The medieval period bore witness to some of history’s most horrifying torture devices, but few rival the chilling cruelty of The Rack. This sinister contraption, infamous in Britain, not only tormented countless victims but also inspired modern-day horror filmmakers. In fact, its gruesome legacy found its way into Saw III, leaving audiences squirming in their seats.
The Rack: A Torture Device of Unimaginable Pain
First introduced around 1420 by the Duke of Exeter, The Rack was a simple yet diabolical tool of torment. A wooden table with rollers at each end, it was designed to stretch a victim’s body beyond its natural limits. Victims were tied by their limbs to the rollers, which were gradually turned, pulling their arms and legs apart. The results were devastating: muscles tore, joints dislocated, and bones shattered under the strain.
In Saw III, the twisted minds behind the franchise resurrected this historical nightmare in a deadly trap, forcing a captive to endure the agonizing effects of a Rack-inspired contraption. True to the original, it tested both the victim’s resolve and the moral compass of their potential rescuer.
The Rack’s historical infamy extended far beyond the silver screen. Even Guy Fawkes, of Gunpowder Plot fame, is rumored to have endured its cruelty before his execution. Its legacy is a stark reminder of the dark depths humanity can reach when cruelty is systematized—a reality that the Saw franchise masterfully echoes.
Terrifyingly, history and fiction have always been closer than we might think.
