Billy the Puppet's appearance changes dramatically throughout Saw, as do the materials he's made out of - what are they and why does he change?
Billy the Puppet is an icon from the Saw franchise and a quintessential face representing the horror genre. That face changed greatly throughout the series as old materials were recycled and finances increased. What started as nothing more than a doll made of papier-mâché and ping pong balls has become a polished animatronic for his last seen appearance in Jigsaw, so here's what Billy the puppet is made of in each Saw film leading up to 2017.
The name Billy is never actually used in any Saw film but the puppet was christened as Billy by the creator James Wan. The eerie doll has since been referred to as Billy in documentaries, interviews, and behind-the-scenes videos. Billy is used by the serial killer Jigsaw to communicate with his victims and is used to convey the rules of his traps long after John Kramer's death. His design is strikingly unique and unnerving. He may be a vehicle for communication in the series but he also is a reminder that Kramer is a brilliant craftsman and inventor who can build more than just deadly traps.
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Though there are variations in Billy's appearance throughout Saw, he is always recognizable as a horror icon due to several key traits. The puppet's ghostly white skin, red spiral cheeks, a black and white tuxedo with a red bowtie, and creepy cackle characterize him. There have been small changes to Billy's construction in each film that affect how his mechanics work more than they do outward look. The most drastic appearance change can be seen in Jigsaw where he is shown as cleaner and highly technical. Here is each time Billy changes in Saw and all the materials used to construct him.
The first Saw film was only granted a budget fractionally above one million dollars so creators James Wan and Leigh Whannell had to look to independent films like The Blair Witch Project for inspiration on production design. On the DVD special features for Saw, Wan talks about the construction of the franchise's first Billy puppet. For the face, they reportedly used papier-mâché, clay, and black ping pong balls that they painted red circles on for irises. Paper towel rolls were used in his internal body, likely to help maintain his shape and weight. To make him ride his tricycle realistically, the crew used fishing lines to move him. Amanda Young's scene in Saw is made all the more nerve-racking due to Billy's uncoordinated movements.
The mechanics of Billy the Puppet in Saw consisted of nothing more than fishing lines meticulously hidden from cameras. For Saw II, the new director Darren Lynn Bousman was granted a significantly higher budget. James Wan could not return to direct since he was working on creating Dead Silence with Leigh Whannell. Ironically, Dead Silence revolves around an evil puppet named Billy, likely a reference to their Saw puppet. The extra money the Saw II crew had lying around allowed them to dispense with the fishing lines and make Billy remote-controlled. He was entirely redesigned to include mechanical features. Billy the Puppet's eyes and unhinged jaw could then be motorized off camera. The Venus fly trap scene in Saw II shows off these mechanics particularly well. Billy's new and improved shifty eyes add to the impending brutality to come in the series.
For Saw III, the prop department attempted to use the original Billy puppet from Saw but found it unfit for purpose. Seeing as that doll was made from degradable materials, time had worn him down badly enough that he couldn't be fixed. Instead, the crew created a fresh puppet with entirely new materials. Waterjet-cut foam was used to craft Billy's body rather than fiberglass. Magnetic plates were placed inside him so that he could be held together properly. The plates also helped secure him to his iconic bike. The prop department made the back of his head removable so that mechanical parts could be added where needed. Billy's role in Saw III is a small one but there's an insightful flashback that shows John Kramer painting his face. Saw III plants the seed that Billy means more to Kramer than meets the eye. Later, the series delves into the tragic story behind why Billy exists.
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In Saw IV, the prop department kept the construction of Billy nearly the same. They used waterjet-cut foam again to shape his body but put metal rods in place for his limbs and spine to give him posture. Magnets were utilized again and those helped flatten his rear so he could sit in a more natural way. The mouth and ping pong ball eyes were once again remote-controlled. From Saw IV and on, Billy the Puppet was majorly motorized and magnetized. His hair and eyes remained the same, up until Jigsaw where the red rings of his eyes were made to glow. Jigsaw's advertising in 2017 released posters of the original puppet design, however. Jigsaw's prequel reveal at the end of the film may explain his new pristine look.
Regardless of whether or not Billy is remote-controlled or made of clay, his recognizable face has remained a constant throughout the Saw franchise. He did not make an appearance in Spiral but may return for Saw X, the production of which has been teased for a while now. Billy the Puppet's uniquely chilling design assures that he is an irreplaceable icon in the horror genre and will remain the mascot of Saw no matter what he's made of.
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Zoe Jordan is a young freelance Movie/TV Features Writer for Screen Rant. She has become well-versed in Film and Television from the various cinema study classes she attended at SUNY Purchase in NY. She has key knowledge in film subjects and genres such as Italian Neo-Realism, Film Noir, and the history of horror. Miss Jordan has experience writing for theater and won a semi-finalist placement for short horror screenplay in the New York City Horror Film Festival in 2021. Based out of Florida, Zoe has grown a veritable interest in publishing her writing, honing her style, and working to gain notice in the film industry. Her goal is to become a successful screenwriter, and preferably, write original horror shorts and feature length films.