Saw just celebrated its 20th anniversary, a monumental landmark for one of the highest-grossing horror franchises of all time. Having accumulated over $1 billion at the box office, the Saw film series has bested the lifetime grosses of many classic horror franchises that have been around for much longer, like Halloween, Friday the 13th, and A Nightmare on Elm Street. That may sound shocking to many, but true believers know that writer-director James Wan and actor-writer Leigh Whannell struck gold for horror freaks with the original Saw (2004). The creative duo caught lightning in a bottle two decades ago, and boom mic operator Speed Ratliff not only had a front-row seat but also played a role in capturing the magic.
Now, why bring up the original boom mic operator when celebrating Saw‘s 20th birthday? The Saw franchise attracts a very peculiar type of horror fan. Yes, there are gorehounds who have a strong appreciation for the bloody and ultra-realistic practical effects of the insane Saw traps, but there are also horror fanatics who have come to obsess over the meticulous plot details and surprisingly empathetic characters that flow throughout the series. As the Saw movies got more complex to the point of absurdity, the fanbase embraced that chaotic energy with open arms. Thus, when photos of boom mic operator Speed Ratliff working on the set of 2004’s Saw resurfaced online a few years ago, a new meme was born.
Speed Ratliff has over 100 film production credits in the sound department. While his IMDB page is impressive, it’s Saw that he’s most known for, thanks to one certain viral image. The picture in question is of Ratliff on the iconic bathroom set of Saw holding the boom mic over actor Cary Elwes as he looks over a dirty script, with cinematographer David A. Armstrong prepping a shot right beside them. Many fans online have used the terms “serving,” “slaying,” and other provocative adjectives I probably shouldn’t write here to describe Ratliff’s posture and focused facial expression. It’s all been in good spirits, of course, but not until now have fans gotten to hear Speed’s side of the story.
With help from Lionsgate, we tracked down boom mic operator Speed Ratliff to discuss his place in Saw lore and the first film’s 20-year legacy. From the original 2004 film to last year’s tenth entry, Saw X, people can’t get enough of this franchise. Moreover, in a digital age where films receive fewer bonus features in their home releases, insight from someone like Speed, who was on-set making magic happen, is invaluable. Saw‘s success story started with three men in one bathroom: Dr. Lawrence Gordon (Elwes), Adam (Whannell), and the man who would be revealed to be the Jigsaw killer himself, John Kramer (Tobin Bell). But as Speed tells us, bringing these three together on-screen sometimes felt impossible.
Exclusive Interview with Speed Ratliff for the 20th Anniversary of Saw
Over 20 years ago, you found yourself working as the boom operator on this indie horror film set. Aside from actors Cary Elwes and Danny Glover, everyone else in the above-the-line crew was essentially a nobody. Director James Wan and writer-actor Leigh Whannell were barely making their feature debuts. So, I have to ask, was this just another day on the job for you?
Speed Ratliff: Yes, it was actually just another day on the job. We were notified shortly before filming, and we just sort of showed up and it turned out to be this wonderful thing. But we went in knowing nothing, which made it an amazing experience.
Throughout the principal photography of Saw, did it ever dawn upon you that this movie was going to be something really special? Or did it becoming a cultural phenomenon after it was finally released in theaters catch you off guard?
Speed Ratliff: You never know what’s going to happen after. We always say, “This the movie we think we’re making,” you know? So, I can’t say that I knew it would be special. The way James shot it was different, though. The whole experience was very unique. There were a lot of times when we had to shoot quickly. The conditions were hard. James was new, and there were many things he had to realize about making this movie — that it might not have turned out how he imagined it in his head. So, it was kind of learning this process for him, and we were figuring out how to do it together.
I’m always afraid to go to screenings because if the movie you worked on turned out bad, you don’t want to sit there and be embarrassed. So, I never go to screenings. But for Saw, I went to the screening at the Chinese Theater [in Hollywood], and I remember sitting there thinking to myself, “Holy cow, this is really good!” I was kind of surprised about how good it was. I was really excited, and it came as no surprise to me that it turned into a phenomenon. But going in, there was no way of knowing what the outcome would be.
James Wan and Leigh Whannell have both stressed that Saw was a true run-and-gun production, with only 18 days to shoot on a budget less than $1 million. What was the energy and camaraderie like being in the middle of this chaos on set?
Speed Ratliff: Well, Cary [Elwes] was very funny. He kept us laughing. It was a lighthearted set because we were told they would be 14-hour work days, so we tried to come at it as positively as we could. Tobin Bell was in the middle of this bloody floor for about six days in a row, not moving, and we had to step over him. It was crazy; at one point, Cary couldn’t get out of his shackles for lunch. So, he had to stay tied up to his chains while eating, and we made fun of him for that. We had a lot of fun getting through the shoot all together. It was a very happy set, I remember that.
So, fast-forward 20 years to today. How did you find out that these photos of you holding the boom mic on set were going viral?
Speed Ratliff: I got a call from a friend in New York, if I remember correctly, saying they saw me on Twitter or some other platform. I didn’t think anything about it. Then I started showing up on sets for work, and more and more people recognized me. “I didn’t know you were on Saw,” they would say. I asked, “How did you know that?” and they began showing me this picture. It was like, “Oh my God, that’s from so long ago.” I was surprised the photo had resurfaced, yet I still didn’t think anything about it until it kept happening over and over again.
People would recognize me. Fans would recognize me. So, I was like, “What’s going on here?” I was in Kentucky this last April, and at one point, the crew realized that I was the guy from that meme. They said, “Oh my god, this is the guy; you’re that Speed?!” It was really weird, and they asked for my autograph. It’s shocking and strange at times, but I’m very proud to be part of that.
More pictures and glimpses from the behind-the-scenes of Saw have slowly been uncovered over the past few years, but there’s one photo of you holding the boom mic, specifically, that always gets attention. It’s been hilariously described in many ways, with many people online saying things along the line that you were “serving” on set. How has it been for you to see these wild reactions?
Speed Ratliff: I guess I have always stood out a little bit in my job (laughs). I’ve only seen a couple of pictures. I’ve actually seen more videos from the behind-the-scenes of Saw, and you can see me all over in those. The overall response has been flattering. Working in sound is filled with nuance, and it’s got some difficulty. I tell people, “If I do my job right, nobody notices.” So, it’s nice to get some recognition for the sound department. You know, we don’t get that often, so I’m also super glad about that.
When you look at this now iconic photo of you working on the set of Saw, can you tell me what was going through your head at that precise moment?
Speed Ratliff: l get razor-focused when doing my job. I concentrate a lot. So, I sometimes forget what else we’re doing at that moment. I’m unsure how to answer because, in the photo, I was getting some dialog and some sound from the guys. When looking at it, though, I can see how laser-focused I am in doing my job. In those kinds of weird circumstances, I don’t normally get a chance to look at myself, which has been the funny part of this picture going viral. I don’t know what was going through my head, but the bathroom set was extremely tough. It reached over 100 degrees in there!
Have you caught up with anybody else who worked on Saw over the years?
Speed Ratliff: I worked with Tobin Bell on another project about a year ago or so. We were catching up and talking about how some of us were barely starting out in our careers back in the Saw days. Tobin has gone on to do many wonderful things, and we laughed over some old memories from the set. We’re both proud of what we achieved with that film. I don’t bring it up in my day-to-day life. However, I’m still surprised. The franchise is still going on; it’s still clicking with audiences and even a new generation of people who weren’t alive when we made the first movie. It still very much holds up.
Looking back on this 20-year milestone for Saw, are there any more fond memories you would like to share? Most movies nowadays have stopped including as many bonus features in the home release as they did back when Saw premiered in 2004. So, I know Saw fans would greatly appreciate any new insight you could share about your expereince working on the film.
Speed Ratliff: I remember that we were moving extremely fast. Like I said, it was a difficult shoot. We had to get these ridiculously complicated shots done. Lots of people don’t realize that each scene that we shoot takes a lot of complicated prep. We have to all collaborate and get it done. We have to rehearse, fine-tune it, massage it, and then do like, five or six takes to get it right. However, on Saw, we had none of that. So, this was a very instinctual kind of shoot.
James Wan was open to any ideas from anyone, and that was really cool. So, we all had input. Everyone had a piece to contribute to each scene, and that collaboration was felt throughout the whole set. Ultimately, we all had a stake in this, and we got it done. But it was far from easy.
Lastly, since Saw fans are finally getting a chance to get to know the man behind the meme, is there anything else about yourself that you would like to promote or make people aware of?
Speed Ratliff: I’m still booming, I’m still making movies. There are some things to look out for that I worked on; a show called Game Bros. is one that’s coming up soon. I’m still hacking away. You can find me on Instagram and Facebook. I appreciate any and all comments, and I’m glad there are people who still enjoy the first Saw film. I’m very proud of the work we all did to get that movie to the finish line.
James Wan’s Saw is currently streaming on Max!
Release Date: October 29, 2004.
Directed by James Wan.
Screenplay by Leigh Whannell.
Story by James Wan & Leigh Whannell.
Produced by Gregg Hoffman, Oren Koules, & Mark Burg.
Executive Producers: Peter Block, Jason Constantine, & Stacey Testro.
Main Cast: Cary Elwes, Leigh Whannell, Danny Glover, Tobin Bell, Monica Potter, Michael Emerson, Ken Leung, Shawnee Smith, Dina Meyer, Mike Butters, Paul Gutrecht, Benito Martinez, Makenzie Vega, Monica Potter, Ned Bellamy, & Alexandra Chun.
Cinematographer: David A. Armstrong.
Composer: Charlie Clouser.
Production Company: Twisted Pictures.
Distributor: Lionsgate Films.
Runtime: 103 minutes.
Rated R.
