Australian screenwriter and director Leigh Whannell is well-known for his contributions to the "Saw" franchise, which he co-founded with James Wan. Whannell recently discussed some of the reasons why Jigsaw's character struck such a deep chord with viewers in an interview.

Whannell was discussing classic horror film antagonists, such as Michael Myers from the "Halloween" franchise, Jason Voorhees from the "Friday the 13th" series, and Freddy Krueger from "A Nightmare on Elm Street." He made the observation that these characters have come to represent the common experiences of a generation in viewing and enjoying horror films.

The primary antagonist of the "Saw" movies, Jigsaw, became a novel type of villain that appealed to viewers for a number of reasons. Younger viewers needed to connect with new people in the horror genre, according to Whannell. Because Jigsaw provided something distinct from what earlier horror icons had offered, his character gained significance. Jigsaw was more than just a terrifying presence; it introduced complex plots and moral quandaries that made viewers consider the nature of fear and redemption.

Think of horror films as a garden with well-known plants like lilies and roses. Visitors eventually grow accustomed to seeing these flowers. One day, however, a new flower appears—a daisy that is special because it defies preconceived notions about what a lovely or intriguing bloom ought to look like. In the horror genre, Jigsaw was this daisy; he offered an audience eager for new viewpoints something surprising but engrossing.

As new generations emerge, each looking for their own symbols of engagement, excitement, and fear, Whannell's observation emphasizes how cultural touchstones shift and evolve. In the same way that previous antagonists characterized particular times, Jigsaw came to symbolize a change in how people viewed horror stories.