Billy the Jigsaw Puppet
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Billy is a puppet that has appeared in the Saw films. He was used by the series's primary antagonist John Kramer, the Jigsaw Killer, to communicate with his victims. Although he has never been identified in the actual films themselves, "Billy" is the name by which he is referred to by writers, directors and members of the cast and crew on documentaries and interviews. The name was given to him by his real life creator James Wan who is the director and co-writer of Saw. There is controversy that the name is spelled "Billie", although James himself spells it "Billy". Though he actually has little to do with the plot, he has become the iconic symbol of the Jigsaw Killer.
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[edit] Characteristics
Billy seems to be a ventriloquist's dummy, as his jaw is movable in order to give the suggestion that he’s talking, though he his not used in the same manner, instead being seen moving “on his own”. His face is white, and he has a protruding brow and cheeks that have red spirals painted on them. His red lips form into a grin. His eyes are black, with red irises, and his head is topped with black, messy hair. The construction of his face, quoted from his creator James Wan, involved clay, paper-mache, black ping-pong balls with the irises painted in for the eyes. The mechanisms he used for a working mouth are unknown since he isn't a professional puppet-maker, but apparently whatever it was worked. He's also said to have paper-towel rolls somewhere part of him.
Billy is always depicted as wearing a black tuxedo, with a white undershirt, red bowtie, and red breast-pocket. He also has sparkly red mary-janes for shoes (probably as best as his creator could get at the time). In the short film, he is seen wearing a green bowler hat. He is often seen riding a red old-fashioned-type tricycle. The only sound delivered "directly" by him is a generic electronic cackle much like one would find in a Halloween-type toy.
The main purpose of Billy is to deliver recorded messages to victims of Jigsaw's often appearing on a television screen to distribute the details of the sadistic traps and the means of which the victims can survive.
[edit] Appearances
[edit] Saw
In the first Saw movie, Billy is seen on a television set by Amanda, telling her about the contraption wired into her jaws. Once Jigsaw explains where she must find the key to unlock the trap, Billy is seen again, congratulating Amanda on her success, wheeling into the room on his tricycle to deliver the message of her freedom.
Later, Adam remembers seeing the puppet in his apartment when the lights went out. While searching through the dark rooms using his camera flash, the puppet's eerie laugh rings through the apartment, and Adam hits it with his bat until it stops.
When Detectives Tapp and Sing uncover Jigsaw's latest hideout, they snoop around his desk, pulling off many blankets to reveal the different contraptions of the sick mastermind. The two detectives are shocked when they find the Billy puppet staring back at them under one of the blankets.
[edit] Saw II
In the second Saw movie, Billy is seen on the screen at the beginning of the film, giving Michael hints about the Death Mask he's wearing.
Later, when the detectives discover Jigsaw's new hideout, several officers rush up a caged staircase, and are greeted by Billy, who wheels into sight at the top of the stairs on his tricycle, where he lets off his laugh. The fence around the stairs then becomes electrified after one of the rigged steps sets off the trap.
[edit] Saw III
In the third movie, Jigsaw can be seen constructing Billy in a flashback, painting the puppet's face. Later, Billy is used to inform both Troy and Kerry of their respective traps. The puppet is also seen in the background of a flashback that features Jigsaw and Amanda discussing her loyalty.
He is also used to remind Jeff of his dead son, at one point, by being laid down next to his bike (in the same position as Jeff's son when he was killed). He then lets off a mocking laugh.
[edit] Trivia
- In the film Dead Silence (which is made by James Wan and Leigh Whannell, the creators of the Saw films), one of the puppets, who appears on the film's poster and wears the same outfit as Jigsaw's puppet, is named Billy. The Saw puppet is also seen in the movie for a brief second. Leigh Whannell stated at the world premier that he was going to put the puppet in every movie he made from now on, but it's presence might not be obvious.
| The Saw Series |
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| Films |
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Saw (short, 2003) • Saw (2004) • Saw II (2005) • Saw III (2006) • Saw IV (2007) |
| Characters |
| Jigsaw • Amanda • Adam • Detective Matthews • Lynn • Jeff |
| Film Soundtracks |
| Saw • Saw II • Saw III |
| Other |
| Traps • "Billy" the puppet • Saw: Rebirth • "Hello Zepp" |
