Not Quite Dead

The first Saw movie has been frequently accused of ripping off David Fincher's 1995 psychological thriller Se7en. Megan and Cate review the differences and similarities between the two movies, including weighing on Jigsaw vs John Doe's motivations as serial killers. Listen in and and judge for yourself - these two villains definitely would!

Intro and outro music by Zach Pfeifer.

If you need more Costas Mandylor in your life, look no further than the back half of the SCU franchise. The 2008 gore-fest directed by David Hackl ticks all the Saw boxes: detective cat-and-mouse, brutal torture devices, and extolling the virtue of teamwork.

Megan claims this is her favorite of the Saw series, but really she just loves a good story about friendship. Cate is here for the blood and Julie Benz (Dexter’s Rita!). Detective Hoffman and FBI Special Agent Strahm are back at each other’s throats while investigating the Jigsaw murders of Saw III and Saw IV while another convoluted trap plays out. Strahm’s suspicion of Hoffman is ever increasing, but who will come out of the game with blood on their hands?

Intro and outro music by Zach Pfeifer.

Bonus content! To promote Saw II, IDW Publishing released the one-shot comic Saw: Rebirth in 2005. This prequel dives into John Kramer the man before he becomes the Jigsaw Killer.

Listen in on this short episode as we cover the differences in John’s backstory between the prequel and the later Saw movies in the series.

Intro and outro music by Zach Pfeifer.

The hits just keep coming! Jigsaw and pals have another adventure in the 2007 Scott Patterson vehicle Saw IV.

Director Bousman is back at the helm to tell the tale of SWAT Lt. Rigg, a victim of Jigsaw’s latest torturous games. Megan and Cate are at the edge of their seats as the story unfolds: Will Rigg get jigsawed? Or will he truly sees as John Kramer sees and become the Jigsaw himself? Only a dozen (or so) flashbacks will tell.

Intro and outro music by Zach Pfeifer.

The third episode of Not Quite Dead covers the third installment of the series, the 2006 venture that was the highest grossing film of the whole Saw franchise. Tobin Bell earns his 2007 MTV Movie Award nomination for "Best Villain" as he demeans medical professionals and sets up another convoluted series of tests and traps, all while lying in a bed dying for the entire movie.

This movie has it all: twists, devious torture devices, a hot Shawnee Smith, and Megan and Cate wondering who exactly we're rooting for here.

Intro and outro music by Zach Pfeifer.

Buckle up, things are escalating in the Saw Cinematic Universe (SCU). Join Cate and Megan in counting the myriad traps at play in Saw II, the 2005 quick follow sequel directed by Darren Lynn Bousman and written by Leigh Whannell and Bousman.

Detective Matthews is not a great cop, dad, or man in general. His character is put to the test by Jigsaw when he learns that his teen son is locked in a house with 7 others who must fight through Jigsaw's deadly puzzles to survive. The clock is ticking, the neurotoxic chemicals are pumping, and the blood is flowing. Time is running out, Detective Matthews, and Jigsaw, Megan, and Cate are watching your every move.

Intro and outro music by Zach Pfeifer.

The first, the OG, the one that started it all. Jump into our first podcast episode and listen to us chat about the 2004 horror movie Saw, directed by James Wan and written by Leigh Whannell.

Generic dude Adam and Dr. Lawrence Gordon are chained in a dank warehouse bathroom with nothing but a dead body, a handful of clues, and two rusty saws. Will they survive serial killer Jigsaw’s trap with life and limb intact? Will Danny Glover run out of newspaper clippings to crack this whole thing wide open? Will Megan and Cate build a faithful recreation of the bathroom diorama? Tune in and find out!

Intro and outro music by Zach Pfeifer.