempt hair and a mechanical mouth that moves as the killer speaks. Billy the Puppet stands out as one of the most horrifying props used by a horror movie killer to date! And it even has the scariest voice to match…thanks to Tobin Bell, the voice of Billy the Puppet!
Tritone’s love of horror and mystery began at a young age. Growing up in the 80’s he got to see some of the greatest horror movies play out in the best of venues, the drive-in theater. That’s when his obsession with the genre really began—but it wasn’t just the movies, it was the games, the books, the comics, and the lore behind it all that really ignited his obsession. Tritone is a published author and continues to write and write about horror whenever possible.
Ever heard the expression “bigger isn’t always better?” Well, Child’s Play director and writers believed that “bigger isn’t always scarier!” And they were right, as Child’s Play movies and the Chucky doll have been scaring horror fans for decades! The real fear created by the Child’s Play movies is two-fold, as seen from the perspective of either an adult or a child. Children expect their toys (especially dolls resembling human beings) to be friendly and fun to play with. Parents expect their children’s toys to be safe and harmless. A killer doll that has been gifted to your child, who only interacts with the child in secret is bad news. It’s much worse when that doll convinces or uses your child to do bad things.
Why Did Chucky Pick Such a Small, Incapable Doll?
Most Child’s Play fans have wondered: Why didn’t Chucky Possess a Different Doll?
Unfortunately for Charles Lee Ray, the serial killer responsible for the voodoo possession ritual, selection was rather slim. At the time of the possession, Charles was desperate and on the run, evading imminent capture and likely death for his murders. Should he have had the chance to choose any doll, he likely would have chose a life-size version of Jason Voorhees, considering the Friday the 13th series had already been released for about 8 years. Instead, however, his options were limited and he only had the ability to possess a simple “Good Guy Doll.” The Good Guy Doll was a really popular toy in the movie and gave Chucky a lot of great chances to blend in with the commonplace and really lower his victims’ guards.
Besides, the doll becomes more and more like the grungy-looking Charles Lee Ray we know from his human serial killer days, picking up tears, scars and grime that better fit the character of a slasher.
Behind the Scenes: Why Not Pick a Scarier Doll?
The idea that a regular toy a child and parents alike could trust that had so wildly saturated the toy industry marketplace to the point everybody wanted one made for a strongly vulnerable scenario. At the time of the first Child’s Play movie in 1988, a popular chain of dolls had already hit the market in real life: the My Buddy doll. These dolls were so popular nearly everyone had one, despite the fact they were creepy as hell! Child’s Play writer, Don Mancini, admitted that these My Buddy dolls were his inspiration for the killer that is infamously known as Chucky today. In fact, the original script even called the killer “Buddy” instead, though it was not usable due to the real-life dolls flooding the toy industry. Combining Raggedy Ann, Raggedy Andy and My Buddy concepts, the Chucky doll designer Kevin Yagher was able to create the Chucky look we are familiar with. The size never seemed to be an issue, and the writer and team appear to have relied on the psychological facets of horror instead, choosing to maintain the small size of the My Buddy doll while creating their horror slasher, Chucky. In fact, the Chucky doll’s small size contributes to the horrible fact he could be hiding anywhere!
Final Notes About Chucky and Child’s Play
The size of the doll in the Chucky films is by no means a measurement of the terror invoked by its presence on screen! And while Charles may not have chosen Chucky out of a wide selection of dolls, the small stature had plenty of advantages. After all, Chucky may be small but he is a thoroughly creepy doll who has the ability to strike fear into the heart of nearly any viewer!
Tritone’s love of horror and mystery began at a young age. Growing up in the 80’s he got to see some of the greatest horror movies play out in the best of venues, the drive-in theater. That’s when his obsession with the genre really began—but it wasn’t just the movies, it was the games, the books, the comics, and the lore behind it all that really ignited his obsession. Tritone is a published author and continues to write and write about horror whenever possible.
How to Escape and Survive a Real Life Michael Myers
Michael Myers is one of the scariest figures in the horror slasher genre…and has claimed one of the highest horror movie killer body counts of them all! He is ominous, seemingly immortal and possesses terrifying presence! What if Michael Myers were chasing you throughout his childhood home? What if you found yourself at a hospital late at night alongside Laurie Strode? What if you found yourself in Haddonfield on Halloween?
Would You Survive Michael Myers In Real Life?
Horror Enthusiast has created the Michael Myers Survival Points system in order to track your progress during a real life Michael Myers escape. Making favorable decisions earns you positive points, while making mistakes may cost you your points (or much worse!).
You start out with Zero (0) points, unless your last name is “Myers” or “Strode,” in which case you start out with negative five (-5) points!
After you complete the quiz and tally up your score, you will be able to determine whether you would be likely to survive a real life Michael Myers chase or be the next resident of the Haddonfield cemetery!
Weapon to Use Against Michael Myers
Most survivors are not strong enough by themselves, thus a weapon in a horror movie is an invaluable asset. Michael Myers almost always has a large kitchen knife which can be seen gleaming in the background as he stalks his a victim. Having a weapon has sometimes helped a Michael Myers survivor find their way to safety. You may choose one (1) weapon to use against Michael Myers to aid your survival!
If you would attempt to inject Michael with a powerful sedative that would knock him out instantly, add 8 points to your score.
If you would choose to use a knife or piece of broken glass against Michael, add 10 points to your score.
If you would attempt to hit Michael with a car or other vehicle, add 12 points to your score.
If you would attempt to knock Michael out with a piece of furniture or other heavy object, add 15 points to your score.
If you would attempt to shoot Michael with a pistol or a shotgun, add 8 points to your score.
If you would attempt to wrestle Michael’s knife out of his hands to use against him, add 6 point to your score.
If you choose to avoid an encounter, do not modify your score.
Hiding Place When Running From Michael Myers
It is impossible for nearly all survivors to run indefinitely…although the slashers seem to have endless streams of energy. Hiding is therefore essential to a good survival plan, and where you hide against Michael Myers matters. Michael is an expert at hide and go seek, so choose carefully! You may choose one (1) hiding place to help you survive a real life Michael Myers chase!
If you would choose to hide in an inoperable vehicle, add 9 points to your score.
If you would choose to hide in a barn, add 12 points to your score.
If you would choose to hide under a desk or table, add 15 points to your score.
If you would choose to hide in a dumbwaiter, add 5 points to your score.
If you would choose to hide in a closet, add 9 points to your score.
If you would never choose to hide, do not modify your score.
Escape Routes to Escape Michael Myers
Although Michael’s total body count is rather high, some survivors still slip through to the end and go on to live for a sequel! Most of the victims have tried to escape, but their escape route turns out to be a poor choice against “The Shape.” Those who get away typically have to run for a while and require a collaboration of creative escape routes to survive. You may choose two (2) escape routes in order to create your preferred combination for survival!
If you would attempt to get into a car, knowing the keys are inside, and drive away from Michael, add 10 points to your score.
If you would choose to call 911 and wait it out in hiding within a building (hospital, school, etc), add 7 points to your score.
If you would choose to jump from a two story window, without knowing what was below, add 10 points to your score.
If you would attempt to seriously incapacitate or kill Michael Myers in order to escape, add 15 points to your score.
If you would choose to trap Michel Myers in any way (with a car, with a heavy object, with a noose trap, etc), add 15 points to your score.
Ways to Die Against Michael Myers
There are a lot of mistakes to be made when a horror movie slasher is chasing you. Michael Myers is a lot less tolerant of mistakes and will typically seize these opportunities to slay his victims. Unfortunately, these common mistakes will diminish the chance of survival!
Assuming He Is Dead
Many characters make the mistake of assuming Michael Myers is dead at one point or another. This is a recurring theme, and one that winds up being fatal for many characters. Whether it is hell reincarnated in human form, simple supernatural powers, Michael Myers does not seem to die.
If you would approach Michael Myers while he lay still in front of you, seemingly dead, with any reason other than to do him immediate harm, subtract 25 points from your score!
Celebrating Halloween
Almost all of Michael’s victims celebrated to some extent. Some victims even went trick or treating! Michael only seems to be interested in killing on Samhain (Halloween day itself), and thus, those out and about celebrating Halloween are at greater risk!
If you are a Halloween lover, subtract 25 points from your score!
Having Intercourse
Like many other horror slashers of his generation, Michael loves to kill those who are in a …compromising position! People who become intimate in the Halloween movies are at an increased risk for becoming part of Michael’s never ending body count.
If you would find yourself in an intimate, ‘compromising position’ on Halloween day, subtract 20 points from your score!
Protecting a Potential Victim
There are a lot of kills that did not have to happen! Michael Myers oftentimes has to tear through a few unnecessary deaths in order to reach his true intended victim. Because Michael is seeking out his family, those who stand in the way to protect or defend the targets, usually die themselves.
If you feel you would stand up for one of Michael’s families, a Strode or a Myers, subtract 15 points from your score!
Curse of the Working Man
Michael Myers is a very mobile slasher, and finds his way around in order to reach his targets. Unfortunately, this means killing a lot of innocent people along the way who are key in him working his way to his victims. He will kill doctors, nurses, paramedics, police, attendants, mechanics, and more.
If you have a job that involves helping others in any way (in person), you might come into contact with Michael Myers by sheer chance (bad luck), so subtract 10 points from your score!
Did You Survive Michael Myers?
Tallying up your Michael Myers Survival Points will indicate your likelihood of surviving a real life encounter with Michael Myers.
+10 points…………… HIGH LIKELIHOOD OF SURVIVAL
4 to 9 points………… POSSIBLE CHANCE OF SURVIVAL
0 to 3 points………… SLIM CHANCE OF SURVIVAL
-9 to -1 points……… PROBABLY DEAD ON ARRIVAL
-19 to -10 points……DEFINITE DEATH
Below -20 points…. DIED BEFORE EVEN SEEING HIM
Remember, Michael has killed a lot of people and not all of them have realized what was happening until it was too late. Many people mistake him for a peer, and many people believe he can be tamed. Michael’s kill count continues to go up, although nearly every kill has been spectacular.
Tritone’s love of horror and mystery began at a young age. Growing up in the 80’s he got to see some of the greatest horror movies play out in the best of venues, the drive-in theater. That’s when his obsession with the genre really began—but it wasn’t just the movies, it was the games, the books, the comics, and the lore behind it all that really ignited his obsession. Tritone is a published author and continues to write and write about horror whenever possible.
Join "The Horror List" for Weekly Horror in your inbox
Recent Posts
Join The Horror List
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
