Quick LinksThe Surprising Easter Egg in Saw and What It Means The Phone Is One of Many Easter Eggs in Saw
With the original film coming up on its 20th anniversary on October 29, fans have been given reason to reflect on the Saw franchise and how it has established itself as a powerhouse in the horror genre. Not only has Jigsaw become an iconic villain up there with the beloved killer doll Chucky, but the franchise has now reached 10 films, with the 11th scheduled to release at the end of 2026. Throughout the years, the franchise has developed a deep lore and unique mysteries, evolving with each new entry and keeping the already loyal fanbase always digging through the details of every film.

The long history of the Saw franchise indeed has led to fans who know the ins and outs and the most gritty details, from the real-life inspiration behind its infamous reverse bear trap to Saw 3D holding the record for the most kills in the franchise (27 confirmed). Yet, in the original Saw, one clever Easter Egg has gone over the heads of many.

The Surprising Easter Egg in Saw and What It Means

The original Saw takes place primarily in a single location, a dingy bathroom, with Dr. Lawrence Gordon and photographer Adam Stanheight facing off against each other in a grueling game of physical torture and mind games. It is the perfect introduction to the world created by James Wan that sets the groundwork for the rest of the movies. The Easter Egg comes in when Dr. Gordon discovers a cell phone given to him to call his family. Audiences can notice the date on the phone reading 9/10 2001, the day before the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

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The meaning and reason behind this have been debated; some think it was just a coincidence. However, others have speculated it was planned, particularly with Jigsaw’s words to Dr. Gordon telling him, “Tomorrow’s gonna be s***ty for you.” Many have interpreted this as adding to the psychological element of torture that Jigsaw likes to weave throughout each of the movies. It is a blink-and-miss-it Easter Egg, and while its true meaning remains unknown, it is one of the many exciting surprises in the franchise to speculate about (Snopes claims that the movie takes place before 9/11).

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The Phone Is One of Many Easter Eggs in Saw

Other Easter Eggs in Saw include the previously mentioned “reverse bear trap,” drawing inspiration from the medieval torture device, the Iron Spider, to become an integral part of the franchise’s overall lore. There are other hidden messages for fans to find that hint at the future exploits of the Jigsaw, including a cryptic message on Amanada’s wall that reads, “If you try to keep your life for yourself you will lose it, But if you give your life up to me you will find true life.”

Thankfully, fans of the franchise will have a chance to see Saw on the big screen once again as it returns to theaters in its unrated format from the 20th to the 23rd in celebration of its 20th anniversary. Otherwise, you can stream Saw on Max.