The most important identifying features of the Saw films include the deadly traps, the serial killer Jigsaw and his avatar, the puppet Billy. This is firmly anchored in the horror series and is considered a reference in numerous parodies. John “Jigsaw” Kramer (Tobin Bell) uses them to send messages to his victims.
On October 29, 2024 The now legendary Saw series turns 20 years old. However, the model for the doll is much older. Director James Wan got her from a 1975 Italian thriller by Dario Argento.
Saw is 20 years old – and the horror role model for Billy is soon 50
There is a replica of the Saw doll Billy in the Genova Museum in Italy. A few fun facts about the film are listed under a description on the museum’s website. This is how the doll becomes Reference to the 1975 film Profondo Rosso – The Color of Death called. A doll also appears in this. Even though she looks very different on the face, this doll also wears a black tuxedo and is used by the murderer as a distraction for his victim.
However, the creepy doll is not the only reference to Dario Argento that can be found in James Wan’s works. Wan’s film Malignant was released in 2021, in which he starred alongside Argento and other representatives of the Genre Giallo quoted. In an interview with Bloody Disgusting he himself spoke about the references and the genre.
I’m such a big Giallo fan. I mean, there’s no denying that. I’ve always said that in the past. I’ve always had the desire to make a giallo film, but in my own way; my version of giallo.
The Giallo genre is an Italian sub-genre of thriller and goes back to crime literature. The focus is on a series of murder series and uncovering the identity of the killer. Part of the genre includes particularly bloody and brutal murder scenes. The genre is considered a forerunner of the American slasher film. Also part of the genre are the twists that run through the film.
The connection between the Italian Giallo films and the Saw series is obvious. After all, the twists and sophisticated and brutal murder scenes belong to the Saw series