Saw (2004) Ending Explained
TL;DR:
The ending of Saw (2004) reveals that the seemingly dead body lying in the bathroom the entire time is actually John Kramer (Jigsaw), the mastermind behind the deadly games. Dr. Lawrence Gordon, one of the captives, is forced to saw off his own foot to escape, while Adam, the other captive, is left to die. The film ends with Jigsaw closing the door on Adam, leaving his fate ambiguous. The twist recontextualizes the entire story, showing that Jigsaw was in control the whole time, observing and manipulating events from within the room itself.
Detailed Explanation of the Ending:
The climax of Saw is a masterclass in psychological horror and narrative misdirection. For most of the film, the audience believes that the two men chained in the grimy bathroom - Dr. Lawrence Gordon and Adam-are victims of a sadistic killer who watches from afar. The tension escalates as they discover clues, including a hacksaw too weak to cut through their chains but sharp enough to amputate limbs. The final moments subvert expectations when the "corpse" in the center of the room rises, revealing himself as John Kramer, the Jigsaw Killer. This twist redefines everything that came before, as Jigsaw was not only present but actively orchestrating the game from within the room.
The ending is brutal and morally ambiguous. Gordon, desperate to save his family, severs his own foot with the hacksaw and crawls away, leaving Adam behind. Adam, who initially seemed like a helpless victim, is revealed to have been a pawn in Jigsaw's game-his role was to die so Gordon could learn the value of life. The film's final shot shows Jigsaw standing up, turning off the lights, and closing the door on Adam's screams, emphasizing the nihilistic cruelty of his philosophy. The abrupt cut to black leaves the audience haunted by the unresolved fate of Adam and the chilling competence of Jigsaw.
Unresolved Questions:
1. What happens to Adam after the door closes?
- He dies of starvation or blood loss.
- He is "saved" by Jigsaw for a future game (hinted at in sequels).
- The police eventually find him, but too late.
Does Dr. Gordon survive after crawling away?
- He bleeds out and dies (initially implied).
- He becomes an accomplice to Jigsaw (later sequels confirm this).
- He seeks revenge but fails (a possible alternate interpretation).
Why did Jigsaw choose to reveal himself at the end?
- To prove his superiority and control.
- To ensure Gordon understood the lesson.
- To leave Adam in despair, reinforcing his ideology.
Was Adam always meant to die, or was there a way out?
- Jigsaw likely intended his death as part of the "game."
- Adam might have escaped if he had figured out the clues faster.
- The lack of a clear solution suggests Jigsaw rigged the game.
Personal Opinion:
The ending of Saw is one of the most iconic in horror cinema, primarily due to its flawless execution of the twist. The reveal that Jigsaw was in the room the entire time is both shocking and brilliantly foreshadowed-rewatching the film shows subtle clues, like the corpse's breathing or the way its hand is positioned. The moral ambiguity of Jigsaw's philosophy-forcing people to "appreciate life" through torture-adds depth to what could have been a simple slasher film. However, the ending's cruelty, particularly Adam's fate, might feel excessively bleak for some viewers. While the sequels expanded the lore, the original's ending remains a self-contained masterpiece of horror storytelling, leaving just enough unanswered to linger in the audience's mind.
Final Thoughts:
Saw's ending works because it doesn't offer easy answers. It challenges the viewer to grapple with the ethics of Jigsaw's methods and the fragility of human life under extreme duress. The film's low-budget grit enhances its visceral impact, making the bathroom setting feel claustrophobic and real. While later entries in the franchise leaned into gore and convoluted plots, the first Saw remains a tightly crafted psychological thriller whose ending elevates it beyond mere shock value. The twist isn't just for surprise-it redefines the entire narrative, forcing the audience to reconsider every prior scene through the lens of Jigsaw's terrifying presence.