- The scene where Hoffman leaves the Gideon plant with Corbett and says "nobody made it" was filmed for, and edited out of, Saw IV (2007). Behind-the-scenes footage of this scene appears in Darren's Video Diary on the DVD and Blu-ray of Saw IV.
- The first sequel in the Saw franchise to not open in first place on opening weekend at the US box office.
- Danny Glover was offered a chance to reprise his role in a flashback. He had to decline because of shooting conflicts with the movie Blindness (2008).
- Seth's trap is inspired by the Edgar Allan Poe short story "The Pit and the Pendulum."
- When Agent Erickson talks to Jill Tuck, the picture on his desk is a real photo of actor Mark Rolston and his wife.
- The role of Dan Erickson was written for William Forsythe. He declined the offer due to scheduling conflicts.
- Producer Oren Koules owns the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team. Goalies Olaf Kolzig and Mike Smith wore Saw-themed masks for two weeks when the movie opened. The masks were then auctioned off.
- The first film of the series in which Billy the Puppet does not appear in person (excluding flashbacks).
- Real animal blood was used for the final trap. The director said they wouldn't have used it if they'd known how bad it was going to smell.
- The guillotine blades in the first trap are all shaped like a V's, the numeral for "Saw V".
- First film in the franchise since the original Saw (2004) not to be directed by Darren Lynn Bousman.
- Screenwriters Marcus Dunstan and Patrick Melton appear briefly on the elevator where Erickson first meets Jigsaw.
>>> WARNING: Here Be Spoilers <<<
Trivia items below here contain information that may give away important plot points. You may not want to read any further if you've not already seen this title.
- SPOILER: The first film in the series where a character does not say "game over" at the climax.
- SPOILER: Second film in the series where Jigsaw's apprentice (in this case Hoffman) records the message on the tape in the movie's climax.
- SPOILER: Though family relations is a recurring theme throughout the Saw franchise, the 5th installment is the only installment in which no two participants in any of the traps are related.
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