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July 26, 2026Sources cited
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Saw III

Saw III is a 2006 American horror film directed by Darren Lynn Bousman and written by Leigh Whannell from a story by Whannell and James Wan.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Saw III is a 2006 American horror film directed by Darren Lynn Bousman and written by Leigh Whannell from a story by Whannell and James Wan. It is the third installment in the Saw film series and follows Jigsaw, his apprentice Amanda, a doctor, and a grieving father forced into separate deadly tests.

Plot

The film follows John Kramer, who is bedridden with terminal cancer, while his apprentice Amanda kidnaps a doctor to keep him alive. In parallel, Jeff is forced through a series of tests tied to his grief over his son’s death.

Production

Saw III was directed by Darren Lynn Bousman and written by Leigh Whannell, based on a story by Whannell and James Wan.

Release

The film was released in 2006 and is listed as the third installment in the Saw series.

Reception and performance

The provided sources identify it as a major entry in the franchise, but they do not supply consistent, fully verifiable box-office or critical data beyond basic listing information.

Key facts

  • Third film in the Saw franchise.
  • Directed by Darren Lynn Bousman.
  • Features John Kramer (Jigsaw), Amanda, Dr. Lynn Denlon, and Jeff Reinhart.
  • Centers on tests involving forgiveness, survival, and keeping John Kramer alive.
  • Released in 2006.
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Canadian context

Saw III has no clear Canada-specific subject in the provided sources, though it is part of a globally distributed horror franchise that has been available to Canadian audiences.

Frequently asked questions

What is Saw III?
Saw III is a 2006 American horror film and the third film in the Saw series.
Who directed Saw III?
It was directed by Darren Lynn Bousman.
Who wrote Saw III?
Leigh Whannell wrote the screenplay, from a story by Whannell and James Wan.
Who stars in Saw III?
The film stars Tobin Bell, Shawnee Smith, Angus Macfadyen, Bahar Soomekh, and Dina Meyer.
What is Saw III about?
It centers on Jigsaw, his apprentice Amanda, a kidnapped doctor, and a grieving father named Jeff who must endure deadly tests.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saw_III
    Supports: Core film facts: title, year, director, writers, story credit, franchise position, cast, and plot overview.
  2. AlloCiné — https://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm=110818.html
    Supports: Alternative listing for title, original title, director, writers, cast, runtime, and release date.
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/saw_3
    Supports: Genre and content/rating descriptors for the film.
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0489270/
    Supports: Plot synopsis and basic film identification.