Inside the Character: Agent Strahm, Saw

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Special Agent Peter Strahm. Protagonist of Saw IV and V. Assigned to the Jigsaw Murders with his partner and friend Special Agent Lindsey Perez, through Detective/Liaison Allison Kerry. Strahm received a message presumably from Kerry that said. “Open the door and you will find me” the message also included a key. Due to the contents of the message it is clear that Kerry did not send this message, and instead was sent by Jigsaw. When first meeting Detective Lieutenant Mark Hoffman (at the time he is not a Lieutenant) Strahm initially suspects that Jigsaw’s accomplice, Amanda Young, had help in setting up Alison Kerry’s Angel Trap. Hoffman refutes that a second accomplice is not the likely scenario but Strahm is confident in his assumption and because of the disagreement Strahm and Hoffman become increasingly suspicious of each other.

Through the course of Saw IV, Strahm proves to be mentally sound, piecing together what to do next and openly speaking his mind to partner Lindsey Perez, whom he seems to have a connection to beyond that of a partner, if only in friendship. When Agent Perez is harmed by one of Jigsaw’s traps, Peter’s obsession to uncover the truth and end the Jigsaw Murder’s becomes exceptionally stronger. He is visibly upset at the endangerment of Perez, and despite being in clear danger continues his investigation, foreshadowing his driving obsession to uncover the second accomplice he suspects. When arriving at the Gideon Factory and ‘opening the door’ to Jigsaw’s Sick Room, he kills the hostile protagonist of Saw 3, Jeff Reinhart. The door behind him abruptly closes moments after he shoots Jeff, it is shut by Hoffman, he does not see this.

In Saw V Strahm’s story continues. After inspecting the corpse of Amanda Young, John Kramer and Lynn, he comes across a secret door that houses a tape for him alone. It warns him to stop, to be satisfied and simply wait. A simple warning, very direct, but Strahm’s conviction prevents him from playing a dead man’s game. Strahm decides to play on his own rules. Cursing at the not long dead Jigsaw, Strahm continues his investigation and ends up being captured by a masked assailant, presumably Hoffman. Water floods into a small box completely covering his head, Strahm panics but attempts to stay calm. As the water begins to drown him and his fate appears sealed Peter frantically searches his pockets and pulls out a pen. The same one from Saw IV that he clicks furiously, foreshadowing it’s use in V. Performing an on the fly tracheotomy with a pen, Peter Strahm lives through the trap and when he is rushed to an ambulance just outside the factory, a shocked Hoffman silently expresses his worry and awe.

In recovery, he learns that Perez did indeed die, sitting by her beside he appears visually in deep thought. Erickson, Strahm’s superior enters and informs that he is now off the case. Furious Strahm rebuttals that he ‘inevitably saved countless lives’ when in actuality he saved nobody, and ultimately did nothing until this point. Peter is desperately trying to justify the death of his partner and personal suffering with positive results from his investigation, when in actuality it caused more harm then good, just as Jigsaw had warned before Strahm proceeded. Erickson leaves and Hoffman enters the room. Strahm says that Perez said Hoffman’s name and inquires why she would say that, there is no answer. Strahm, still suspicious of Hoffman questions his survival, intention and job. Strahm and Hoffman depart on bad terms.

Fueled by guilt by Perez’s death, personal suffering without gain and undermined by his own superior because he believes the Jigsaw Murder’s are over and Strahm would become obsessed, Strahm goes with his instinct and sifts through information on Hoffman. Quickly he finds out that a Jigsaw Victim is connected to Hoffman. Alone and troubled, Peter slowly revisits crime scenes and pieces together the puzzle flawlessly, his endeavors have taken their toll however as he starts talking to himself. A foreshadowing towards his growing loss of sanity and obsession. Ultimately finding out that Hoffman is truly not whom he seems to be, Strahm comes across a large clear glass box filled to the brim with jagged shards of glass. Stressed beyond normal extents, Strahm looses his sense of reason and rationality, more enthralled and curious then cautious and instinctive he stays in the room and plays the tape. Confirming beyond doubt that Hoffman is Jigsaw’s accomplice Strahm stops the tape as he hears someone coming. Hoffman enters the room, Strahm has a clear shot. However, he hesitates. He is unsure of what to do. Kill Hoffman? Or bring him to justice? Seeking vengeance and self confirmation that he was right in suspecting Hoffman Strahm throws Hoffman into his own trap.

Soon Peter Strahm realizes that this is what Hoffman had planned, again dismissing a simple, very direct warning in favor of wanting to play by his own rules and do things his way, he had sealed his fate a second time. This time, escape was not possible. As the walls close in, Strahm says. “I know who you are! I know!” more concerned with ego and obsession then his survival, he desperately wants to prove Hoffman is not invincible and that all that he went through was not for nothing. Death imminent, he frantically climbs the walls in an attempt to escape. Hoffman smirks, knowing his flaw had gotten the best of him. The walls seal, and Agent Peter Strahm is no more. Strahm was too concerned with being a Hero, he wanted to be a knight when he was only a pawn, seeking retribution for his loss and validation for his work.

However, in his quest for seeking grandeur in ending the Jigsaw Murders, he did prove a few things. One, that Hoffman has, seemingly, truly became Jigsaw and can do a reversal on whatever threat he may face, just as John. The second thing Special Agent Peter Strahm proved, is that Mark Hoffman is susceptible to panic, and though he may be Jigsaw, he is at the same time not. John was only touchable by Justice when he allowed himself to be, and would only die on his terms, he embraced his image yet rejected it wholeheartedly. Hoffman, however, clings to his anonymity like a crutch. He will do anything to protect it, because without it he is lost, unprepared. Strahm found out who he really was, his anonymity was taken from him, if only for a moment, and in that moment Hoffman was truly in danger, even if he knew the outcome, he was unnecessarily in danger. Strahm has proved that Hoffman cannot be touched by others, but he can be unmasked, and by fueling Hoffman’s flaw of clinging to safety, increasing his confidence, if Hoffman becomes in danger again and is unmasked. He will be his own undoing, just as Strahm and in a twist of fate, Strahm’s death will be a part of Hoffman’s undoing.