Billy the Puppet
Billy is a puppet that has appeared in the Saw franchise. It was used by John "Jigsaw" Kramer, often appearing on a television screen, or occasionally in person, to describe the details of the traps and the means by which the test subjects could survive.
Not to be confused with Jigsaw or Billy Emmerson.Billy the Puppet
Saw 0.5 (2003)
Saw X (2023)
Billy the Puppet
Puppet
Male
- John Kramer
(creator and voice) - Mark Hoffman
(voice)
Delivering messages to subjects of Jigsaw via television screen or in person
In the film series, before becoming the Jigsaw Killer, John created a puppet similar to Billy to be given as a toy to his unborn child. However, Jill Tuck, his wife, is shown to miscarry after being hit in the stomach by a swinging hospital door due to Cecil ramming it open without looking. John's unresolved anger was likely a primary motive for using a more sinister version of the puppet to convey his instructions to victims of his traps. The traps he created can be seen as a manifestation of his anger with people who he feels do not appreciate having their life, when his unborn baby was killed before having a life of its own.
Although never actually identified in the films, "Billy" is the name by which writers, directors, and members of the cast and crew refer to it in documentaries and interviews. The name was given to it by Australian creator James Wan, who is the director and co-writer of Saw. Some claim that the name is spelled "Billie", though Wan himself spells it "Billy".[1]
The endurance and popularity of the Saw franchise has resulted in Billy becoming a pop culture icon and the production of Billy merchandise.
Characteristics[edit]
Billy is a male ventriloquist's dummy, as its jaw is movable to give the suggestion that it is talking; however, it is not used in the same manner, as the entire doll is frequently seen moving on its own. Its face is white, with a protruding brow and cheeks that have red spirals painted on them. Its red lips form a grin. Its eyes are black with red irises, and its head is topped with black hair.
Billy is always depicted wearing a black tuxedo with a white shirt and gloves, red bow tie, and red handkerchief in the breast pocket. It also has red Mary Janes for shoes. In the short film, it is seen wearing a green bowler hat. It is often riding an old fashioned red tricycle. The only sound originating directly from him is an electronic cackle.
Construction[edit]
According to Wan, the construction of the original puppet's face for Saw involved clay, papier-mâché, and black ping pong balls with the irises painted in for the eyes. Paper towel rolls were used internally.[2] To make him move, the puppeteers pulled him along on a fishing line.
For Saw II, Billy was redesigned with mechanical features that could be manipulated by a remote control, including his unhinged jaw and his eyes.[3]
For Saw III, the prop crew was given the original puppet, but found it unfit for work, as time had damaged it. Instead, they recreated Billy, using waterjet-cut foam for his body instead of fiberglass, equipped with plates to hold the puppet together and magnets to attach him to his tricycle. The back of his head was removable, to make it easier to slide animatronic pieces in.[4]
For Saw IV, the prop crew made the body of waterjet-cut foam, held together by metal rods. They used strong magnets to make a flat rear surface for the puppet so it could be easily positioned on any metal surface. The mouth and resin-filled ping-pong ball eyes were moved by remote control.