Razor Wire Maze

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The Bathroom Trap

Razor Wire Maze

Flammable Jelly

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Razor Wire Maze
Information
Appearances	Saw, III, V
Victims	Paul Leahy (executed)
Created by	John Kramer Mark Hoffman

“	The irony is that if you want to die you just have to stay where you are, but if you want to live, you'll have to cut yourself again.	”
	— Jigsaw's instructions for Paul Leahy

The Razor Wire Maze is a trap, as well as a fictional location, from the Saw franchise. It was a minor location in Saw and Saw V.

Design and Function

The Razor Wire Maze was a fenced area located in a basement. The victim was almost entirely naked and was trapped at the back part of the room, while the door leading out of the basement was on the other side. The fenced area was filled with countless tightened skeins of razor wire. The victim had to find a way through the wire to eventually get to a hole in the fence leading to the exit door. The door was connected to timer and was closed after two hours, leaving the victim to die if he didn't make it out before the timer expired. (Saw)

History

Paul Leahy's Test

“	Hello, Paul. You are a perfectly healthy, sane and middle-class male. Yet last month you ran a straight razor across your wrist. Did you cut yourself because you truly wanted to die or did you just want some attention? Tonight, you'll show me. The irony is that if you want to die you just have to stay where you are, but if you want to live, you'll have to cut yourself again. Find the path through the razor-wire to the door. But hurry. At three o'clock that door will lock and then this room becomes your tomb. How much blood will you shed to stay alive, Paul?	”
	— Paul Leahy's tape

The victim of this trap was Paul Leahy, a 46-year-old man hud had unsuccessfully attempted to commit suicide by cutting his wrists the month before the game. Therefore, he was targeted by John Kramer, better known as the Jigsaw Killer, and his new apprentice, Detective Mark Hoffman, who abducted him one night when he was about to attempt suicide once more and took him to a basement where they had already prepared his game. When he woke up and received his instructions from an audio tape Jigsaw left for him, he immediately panicked. Ridden by fear and desperate to save his life, Paul tried to find a way through the area but failed as the wire cut open his flesh, eventually resulting in his death due to the massive loss of blood, mainly from his femoral artery. (Saw)

While Paul tried to get out of the maze, John and Hoffman were hiding in the next room and witnessed his game through a peephole, as John wanted to show Hoffman his method of teaching other people how to appreciate their life. When Hoffman warned John about another detective, David Tapp, who was after him, John gave him a penlight he took from his doctor, Lawrence Gordon, and ordered him to lead his colleagues on the doctor's trail. (Saw, V)

Aftermath

After his Paul's death, John cut a jigsaw piece from his skin as a sign for Paul's lack of will to survive. His corpse was found approximately three weeks later. The crime scene was visited by Detective Kerry, Detective Steven Sing, and the leading investigator, Detective David Tapp. Paul's corpse was sent to the morgue for his obduction by Dr. Adam Heffner, while the tape and the razor wire was taken to the evidence room. (Saw, VI)

Several months later, the crime scene revisited again by Special Agent Peter Strahm, who was hoping to find new evidence against Mark Hoffman, whom he suspected to be the successor of Jigsaw after the latter's death at the hands of Jeff Denlon, another one of his victims. (Saw III, V)

Use in other Media

Saw: The Video Game

A similar trap could be seen in the Whitehurst Insane Asylum in Saw: The Video Game. However, there were some differences between this version and the one seen in the film. First of all, the room in which the game took place was much smaller. Furthermore, the victim had been allowed to keep his clothes on. However, despite these circumstances which would've made the game easier to survive, the victim died shortly before the game's protagonist, David Tapp, came across him.

Saw II: Flesh & Blood

Paul Leahy's game was also mentioned in documents and audio tapes recorded by David Tapp.

Full Disclosure Report

Paul's game was mentioned in the documentary Full Disclosure Report, hosted by TV moderator Rich Skidmore. The documentary focused on the early crimes of Jigsaw and established Paul's game as the first one ever. Deputy Jason Johnston told the audience about the details of the game. Additionally, an excerpt from the re-staged game was shown to the viewers.