If you’re a fan of the iconic horror franchise Saw, then you know there’s nothing quite like the adrenaline rush of watching Jigsaw’s twisted games play out on screen. The intricate traps, the moral dilemmas, the gory violence – it’s a formula that has captivated audiences for nearly two decades now.
But what do you do when you’ve binged the entire Saw series and find yourself craving more of that same heart-pounding intensity? Fear not, my fellow horror aficionados, for I have compiled a list of 20 must-see movies that are sure to satisfy your appetite for all things gruesome and suspenseful. These films may not feature the infamous Jigsaw killer, but they certainly share Saw‘s penchant for pushing characters to their physical and psychological limits in the face of unimaginable terror.
So sit back, grab some popcorn (or perhaps a barf bag, depending on your tolerance for gore), and get ready to dive into a twisted world of survival games, torture porn, and moral depravity. These 20 movies like Saw are not for the faint of heart, but for those who dare to endure them, they offer an unforgettable journey into the darkest depths of the human psyche.
1. Green Room (2015)
Kicking off our list is the pulse-pounding thriller Green Room, directed by Jeremy Saulnier. The film follows a punk rock band who find themselves trapped in the green room of a remote neo-Nazi club after witnessing a murder. As the gang of skinheads, led by a chilling Patrick Stewart, close in on them, the band must fight for their lives using whatever weapons they can find. With its claustrophobic setting, intense violence, and high stakes, Green Room is a must-watch for any fan of Saw‘s survival game formula.
2. 31 (2016)
From the twisted mind of Rob Zombie comes 31, a grindhouse-inspired horror flick that pits a group of carnival workers against a gang of sadistic clowns in a deadly game of survival. Kidnapped on Halloween and taken to a remote compound, the carnies must fight their way through an obstacle course of horrors while bets are placed on their lives. With its gritty aesthetic, over-the-top violence, and memorable villains, 31 is a wild ride that Saw fans won’t want to miss.
3. The Collector (2009)
The Collector is a twisted tale of a burglar who breaks into a house, only to discover that the family has already been captured by a deranged serial killer known as “The Collector.” As the burglar tries to rescue the family and escape the booby-trapped house, he becomes ensnared in The Collector’s sadistic games. With its clever traps, gory violence, and cat-and-mouse thrills, The Collector feels like a natural companion piece to the Saw franchise.
4. Se7en (1995)
While not strictly a torture porn film, David Fincher’s Se7en shares many thematic similarities with Saw. The film follows two detectives hunting a serial killer who is staging elaborate murders based on the seven deadly sins. As the detectives delve deeper into the case, they find themselves drawn into a twisted game of cat and mouse with a killer whose motives are as philosophical as they are sadistic. With its bleak atmosphere, shocking violence, and unforgettable ending, Se7en is a classic thriller that any Saw fan should have on their watchlist.
5. Cube (1997)
Cube is a sci-fi horror film that predates Saw but shares many of its key elements. The film follows a group of strangers who wake up trapped in a maze of cube-shaped rooms, each one booby-trapped with deadly devices. As they navigate the labyrinth and try to find a way out, tensions rise and the body count mounts. With its clever premise, mind-bending twists, and gory traps, Cube is a must-see for fans of high-concept horror.
6. Hostel (2005)
Eli Roth’s Hostel is often credited with kickstarting the “torture porn” subgenre that Saw would come to define. The film follows a group of backpackers who are lured to a Slovakian hostel that caters to wealthy clients looking to torture and kill tourists. As the backpackers fight for their lives, they uncover a sinister underground network of sadists and murderers. With its unflinching violence, dark humor, and social commentary, Hostel is a twisted journey into the heart of human depravity.
7. Would You Rather (2012)
In Would You Rather, a group of desperate individuals are invited to a dinner party hosted by a wealthy aristocrat who promises to solve their financial woes. But there’s a catch: they must play a deadly game of “would you rather,” where they are forced to choose between two equally horrific options. As the game progresses and the stakes get higher, the players must confront their own moral boundaries and fight for their survival. With its tense atmosphere, clever premise, and strong performances, Would You Rather is a underrated gem that Saw fans will appreciate.
8. Grotesque (2009)
Grotesque is a Japanese extreme horror film that pushes the boundaries of what is acceptable to show on screen. The film follows a young couple who are kidnapped by a sadistic doctor and subjected to a series of increasingly brutal and degrading tortures. With its unflinching violence, disturbing imagery, and nihilistic worldview, Grotesque is not for the faint of heart. But for fans of Saw‘s more extreme moments, it offers a glimpse into the darkest corners of the human psyche.
9. The Cabin in the Woods (2011)
On the surface, The Cabin in the Woods may seem like just another generic slasher film. But as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that there is something much more sinister and meta at play. The film follows a group of college students who visit a remote cabin for a weekend getaway, only to find themselves trapped in a high-tech facility where they are manipulated and tortured by mysterious forces. With its clever deconstruction of horror tropes, biting satire, and mind-bending twists, The Cabin in the Woods is a must-see for any fan of self-aware horror.
10. Wolf Creek (2005)
Wolf Creek is an Australian horror film that follows a group of backpackers who are terrorized by a sadistic serial killer in the outback. Loosely based on real-life crimes, the film is a gritty and uncompromising look at the horrors that can befall unsuspecting travelers in remote areas. With its tense atmosphere, brutal violence, and memorable villain, Wolf Creek is a harrowing survival thriller that will leave you on the edge of your seat.
11. The Belko Experiment (2016)
In The Belko Experiment, a group of American expats working in a Colombian office building are suddenly locked inside and forced to participate in a deadly game by a mysterious voice over the intercom. The rules are simple: kill or be killed. As the body count rises and the survivors turn on each other, the film becomes a twisted social experiment that explores the depths of human savagery. With its claustrophobic setting, gory violence, and dark humor, The Belko Experiment is a wild ride that Saw fans will enjoy.
12. The Human Centipede (2009)
The Human Centipede is a film that needs no introduction. Infamous for its grotesque premise, the film follows a deranged surgeon who kidnaps three tourists and surgically connects them mouth-to-anus to create a human centipede. With its shocking violence, disturbing imagery, and twisted sense of humor, The Human Centipede is not for everyone. But for fans of extreme horror and boundary-pushing cinema, it is a must-see.
13. The Final (2010)
The Final is a revenge thriller that follows a group of high school outcasts who decide to take bloody revenge on their bullies. Luring them to a remote cabin, the outcasts subject their tormentors to a series of increasingly brutal and sadistic tortures. With its themes of bullying, social isolation, and the cycle of violence, The Final is a thought-provoking and disturbing film that will leave you questioning the nature of justice and retribution.
14. Misery (1990)
Based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, Misery follows a famous novelist who is rescued from a car crash by his “number one fan,” a lonely and unstable woman named Annie Wilkes. As Paul recovers in Annie’s remote cabin, he realizes that he is a prisoner at the mercy of a dangerous psychopath who will do anything to keep him under her control. With its tense atmosphere, psychological horror, and unforgettable performances by James Caan and Kathy Bates, Misery is a classic thriller that any Saw fan should check out.
15. The Platform (2019)
The Platform is a Spanish sci-fi horror film that takes place in a vertical prison where food is delivered on a platform that descends from the top floor to the bottom. As the platform moves down, each level gets only the leftovers from the previous one, leading to a brutal struggle for survival among the inmates. With its clever premise, biting social commentary, and gory violence, The Platform is a thought-provoking and visceral film that will leave you questioning the nature of human greed and inequality.
16. Escape Room (2019)
In Escape Room, six strangers are invited to participate in an immersive escape room game with a $10,000 prize. But as they progress through the increasingly dangerous and deadly rooms, they realize that the game is not what it seems and that their lives are on the line. With its clever puzzles, tense atmosphere, and gory violence, Escape Room is a fun and thrilling film that Saw fans will enjoy.
17. Martyrs (2008)
Martyrs is a French extreme horror film that follows a young woman named Lucie who seeks revenge on the people who kidnapped and tortured her as a child. As Lucie and her friend Anna delve deeper into the mystery, they uncover a sinister underground organization that is conducting experiments on young women in the name of transcendence. With its brutal violence, disturbing imagery, and existential themes, Martyrs is a challenging and thought-provoking film that pushes the boundaries of the genre.
18. The Loved Ones (2009)
The Loved Ones is an Australian horror film that follows a teenage girl named Lola who, after being rejected by her crush, kidnaps him and subjects him to a night of torture and humiliation with the help of her deranged father. With its twisted sense of humor, gory violence, and memorable performances, The Loved Ones is a wild and unpredictable ride that Saw fans will love.
19. Audition (1999)
Audition is a Japanese horror film that follows a widower who holds a fake audition to find a new wife, only to become obsessed with one of the applicants, a mysterious and beautiful woman named Asami. As their relationship deepens, the widower begins to uncover Asami’s dark past and the lengths she will go to to keep him under her control. With its slow-burn pacing, psychological horror, and shocking violence, Audition is a masterclass in tension and suspense.
20. Funny Games (1997)
Funny Games is an Austrian psychological thriller that follows two young men who take a family hostage in their vacation home and subject them to a series of sadistic games and tortures. With its fourth-wall-breaking meta-commentary, nihilistic worldview, and unrelenting tension, Funny Games is a challenging and thought-provoking film that deconstructs the nature of violence in media and its effect on the audience.
And there you have it, folks – 20 twisted and terrifying movies that are sure to satisfy any fan of the Saw franchise. From gory survival games to psychological mind-benders, these films offer a wide range of thrills and chills that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
So what are you waiting for? Grab some friends (or watch alone if you’re feeling brave), dim the lights, and prepare to be scared out of your mind. Just remember – in the world of horror, there are no rules, no mercy, and no escape. Once you start down this dark path, there’s no turning back.
But hey, that’s part of the fun, right? After all, we horror fans are a different breed. We don’t watch these movies to feel safe and comfortable – we watch them to confront our deepest fears and explore the darkest corners of the human psyche. We revel in the adrenaline rush of being scared, the thrill of the unknown, and the satisfaction of surviving to the end credits.
So go ahead, take the plunge into this twisted world of torture porn and survival horror. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you. And if you find yourself having nightmares or jumping at shadows for the next few weeks, well, that just means the movies did their job.
Sweet dreams, horror fiends. And remember – the game is just beginning.
