The horror genre, as twisted as it can be at times, is also strangely wholesome behind the scenes. The subject matter may be quite gruesome most of the time, but the genre as a whole is rather tight-knit. A lot of directors will reference other famous horror works within their own films, or have Easter eggs for eagle-eyed fans to notice, and every time it’s thrilling. Sometimes well-known creators will reference their older work in their newer films, likeWes Cravencameoing inScreamas a janitor dressed like Freddy Krueger(Robert Englund) fromA Nightmare On Elm Street. As it turns out,James WanandLeigh Whannelldropped a similar Easter egg of their own inInsidiousby sneaking aSawreference into the background of a scene.
A family looks to prevent evil spirits from trapping their comatose child in a realm called The Further.
Jigsaw Makes a Cameo in ‘Insidious’
If you find yourself wondering “When did Jigsaw show up inInsidiousand how did I miss it?” don’t kick yourself too much. It’s a rather small detail that goes pretty under the radar, but once you do see it, it’s hard not to notice it on every watch after.Insidiousfollows a family struck by tragedywhen their son Dalton (Ty Simpkins) inexplicably slips into a coma. Nothing about his condition changes over the months, and eventually, he is brought back home, only for his family to start experiencing supernatural ongoings.The father, Josh(Patrick Wilson), is a history teacher, and in one scene we see him working late in his classroom. Behind him is a chalkboard with many things written on it, but most notably, right behind Josh’s head, you’re able to see a chalk drawing of Billy the Puppet — AKA, Jigsaw (Tobin Bell).
This is, of course, a reference toSaw, which waswritten by James Wan and Leigh Whannell, who are also the masterminds behindInsidious. Notably, you can also see an “8” written below the drawing, and rumors have floated around that it was a hint to what would eventually become 2017’sJigsaw. At the time ofInsidious’ release, there were seven installments in theSawfranchise, withSaw 3Dhaving been marketed as the final chapter in the franchise. But seven movies in, there were still rumors that an eighth movie was in talks. It’s simply fan speculation, and considering we didn’t getJigsawuntil years afterInsidiouswas released, it’s likely that the “8” was just a coincidence. Or perhaps it really was Wan and Whannell’s sneaky way of hinting thatSawwas quite as finalized as we had been told at the time. We may never get an answer as to what the “8” meant, but either way, the Billy drawing is a fun little nod to Wan and Whannell’s most popular work, and is a thrilling discovery for any eagle-eyed fans.
‘Insidious’ Isn’t the Only Movie With a Jigsaw Easter Egg
Though Jigsaw/Billy the Puppet belongs to theSawfranchise, and thus doesn’t have any physical crossover into other franchises (unless you countScary Movie 4), he has made quite a few background appearances in other films, through drawings on chalkboards, graffiti on walls, etc… Chances are if the film was written and/or directed by James Wan and Leigh Whannell you can catch a glimpse of Billy somewhere in the background of a scene. In 2007’sUpgrade, which was directed by James Wan, you can see a clear visual of Billy the Puppet among some graffiti on a building. Also in 2007, James Wan directedDead Silence(which was written by Leigh Whannell) and in one specific scene, you can see a Billy doll sitting in the corner of the room. In 2018’sUpgrade, which was written and directed by Leigh Whannell, you can see a graffiti-style portrait of Billy clear as day. And in the 2020 remake ofThe Invisible Man, which Leigh Whannell directed, Billy can once again be seen as graffiti in the background of a scene.
The Billy cameos don’t allude to any sort of connection between films and franchises, as far as we know. They’re simply a way ofWan and Whannell paying tribute to theSawfranchise, which catapulted them into fame, which is reason enough. While some creators may get tired of one specific work being brought up constantly, and attempt to shift focus to their new work, Wan and Whannell take theSawlove in stride and incorporate it into everything they do. It’s charming, and it’s fun to look for in their post-Sawworks. So next time you watch a film written and/or directed by James Wan and Leigh Whannell, keep your eyes peeled for Billy the Puppet Easter eggs. You never know when he might show up.
Insidiousis available to stream on Netflix in the U.S.
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