20 Things You Didn't Know About Saw
4. Shawnee Smith Was Ill While Shooting Her Scene
The Reverse Bear-Trap scene is one of the most terrifying moments in the entire franchise. The way Billy demonstrates how the trap can rip a human being's jaw wide open is enough to send a chill down anyone's spine.
What really sells the scene is the utter terror of Amanda, played brilliantly by Shawnee Smith. Because Smith couldn't speak in this scene and most of her face is obscured by the device, she had to convey her character's terror through her eyes.
What's more amazing was that Smith had the flu when she shot this scene. According to the producers, Oren Koules and Mark Burg, Smith had a fever of 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) when she came on-set. How Smith was able to perform this scene (not to mention stand up or not pass out) is an astounding feat for any actor and shows the level of conviction she had for the project. Just to prove she was a trooper, Smith all her scenes in one day.
The filmmakers were so impressed with Smith's commitment, they asked her to return for three more sequels.