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Saw II

Saw II is a 2005 American horror film directed by Darren Lynn Bousman in his feature directorial debut.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated September 10, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Saw II is a 2005 American horror film directed by Darren Lynn Bousman in his feature directorial debut. It is the sequel to Saw (2004) and the second film in the Saw franchise, starring Donnie Wahlberg and Tobin Bell.

Plot

The story centers on Detective Eric Matthews as he investigates Jigsaw and learns that his son is among eight victims trapped in a deadly game. The victims must survive a series of traps while a toxic gas fills the house.

Production

Saw II was directed by Darren Lynn Bousman and written by Leigh Whannell and Bousman. It expanded the series after the commercial success of the first Saw film.

Cast

The film features ensemble horror-cast performances led by Donnie Wahlberg as Eric Matthews and Tobin Bell as John Kramer/Jigsaw, with Shawnee Smith among the returning characters.

Release and reception

The film premiered in 2005 and was distributed by Lionsgate. It received an R rating and had a theatrical runtime of 93 minutes.

Key facts

  • The film is the sequel to Saw (2004) and the second installment in the Saw series.
  • It stars Donnie Wahlberg, Franky G, Glenn Plummer, Beverley Mitchell, Dina Meyer, Emmanuelle Vaugier, Erik Knudsen, Shawnee Smith, and Tobin Bell.
  • The plot follows Detective Eric Matthews and a group of eight people trapped in a house filled with deadly tests and nerve gas.
  • The film was Darren Lynn Bousman’s feature directorial debut.
  • It was released in 2005 and is rated R.
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Canadian context

The film was released in Canada as Saw II and is commonly listed by Canadian and international film databases as a Canada/United States horror title in distribution and cataloguing contexts.[9]

Frequently asked questions

What is Saw II about?
It follows Detective Eric Matthews and eight victims forced into a deadly game inside a house filled with nerve gas and traps.
Is Saw II a sequel?
Yes. It is the sequel to Saw (2004) and the second film in the franchise.
Who directed Saw II?
Darren Lynn Bousman directed the film in his feature directorial debut.
Who wrote Saw II?
Leigh Whannell and Darren Lynn Bousman are credited as the writers.
When was Saw II released?
Saw II was released in 2005.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saw_II
    Supports: Basic film identification, year, director, writers, cast, sequel status, and plot overview.
  2. AllMovie — https://www.allmovie.com/movie/saw-ii-am6328
    Supports: Director, writers, cast, sequel status, and plot synopsis.
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/saw_ii
    Supports: Synopsis, rating, runtime, release date, and genre.
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0432348/
    Supports: Runtime, release year, and basic synopsis.
  5. MovieMeter — https://www.moviemeter.com/movies/horror/saw-ii
    Supports: Alternative title, country listing, director, runtime, and release date.