John Kramer (Jigsaw)

John Kramer

John Kramer, also known as The Jigsaw Killer or simply Jigsaw, is a fictional character in the Saw franchise. He is the main antagonist of Saw, Saw II, Saw III, and Saw IV, one of the two main antagonists of Jigsaw, the posthumous overall antagonist of Saw V, Saw VI, and Saw 3D, and a posthumous background antagonist of Spiral. Overall, John serves as the main antagonist of the franchise, with the exception of Saw X, where he is the protagonist.

Information

Alias(s): Jigsaw Johnny Occupation: Civil engineer Architect Serial Killer (Jigsaw) Age: 52 Current status: Dead Cause of death: Cutting the jugular with a circular saw by Jeff Denlon Family: Jill Tuck† (ex-wife) Gideon Kramer† (son) unknown nephew First appearance: Saw Last appearance: Saw X

Personality

1. **Intelligent:** John is extremely intelligent and resourceful. His ability to create complex traps and design testing scenarios is a testament to his analytical mind. 2. **Manipulator:** Jigsaw is a master at manipulating his victims. He often presents them with moral dilemmas that force them to confront their own flaws and past decisions. 3. **Moralist:** Although his methods are violent and extreme, John operates under his own moral code. He believes that his trials can teach people—through pain and suffering—to value life more and change for the better. 4. **Vengeful:** Although he does not seek revenge in a conventional manner, his desire to make others endure suffering can be seen as a form of punishment towards those he perceives as not valuing his life. 5. **Loner:** Throughout the series, John is often shown to be alone in his beliefs and methods, reflecting his emotional and social isolation. 6. **Tragic:** His life story and illnesses, as well as the losses he has suffered, add a layer of tragedy to his character, which may make some viewers feel empathy for him, despite his crimes.

Appearance

1. **Physical:** John Kramer is a middle-aged man, usually portrayed as thin and of average height. As the series progresses, his health deteriorates, which is reflected in his appearance. 2. **Face:** He has a pale and gaunt face, especially in the later installments of the series, due to his terminal illness. His features are angular, and his expression often appears serious or contemplative. 3. **Hair:** He has gray hair and usually wears it short and disheveled. 4. **Eyes:** John's eyes are dark and often convey an intense, penetrating look, reflecting his calculating nature and determination. 5. **Clothing:** He usually dresses in a formal and sober manner, frequently with a black jacket and a white shirt, which gives him an air of mystery and authority. On some occasions, he is also seen wearing a more elegant suit, which reinforces his meticulous personality. 6. **Jigsaw Mask:** Although he doesn't wear it all the time, Jigsaw is shown wearing an iconic doll-like mask with red cheeks in several films. This mask has become a symbol associated with both the character and the franchise.

History

### **1. Saw (2004)** The story begins with John Kramer, an engineer and game designer, who is diagnosed with terminal cancer. After receiving the news, John begins to reflect on life and death, feeling disappointed by the way people do not value life. After an unsuccessful suicide attempt, he decides to create a macabre moral game: putting people in extreme situations where they must fight for their survival, forcing them to face their own lives and value what they have. In the first film, a man named Adam is kidnapped along with another man, Lawrence Gordon. Both are trapped in a bathroom and must follow the rules of the Jigsaw "game" in order to survive. As the plot unfolds, John Kramer's story is revealed through flashbacks, including his relationship with his ex-wife, Jill Tuck, who had been by his side during his battle with cancer. ### **2. Saw II (2005)** In this installment, Jigsaw is captured by the police, led by Detective Eric Matthews. While being interrogated, John reveals that he has placed a group of people in a house of deadly games. Eric's son Daniel is also among them. Jigsaw manipulates everyone into facing their own sins and ultimately attempts to prove that even those in desperate situations can find ways to redemption. The film explores more of Jigsaw's story and his relationship with Jill. ### **3. Saw III (2006)** The third film focuses on Jigsaw's battle with cancer and his relationship with Amanda Young, one of his first "students." Jigsaw is in critical condition and needs head surgery. In this film, John also puts a doctor, Lynn Denlon, in a situation where she must keep him alive while at the same time facing trials from other individuals, including a man named Jeff, who seeks revenge for the death of his son.

The film delves into the true nature of Jigsaw's tests, which are not just about torture, but about moral teachings. In the end, Amanda betrays Jigsaw, leading to his death. Lynn is killed by Amanda, leaving John devastated. ### **4. Saw IV (2007)** The fourth film takes place parallel to the events of the third. It is revealed that Jigsaw has left behind a wealth of material for his legacy to continue. This film introduces a new character, SWAT officer Rigg, who becomes Jigsaw's next target. Through a series of trials, Rigg must learn about the importance of life and death. The film features flashbacks from Jigsaw's life, showing how his transformation into Jigsaw took place and the importance of Jill in his life. ### **5. Saw V (2008)** In “Saw V,” the story centers on FBI Agent Mark Hoffman, who is revealed to be Jigsaw’s apprentice who has been implementing his methods following John’s death. Hoffman faces the pressure of keeping his identity hidden while dealing with other characters who are being tested. This film explores how Hoffman and his relationship with Jigsaw differ, highlighting the legacy John left behind and his true purpose. ### **6. Saw VI (2009)** The sixth film continues the story of Hoffman and his fight against the authorities. It is established that the franchise has changed drastically with Hoffman's new methods, which have been influenced by Jigsaw's original focus on life and redemption. In this film, it introduces William Easton, an insurance executive who faces tests designed by Jigsaw that focus on his work ethics and the choices he has made in his life.

### **7. Saw 3D (Saw VII) (2010)** This installment focuses on the fallout from Hoffman's actions and how his relationship with the police intensifies. A character named Bobby Dagen, a Jigsaw survivor, tries to capitalize on his experience, but finds himself caught up in a new series of trials. The film ends with a confrontation between Hoffman and the true survivor of the Jigsaw legacy: Jill Tuck, concluding with Hoffman's death. ### **8. Jigsaw (2017)** Jigsaw comes back to life years after the events of "Saw VII," leading police to question whether he really died. A new group of people are caught up in a game that seems to be connected to Jigsaw's methods. The film introduces new characters and twists, revealing that Jigsaw's methods have continued despite his apparent death, suggesting that his legacy lives on. ### **9. Spiral: From the Book of Saw (2021)** This film is billed as a sort of reboot and expansion of the Saw universe. Starring Chris Rock and Samuel L. Jackson, the plot centers on a new killer who uses Jigsaw's methods while targeting police. While not focuses on John Kramer, exploring his legacy through the effects of his work on the world. A new detective team is introduced to investigate crimes connected to the figure of Jigsaw. ### **10. Saw X (2023)** The tenth film, “Saw X,” is a prequel set between the events of “Saw” and “Saw II.” It explores John Kramer’s past in Mexico, where he seeks treatment for his cancer and encounters fraudulent treatments. . The film delves into John's story, his philosophy and his motivation behind the games he designs. This film offers a more humanizing look at the character, showing him in his struggle for life and his desire to teach people to value life. life through extreme but meaningful trials.

Relations

### 1. **Amanda Young** Amanda is perhaps the most significant relationship for John Kramer. Introduced in "Saw" as a survivor of one of his early games, Amanda becomes his apprentice and loyal follower. Throughout the series, it is revealed that John chose her because of her personal history of drug abuse and her struggle with life. Through Amanda, John attempts to convey his philosophy of valuing life, though their relationship is complicated and marked by emotional manipulation. As the series progresses, Amanda is seen to begin to distance herself from John's ideals, causing tensions between them. ### 2. **Jill Tuck** Jill is John Kramer's ex-wife and a pivotal character in his life. Their relationship shows John's human side before he became Jigsaw. Jill experienced the pain of losing her son in an accident, which intensified John's transformation and his philosophy. As the story progresses, their relationship becomes more strained, especially when Jill feels betrayed by John's actions and his focus on violence as a form of teaching. Their bond is crucial to understanding John's motivations and how his personal tragedy influenced his life and decisions. ### 3. **David Tapp** David Tapp, a police detective, becomes both an antagonist and an interested party in John Kramer's life. Tapp is a character who represents law and order, and his obsession with capturing Jigsaw leads him to develop a complicated relationship. After surviving one of Jigsaw's games, Tapp becomes increasingly consumed by his desire to stop John. His interaction with Kramer sets up an interesting contrast between duty to the law and Jigsaw's perspective on the value of life.

### 4. **Lawrence Gordon** Dr. Lawrence Gordon is another of the key relationships that blossoms in the series. In the first film, “Saw,” he becomes a victim of Jigsaw’s game, where he must make terrible choices in order to survive. Throughout the series, it is revealed that Lawrence becomes a follower of Jigsaw, which expands his relationship with John. This character shift shows how traumatic experiences can change people, and the relationship between the two is complex and evolving, with elements of manipulation, survival, and a dark philosophical connection. ### 5. **Mark Hoffman** Mark Hoffman is a detective who initially acts as an ally in the hunt for Jigsaw, but later becomes another of his followers. The relationship between Hoffman and John is one of mentor-apprentice, but is also marked by mistrust and ambition. Hoffman seeks to prove himself and earn John's respect, though his desire for power and control eventually leads to conflict and betrayal. This relationship illustrates how Jigsaw's influence extends to those who are willing to adopt his ideology, even if their motivations are selfish.

Jigsaw Traps

### Jigsaw Traps 1. **The key box trap (Saw I)**: - A box with a large opening into which the victim must put their hand, risking being cut by a series of blades, in order to obtain the key that unlocks their necklace. 2. **The Saw Game (Saw I)**: - The victim must use a saw to amputate his own leg to escape from a room. 3. **The poison trap (Saw II)**: - A group of locked-in people must find an antidote in a limited time, with one of the victims suffering the effects of a poison that forces them to make sacrifices. 4. **The Pig's Head Trap (Saw III)**: - The victim is placed in a mechanism in which he must free his head from a device while undergoing a series of psychological and physical tests. 5. **The Hook Trap (Saw III)**: - A victim is suspended on sharp hooks as he must face difficult moral decisions to free others. 6. **The Pool of Needles (Saw III)**: - A victim must dive into a pool full of hypodermic needles to find a key that will allow him to escape. 7. **The Tunnel Trap (Saw IV)**: - Participants must pass through a tunnel with blades and other deadly obstacles to continue the game. 8. **The Step Trap (Saw V)**: - Participants must climb stairs that are protected by death traps, where each step has potential dangers. 9. **The Prison Test (Saw VI)**: - A group of prisoners must make difficult decisions about who to save while confronting their own mistakes. 10. **The rope trap (Saw 3D)**: - Victims are tied with ropes that prevent them from moving, while they must make sacrifices to survive. 11. **The Hammer Trap (Saw II)**: - A device that crushes victims if they fail to complete the challenge within the time limit.

12. **The Circular Saw Trap (Saw II)**: - A victim must free another person while facing a circular saw that threatens to cut him. 13. **The Blood Trial (Saw VI)**: - The participant must inject syringes filled with his own blood to activate a mechanism that frees another person. 14. **The Puppet Trap (Saw IV)**: - A series of psychological tests where victims must sacrifice part of themselves to help others. 15. **The Stock Market Trap (Saw 3D)**: - Victims must choose between risking their lives or sacrificing others to survive. 16. **The Iron Mask Trap (Saw V)**: - The victim wears a mask that slowly closes, forcing them to make difficult decisions to survive. ### Common Trap Features: - **Moral Tests**: Jigsaw often presents ethical dilemmas, forcing victims to make difficult decisions about life and death. - **Suffering Elements**: Traps inflict physical pain, representing punishment for the victims' past actions. - **Survival Through Sacrifice**: Many traps require victims to sacrifice something valuable (part of their body, their time, or even others) in order to escape.