| ◄ | Acid Vat | Crushing Table | Elevator Trap | ► |
| “ | As an officer of the law, you have betrayed your badge. You have controlled people by taking advantage of their vices. Now those vices will control you. | ” |
— Jigsaw confronts Joseph with his crimes[src]
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The Crushing Table is a trap from the Saw franchise, appearing in Saw II: Flesh & Blood.
Design and Function[]
The Crushing Table consisted of a large metal plate, which was mounted to a pedestal in a slightly prone position. The victim was strapped to this plate, with their arms spread to both sides. Each limb, as well as the victim's head, were held in place by large metal vices. To survive, the test subject had to rely on the help of a second person. Around the table were four panels, each one with nine dials. The second subject had to turn these dials in the right way to keep the hydraulic pressure low. There were different colors above, below and on both sides of each dial, which helped the subject to see in which way the dials had to be turned. The adjacent colors between two dials had to match. After doing this task on all four panels, the first victim was released from the vices. However, if the second subject failed to accomplish their task in time, the vices would close one by one, thereby crushing the other victim's limbs and finally their skull. (Saw II: Flesh & Blood)
History[]
Michael Tapp's Test[]
| “ | Hello, Joseph. You are the lead vice detective, in charge of investigating crimes involving prostitution and narcotics. But you don't put drug dealers in jail. Instead you squeeze them for every penny, forcing them to work for you. You pollute the city you swore to protect. At each of your limbs are mechanical devices, that, when triggered, will close one by one. The last vice will crush your skull. As an officer of the law, you have betrayed your badge. You have controlled people by taking advantage of their vices. Now those vices will control you. Let the game begin. | ” |
— Joseph Poltzer's tape[src]
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Joseph in the trap
The persons tested in this trap were Michael Tapp, a reporter and son of the late Detective David Tapp, and Joseph Poltzer, a corrupt detective of the Metropolitan Police Department, who was involved in a drug cartel. After having been abducted by Pighead II, an accomplice of John Kramer, better known as the Jigsaw Killer, Michael had to face a series of tests. While making his way through an abandoned chemical plant, he witnessed Joseph in his trap, as he was taken to the lower floor by an elevator platform. After facing a number of obstacles, Michael was able to use the elevator on his own and reached Joseph, who told him to save him. Moments later, a TV turned on in front of them and a mechanical ventriloquist puppet appeared on the screen. It confronted Joseph with his crimes and his involvement in the cartel, despite his promises to protect the city. Furthermore, it informed him and Michael about the rules of the game, saying that Joseph would die if Michael didn't manage to save him.
Michael tries to save Joseph
When the tape ended and the TV turned off again, Michael tried to find turn the dials in the correct way to match the corresponding colors. Eventually, he managed to do so and Joseph was released from the table. When Joseph got up, he was slightly surprised that Michael had saved him. Michael, however, confronted him with his crimes, to which Joseph merely responded that he had to make a living and also told Michael to stay out of his way. Michael told him that he'd put him in prison if they ever escaped the plant. Joseph insulted him, stating that he wouldn't go to prison, before he rode up the elevator and left Michael behind. (Saw II: Flesh & Blood)