FAQ for
Saw V (2008) More at IMDbPro »

The following FAQ entries may contain spoilers. Only the biggest ones (if any) will be covered with spoiler tags. Spoiler tags are used sparingly in order to make the page more readable.

For detailed information about the amounts and types of (a) sex and nudity, (b) violence and gore, (c) profanity, (d) alcohol, drugs, and smoking, and (e) frightening and intense scenes in this movie, consult the IMDb Parents Guide for this movie. The Parents Guide for Saw V can be found here.

No. Saw V is the fifth movie in the Saw series, all of which stem from a screenplay by Australian screenwriter Leigh Whannell. Saw V was co-written by screenwriters Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan.

There isn't much difference. We discover that some of Saw V takes place between the ending of Saw III & Saw IV and the autopsy. So to an extent it is similar to Saw III and Saw IV running parallel. In addition, it has traps, it has games, so once again, not much difference. One complaint that some fans have, though, is that this movie centers more around expanding the story than the gore in the film itself. Keep in mind that it is still a Saw film, and the traps often lead to bloody, violent deaths, but the film focuses more on adding depth and clarity to the series and it's characters.

A lot of theories deal with this. One major one is that not only is the autopsy scene after Saw IV, but after Saw V as well. Here's the order of things that we can guess: (1) Hoffman traps Strahm in the sick room / Strahm gets stuck in the head box trap and escapes, (2) Hoffman is promoted / Strahm continues investigating the "accomplice".(3) Hoffman finally gets Strahm where he wants him, and not only frames him, but kills him as well.(4) After Strahm's "disappearance"/crushing and Hoffman's escape in the glass box, the autopsy on Jigsaw is performed.(5) Hoffman gets the call, arrives at the morgue, plays the tape. The games have just begun. Another "clue" is that the end credits music for Saw V is "Just Begun" from Saw IV, the music that plays when Hoffman first arrives at the morgue and plays the tape at the beginning of IV. Overall, these are just theories, as usual in the Saw series. However, even Jigsaw himself says that "all the pieces will come together."

The final game takes place in the basement of the house from Saw and Saw II. The house has been fixed up and redone. When Strahm enters the basement a blood trail is visible leading up to the door where the bathroom from the original Saw is located.

In the neck tie trap they each had the same lock, meaning one key could open all locks. This would allow one person to help all the others and escape. In the jar/bomb room there was enough room for two people in each of the tunnels, no need to sell one player out. The electric bath tub is best explained like this: the five would hold hands while holding the electric cables. The electricity would run through each victim, providing only a small shock to each, but not enough to do any severe damage other than a mild burn to the hand. The five-saw trap contained five openings on the device, an opening for each player. Blood from all five players would make ten pints quicker and less pain. In the end, five become one means, the five become one team. Not, start out as five players and one survives.

Hoffman's sister was murdered by her boyfriend. Hoffman finds and kills him but makes it look like a Jigsaw trap. Jigsaw confronts him and offers to show him how to truly help somebody, or if Hoffman doesn't and continues to pursue him he will let everybody know what Hoffman did.

At this time it is unknown but there has been behind the scenes footage released on the internet that shows a scene of Jill standing in a hallway with the secret box open next to her and photos of people lined up on the wall, she then says to Hoffman, "I know who you are". This does not determine that she wrote the note but it is most likely, although three different people did say to Hoffman in SAW V that they know who he is. These people are Jigsaw, Strahm, and Jill. This behind the scenes footage will either be shown on the directors cut of Saw V or seen in Saw VI

Julie Benz "Brit"- Real estate developer who paid Mallick to burn down the building even though they knew there were still 8 people inside.

Megan Good "Luba"- City planner who took bribes from clients to go forward with buildings, even if they weren't safe.

Carlo Rota "Charles" - Investigative journalist who was writing a story on the whole building fire incident and was paid to bury it.

Greg Byrk "Mallick" - Rich kid who was bribed with drugs by a drug dealer to set the building on fire. The drug dealer could possibly be Xavier, as Mallick says he disappeared after.

Laura Gordon "Ashley" - Fire inspector, bribed to write a fake accident report.

This is unclear but John described it as a "grave matter" and Jill looked very serious when she looked inside. One thing that could possibly be in the box is the evidence that proves Hoffman is the real accomplice. In the scene where Hoffman first meets Jigsaw, Jigsaw tells Hoffman that if Hoffman kills him that he has all the information that proves Hoffman was involved with the "Pendulum trap" and he will have it released following Jigsaw's disappearance. This could mean that he left all of this information for Jill for her to do with it what she wants. As he says, "I trust you will know what to do with it." Another thing that could also be in the box is the test for Hoffman. At the end of Saw IV, Hoffman finds the tape in Jigsaw's stomach which promises that Hoffman will not go untested and that Jigsaw's work will continue. And seeing that the autopsy scene still has not happened by the end of Saw V, it is possible that there will be a tape or video for Jill to give to Hoffman that will be his test. That would explain the reason she looked so serious because she saw a tape recorder in the box.

There is behind-the-scenes footage of Jill standing in a hallway next to the box. All around Jill are photos of different people. So even though we still do not know all the contents of this box, it is possible that the photos came from the box and Jill hung them up.

This scene may not have happened yet just like the autopsy. Jill had the key around her neck when she went to talk to Erickson.

This is addressed in Saw VI.

The American DVD's have been Released on January 20th, these are the versions: 1. Standard dvd with no features. 2. Unrated Edition loaded with features (Featurettes, Two Commentaries, Added Footage, and more), 3. Unrated Collectors Edition has the same features as the Unrated Directors Cut but has a Special Packaging and a button to push at the front and the with a Saw that turns in result of the Button Push. 4. Unrated 2-Disc Blu ray with digital copy you can use to play Saw V on your computer or IPod.

The UK DVD's are going to be release on March 9th, these are the versions: 1. Extreme Edition DVD with features (5 Featuretts, 2 Commentaries) 2. Extreme Edition Blu-ray with features (Added Footage, 5 Featuretts, 2 Commentaries)

The Australian DVD's are to be released on March 11th, these are the versions: 1. Uncut Version with features (5 Featuretts, 2 Commentaries) 2. Uncut Blu-ray (5 Featuretts, 2 Commentaries, Added Footage)

No. Many people have thought there were two tape players. One in the glass coffin which told Strahm to get in the box and the other "hidden" under the box which stated that he should have gotten in the box. But this isnt the case, the entire message was on one tape. Its just Strahm stopped the tape when he heard Hoffman coming towards the room and then Hoffman signaled him to play/finish the tape.

Yes there are at least 4 twists and the main twist, well a twist that has the "Hello Zepp" music playing in the background, is however very predictable. These are the twists:

1: Agent Strahm should have entered the glass coffin trap to survive and he didn't so the walls come in and crush him, killing him while Hoffman escapes in the glass box below. The Trap was the only safe place. Ironically, Strahm's actions cause him to save the man he had been pursuing the entire movie, and he ends up causing his own demise.

2: Agent Strahm has been pinned as Jigsaw's second apprentice by police and has been issued with an APB and with no trace of him Hoffman can now go untested, or so he thinks. (MAIN TWIST). Strahm's tape has Hoffman saying "Will you heed my warning? For if not, this room will forever be your tomb. And my legacy will become yours," meaning Strahm will be the assumed apprentice of Jigsaw, tarnishing his legacy.

3: The "Five Become One" trap was meant for all of them to work together not survival of the fittest. Each trap was meant for them to work as a team and Five will become one meant that 5 people will become a team of one. No one was meant to die.

4: Jill Tuck has helped Jigsaw in some way and the box is something big. Jill helped Hoffman or jigsaw frame Strahm. Jill said to Erickson that Strahm was following her when he wasn't. Behind the scenes footage show Jill standing in a hallway with pictures on the wall saying to Hoffman "I know who you are." (a twist that isn't implied well). [Later edit: This is not so much a twist as it is a theory for some events that could be explored in Saw VI.]

It wouldn't work. Without the woman being alive with her heart pumping, her blood wouldn't be able to flow out of her body. Unless her body could be hung, where gravity could assist, the best they would do is a fraction of a pint. In addition, by the time Brit and Mallick are through figuring out they were suppose to work together, the timer was almost out and the bombs would have exploded in that room before they could unclamp her and drag her body out of the bathtub. Not to mention, her body was electrocuted, severely, after her death. This would have fried a lot of her blood.

No, Hoffman and Strahm were the only two shown to get out of the warehouse alive. Also, Rigg's picture was up in the press conference as one of the cops that died in the pursuit of apprehending Jigsaw. Erikson also says that 2 dead cops were found at the Gideon Plant, which could only mean Eric and Rigg.

It is generally believed that the house that Strahm goes in towards the end of this movie while he is pursuing Hoffman is the same house from Saw II where the games took place. The house looks exactly the same as the interior of Saw II except it's cleaned up and fully furnished. And of course there is the similar trap door that indicates they are the same place.

Hoffman is portrayed to be the anonymous apprentice in Saw V, which would imply that Amanda does not know about him. Although it is pointed out in Saw IV that Hoffman must have lifted Kerry into the trap and therefore Amanda must know that someone else is helping Jigsaw, it does not indicate she knows Hoffman is involved. Amanda doesn't necessarily know there is another appretice because Art Blanc, the man who was being forced to help as a part of his test in Saw IV, could have done those things that Hoffman did, or she could have been led to believe by Jigsaw that he did. The idea that Hoffman's identity was kept secret from even Amanda is backed up by Hoffman having a secret entrance to the sick room, and leaving before Amanda comes in with Lynn, and Jigsaw telling Hoffman he now has, "...the ultimate gift of anonymity." However, whether or not she knows there is an additional accomplice, or that Hoffman is that accomplice, is unconfirmed, and may possibly be further explored in Saw VI.

The pen was left in his pocket on purpose as the means of surviving the game. This is shown with the view of the rest of Strahm's belongings being left in sight on the barrel. It has also been confirmed by the cast at Sawmania. It was said to be the same pen that John Kramer (Jigsaw) has in his possession in Saw IV. However, Strahm does state that the trap was constructed for his execution and that everyone was supposed to die, leaving Hoffman the "last man standing"; which hints at the idea that the pen was in fact left in his pocket by accident. But this is merely Strahm speculating on the situation. He has no way of actually knowing.

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How is Mark before Paul on the victim list, if the penlight is given to Hoffman while they are setting up Paul's trap?

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It must have been absent on the first discovery of Marks scene. Hoffman would've had to plant it later. Most likely in a spot that could've easily been missed.

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Also, the victim list only shows Cecil and Mark being before Seth, but neither of them had a video with Billy, so how did Hoffman get the video for Seth's game?

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These are the first six victims listed on the victim list:

1.) Cecil Fletcher(Knife Chair)

2.) Mark Wilson(Candle/Safe)

3.) Seth Baxter(Pendulum)

4.) Paul Leary(Razor Wire)

5.) Amanda Young(Reverse Bear Trap)

6.) Donnie Greco(Question Mark Man in Reverse Bear Trap game)

THIS IS A THEORY

They could've found Cecils body with the puzzle piece taken out, labeled the killer the "Jigsaw Killer" and labeled Cecil his first victim.

Amanda could've been tested before Mark and Paul. But since she didn't die, there was no puzzle piece cut from her. When she originally came forward about what happened to her, they couldn't have officially labeled her a Jigsaw victim. But probably assumed.

Then they find Mark's body, with the puzzle piece cutout. He is declared the second Jigsaw victim. But, the penlight couldn't have been there on this first discovery.

Then they find Seth with the puzzle piece cutout and the same type of tape, with the puppet "Billy" explaining the rules, that Amanda would have described to them, and would've found at her scene. He is falsely declared the third Jigsaw victim.

Then they find Paul's scene. He is declared the fourth Jigsaw victim.

Whether before or after discovering Paul's scene, makes no difference, Hoffman must've gone back to Mark's scene and planted the penlight.

With further investigation, because of the connection between the puzzle piece and the tape in Seths trap, Amanda and Donnie are finally labeled the fifth and sixth Jigsaw victims.

So the actually timeline would be:

Cecil is tested, dies, is discovered, and is declared the 1st victim.

Amanda is tested, survives, goes to the police, but the perpetrator is unclear.

Mark is tested, dies, is discovered, declared the 2nd Jigsaw victim.

Seth is tested, dies, is discovered, and is falsely declared the 3rd Jigsaw victim.

Hoffman is captured by the real Jigsaw and is turned into an apprentice.

Paul is tested and dies.

Hoffman plants the penlight at Mark's scene. (Again, whether before or after Paul's discovery, makes no difference)

Paul's body is discovered, is declared the 4th Jigsaw victim.

Through further investigation, links are found between Amanda's case and other Jigsaw victims. She and Donnie are finally declared the 5th and 6th Jigsaw victims.

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The stomach is a muscular sac that can contain about 1.5 litres of fluid." Source

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1.5 litres equals about .4 gallons. There were two five gallon bottles dumped into that box. The box itself doesn't appear to be big enough to hold all ten gallons. So there must've been some water still stored in the tubes that drain into the box. It would be impossible for him to drink enough of the water to lower the level enough to get his nose above the water. Also, he would have had no way of knowing whether the water was actually drinkable.

The Saw V standard edition (Rated R) is the exact same Saw V you saw in theaters. The Saw V Uncut (Director's Cut) edition has some scenes added and some taken out. Also, the director's cut has some scenes moved around. The two things that were removed was Pamela Jenkin's line, "Why isn't this a joint press conference with the FBI?" and the scene where Jill recieves the box is slightly edited, the line where he askes her what is in the box is removed. The things that were added: (1) an extended and gorier version of the Pendulum trap, including a line by Seth Baxter, "I did what I was supposed to"; (2) an extended water box trap; (3) an extended bath tub scene; (4) an extended, gorier final trap of the Fatal Five; (5) more conversation between Mallick and Brit, including lines that confirm Mallick's arm was burned, not full of needle marks, as some previously assumed; and (6) an extended and gorier ending where Strahm is crushed. A detailed comparison between the theatrical version and the Unrated Director's Cut can be found here.

Mallick dies, but Brit survives.