Saw 3 (2006)
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A grief-stricken father is forced to endure a series of brutal tests to confront those involved in the death of his son.
The story
Six months after a bizarre crime scene is discovered, a man named Jeff is subjected to a series of tests at an abandoned meatpacking plant. Jeff, a father seeking vengeance for his son's death in a drunk driving accident, must confront those involved in the tragedy. Meanwhile, John Kramer's apprentice, Amanda, has kidnapped a doctor named Lynn. Lynn is tasked with keeping the bedridden, terminally ill John alive long enough for Jeff to complete his game. Lynn is restrained by a collar connected to John's heart rate monitor, creating a high-stakes situation where her survival depends on John's continued life.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After a SWAT team discovers a victim who ripped chains from his body to escape a bomb, Detective Allison Kerry is abducted and forced into a trap. Dr. Lynn Denlon is kidnapped and brought to the bedridden John Kramer. His apprentice, Amanda, places a collar around Lynn's neck that will detonate if she moves out of range or if John dies. Lynn must keep John alive while Jeff, a man seeking vengeance for his son's death, undergoes tests at a meatpacking plant. Jeff survives a freezer trap where Danica freezes to death, and a vat trap where Judge Halden is killed. He then faces Timothy, the driver who killed his son; Jeff forgives Timothy but fails to save him from a machine. Lynn performs surgery on John and convinces him to have Amanda remove her collar, but Amanda, jealous and disillusioned, shoots Lynn. Jeff, revealed to be Lynn's husband, shoots Amanda. John reveals Lynn's test was hers, as he wouldn't allow a murderer to continue his legacy. Jeff is offered a final choice: kill John or forgive him. Jeff slashes John's throat with a power saw, activating Lynn's collar. Before dying, John reveals his daughter, Corbett, is also captured.
- First release year
- 2006
- Runtime (minutes)
- 108
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Darren Lynn Bousman
- Writers
- Leigh Whannell · screenplay; Leigh Whannell · story; James Wan · story
- Cast and characters
- Tobin Bell · John Kramer; Shawnee Smith · Amanda; Angus Macfadyen · Jeff; Bahar Soomekh · Lynn; J. Larose · Troy; Costas Mandylor · Forensic Hoffman
- Genres
- horror; crime
- Themes
- vengeance; forgiveness; legacy; self-harm
- Tone and mood
- emotional; tense; graphic
- Setting
- An abandoned meatpacking plant and a hospital room in the 2000s.
- Premise and plot tags
- serial killer; torture; medical; revenge
- Franchise connections
- Saw
- Content notes
- graphic violence; emotional torture
- Reception
- The film was a financial success, becoming the highest-grossing film in the series overall, but it received negative reviews from critics.
- Reported review scores
- CinemaScore · score: B · scale: A+ to F
- Awards and nominations
- Best Villain · MTV Movie Awards · 2007 · Nomination; Best Horror Film · Saturn Award · 2007 · Nomination; Choice Movie: Horror/Thriller · Teen Choice Awards · 2007 · Nomination
- Production trivia
- The film was dedicated to producer Gregg Hoffman, who died in 2005.; The production borrowed the bathroom set used in Scary Movie 4.; Lionsgate planned to release 1,000 posters with a small amount of Bell's blood mixed with the printing ink.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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