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==Appearances==
==Appearances==
===''Saw''===
===''Saw''===
In ''[[Saw (2004 film)|Saw]]'', Detective David Tapp investigates a series of crime scenes all linked to the same murderer. The victims have all been placed in to traps that attempt to teach them to appreciate their life, a quality they decidedly lack. The victims who fail these "tests" all have a jigsaw piece cut out of their bodies, which earned the killer the alias ''[[The Jigsaw Killer]]'' by newspaper writer [[List of Saw characters#Oswald Mcgullicuty|Oswald Mcgullicuty]].<ref name= "Saw">{{cite video|title=[[Saw (film)|Saw: Uncut Edition]]|format=[[DVD]]|publisher=[[Lions Gate Entertainment]]|year=[[2005 in film|2005]]}}</ref> ''[[Saw II]]'' later reveals these missing pieces are intended to show the missing survival instinct of Jigsaw's victims.<ref>{{cite video|format=[[DVD]]|title=[[Saw II|Saw II special edition]]|year=[[2006 in film|2006]]|publisher=[[Lions Gate Entertainment]]|quote='''Jigsaw''': It was the police and the press who coined the nickname Jigsaw. I never encouraged or claimed that. The jigsaw piece that I cut from my subjects was only ever meant to be a symbol that that subject was missing something. A vital piece of the human puzzle. The survival instinct.}}</ref>
In ''[[Saw (2004 film)|Saw]]'', Detective David Tapp investigates a series of crime scenes all linked to the same murderer. The victims have all been placed in to traps that attempt to teach them to appreciate their life, a quality they decidedly lack. The victims who fail these "tests" all have a jigsaw piece cut out of their bodies, which earned the killer the alias ''[[The Jigsaw Killer]]'' by newspaper writer [[List of Saw characters#Oswald Mcgullicuty|Oswald Mcgullicuty]].<ref name= "Saw">{{cite video|title=[[Saw (film)|Saw: Uncut Edition]]|format=[[DVD]]|publisher=[[Lions Gate Entertainment]]|date=[[2005 in film|2005]]}}</ref> ''[[Saw II]]'' later reveals these missing pieces are intended to show the missing survival instinct of Jigsaw's victims.<ref>{{cite video|format=[[DVD]]|title=[[Saw II|Saw II special edition]]|date=[[2006 in film|2006]]|publisher=[[Lions Gate Entertainment]]|quote='''Jigsaw''': It was the police and the press who coined the nickname Jigsaw. I never encouraged or claimed that. The jigsaw piece that I cut from my subjects was only ever meant to be a symbol that that subject was missing something. A vital piece of the human puzzle. The survival instinct.}}</ref>


Tapp and his partner, [[Steven Sing]], discover a penlight with fingerprints at one of the crime scenes. Forensics indicate the fingerprints belong to [[Doctor Lawrence Gordon]], who is coaxed to the police station for questioning. ''Saw V'' later revealed that Jigsaw accomplice [[Mark Hoffman]] had planted this penlight to arise suspiscion on Gordon.<ref>{{cite video|title=[[Saw V]]|format=[[DVD]]|year=[[2009 in film|2009]]|publisher=[[Lions Gate Entertainment]]|quote='''Hoffman''': There is another detective that you should be aware of. His name's Tapp. He's smart, and he's getting closer. '''John''': I know who he is. I need you to lead him to someone for me. A doctor. A healer who needs some healing.}}</ref> While a few victims have been discovered already, one victim named [[Amanda Young]] manages to survive her test. Lawrence watches while Tapp interrogates Amanda for her testimony. After hearing her testimony, Tapp gives Lawrence a ride home, becoming more suspicious that Lawrence is Jigsaw.<ref name= "Saw"/>
Tapp and his partner, [[Steven Sing]], discover a penlight with fingerprints at one of the crime scenes. Forensics indicate the fingerprints belong to [[Doctor Lawrence Gordon]], who is coaxed to the police station for questioning. ''Saw V'' later revealed that Jigsaw accomplice [[Mark Hoffman]] had planted this penlight to arise suspiscion on Gordon.<ref>{{cite video|title=[[Saw V]]|format=[[DVD]]|date=[[2009 in film|2009]]|publisher=[[Lions Gate Entertainment]]|quote='''Hoffman''': There is another detective that you should be aware of. His name's Tapp. He's smart, and he's getting closer. '''John''': I know who he is. I need you to lead him to someone for me. A doctor. A healer who needs some healing.}}</ref> While a few victims have been discovered already, one victim named [[Amanda Young]] manages to survive her test. Lawrence watches while Tapp interrogates Amanda for her testimony. After hearing her testimony, Tapp gives Lawrence a ride home, becoming more suspicious that Lawrence is Jigsaw.<ref name= "Saw"/>


[[Image:David Tapp in Saw (Danny Glover).jpg|thumb|left|Danny Glover as Tapp in ''Saw''. Tapp is seen approaching the crime scene of [[List of Saw characters#Mark Rodriguez|Mark Rodriguez]].]]
[[Image:David Tapp in Saw (Danny Glover).jpg|thumb|left|Danny Glover as Tapp in ''Saw''. Tapp is seen approaching the crime scene of [[List of Saw characters#Mark Rodriguez|Mark Rodriguez]].]]
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===''Saw: The Video Game''===
===''Saw: The Video Game''===
In ''[[Saw: The Video Game]]'', Tapp is healed by Jigsaw after being shot in the chest during [[Saw (2004 film)|the first ''Saw'' film]] and is brought to the abandoned Whitehurst asylum. Tapp is placed in the reverse bear trap Amanda Young was in, which he quickly escapes after Jigsaw scolds him for his lack of appreciation for his life and the lives of others.<ref name= "Saw: The Video Game">{{cite video|format=[[Video game]]|title=[[Saw: The Video Game]]|year=[[2009 in video games|2009]]|publisher=[[Konami]]}}</ref><ref name= "Saw Reviews">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/saw/player_review.html?id=693064|publisher=[[GameSpot]]|title=Saw Reviews|date=2009-11-17|accessdate=2009-11-22}}</ref>
In ''[[Saw: The Video Game]]'', Tapp is healed by Jigsaw after being shot in the chest during [[Saw (2004 film)|the first ''Saw'' film]] and is brought to the abandoned Whitehurst asylum. Tapp is placed in the reverse bear trap Amanda Young was in, which he quickly escapes after Jigsaw scolds him for his lack of appreciation for his life and the lives of others.<ref name= "Saw: The Video Game">{{cite video|format=[[Video game]]|title=[[Saw: The Video Game]]|date=[[2009 in video games|2009]]|publisher=[[Konami]]}}</ref><ref name= "Saw Reviews">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/saw/player_review.html?id=693064|publisher=[[GameSpot]]|title=Saw Reviews|date=2009-11-17|accessdate=2009-11-22}}</ref>


Upon escaping, Tapp ventures through the asylum, facing others during their tests, some of which involve Tapp in numerous ways. Tapp's first major test is to save [[Amanda Young]], the woman he interrogated during ''Saw'', not knowing she had since become Jigsaw's secret apprentice. Upon saving her, she stages her kidnapping by another Jigsaw apprentice called Pighead and Tapp moves to his next test. The second test is for [[List of Saw characters#Jennings Foster|Jennings Foster]], a fellow officer of Tapp's who had committed a hit-and-run which he framed an innocent person for. Tapp, conflicted, saves Jennings who runs away, blaming Tapp for being there.<ref name= "Saw: The Video Game"/>
Upon escaping, Tapp ventures through the asylum, facing others during their tests, some of which involve Tapp in numerous ways. Tapp's first major test is to save [[Amanda Young]], the woman he interrogated during ''Saw'', not knowing she had since become Jigsaw's secret apprentice. Upon saving her, she stages her kidnapping by another Jigsaw apprentice called Pighead and Tapp moves to his next test. The second test is for [[List of Saw characters#Jennings Foster|Jennings Foster]], a fellow officer of Tapp's who had committed a hit-and-run which he framed an innocent person for. Tapp, conflicted, saves Jennings who runs away, blaming Tapp for being there.<ref name= "Saw: The Video Game"/>
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[[Image:David Tap Saw The Game.jpg‎|thumb|left|David Tapp as he appears in ''[[Saw: The Video Game]]''. Tapp is shown in the series signature "Reverse Bear Trap".]]
[[Image:David Tap Saw The Game.jpg‎|thumb|left|David Tapp as he appears in ''[[Saw: The Video Game]]''. Tapp is shown in the series signature "Reverse Bear Trap".]]


Tapp's third test is for [[List of Saw characters#Melissa Sing|Melissa Sing]], the widow of Tapp's former partner Steven Sing who has since become a neglectful mother to her son. Jigsaw informs her that Tapp had ignored calling for backup or getting a search warrant when searching Jigsaw's lair in the first ''Saw'' film, a careless step which was the reason Steven was killed.<ref>{{cite video|title=[[Saw (film)|Saw: Uncut Edition]]|format=[[DVD]]|publisher=[[Lions Gate Entertainment]]|year=[[2005 in film|2005]]|quote='''Tapp''': Who said anything about a warrant?}}</ref> Believing Tapp could have prevented his partners death, Melissa began to blame him for her misfortunes. Upon Tapp finding and saving her, Melissa leaves Tapp to deal with his other tests.<ref name= "Saw: The Video Game"/>
Tapp's third test is for [[List of Saw characters#Melissa Sing|Melissa Sing]], the widow of Tapp's former partner Steven Sing who has since become a neglectful mother to her son. Jigsaw informs her that Tapp had ignored calling for backup or getting a search warrant when searching Jigsaw's lair in the first ''Saw'' film, a careless step which was the reason Steven was killed.<ref>{{cite video|title=[[Saw (film)|Saw: Uncut Edition]]|format=[[DVD]]|publisher=[[Lions Gate Entertainment]]|date=[[2005 in film|2005]]|quote='''Tapp''': Who said anything about a warrant?}}</ref> Believing Tapp could have prevented his partners death, Melissa began to blame him for her misfortunes. Upon Tapp finding and saving her, Melissa leaves Tapp to deal with his other tests.<ref name= "Saw: The Video Game"/>


Tapp proceeds to save Oswald Mcgullicuty, a newspaper writer who coined the alias "''Jigsaw''" and began accusing Tapp of being Jigsaw. After saving Oswald, Tapp rescues [[List of Saw characters#Obi Tate|Obi Tate]], an arsonist who wanted to be tested by Jigsaw. Tapp then proceeds to save his sixth victim, [[List of Saw characters#Jeff Ridenhour-Thomas|Jeff Thomas]]. Jeff was the man who was in the drill trap when Tapp and Sing had raided Jigsaw's lair during ''Saw''. Upon surviving his first test, Jeff had become suicidal after Tapp had harassed him to discover Jigsaw's identity; this caused him to be placed in his second trap, in which Tapp saved him.<ref name= "Saw: The Video Game"/>
Tapp proceeds to save Oswald Mcgullicuty, a newspaper writer who coined the alias "''Jigsaw''" and began accusing Tapp of being Jigsaw. After saving Oswald, Tapp rescues [[List of Saw characters#Obi Tate|Obi Tate]], an arsonist who wanted to be tested by Jigsaw. Tapp then proceeds to save his sixth victim, [[List of Saw characters#Jeff Ridenhour-Thomas|Jeff Thomas]]. Jeff was the man who was in the drill trap when Tapp and Sing had raided Jigsaw's lair during ''Saw''. Upon surviving his first test, Jeff had become suicidal after Tapp had harassed him to discover Jigsaw's identity; this caused him to be placed in his second trap, in which Tapp saved him.<ref name= "Saw: The Video Game"/>
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===''Saw V''===
===''Saw V''===
In ''[[Saw V]]'', a memorial service is held for the deceased officers from the Jigsaw murders. Tapp's police picture is held next to his partner Steven Sing.<ref name= "Saw: The Video Game"/><ref name= "Saw V">{{cite video|title=[[Saw V]]|format=[[DVD]]|year=[[2009 in film|2009]]|publisher=[[Lions Gate Entertainment]]}}</ref> He also appears briefly in a flashback, enquiring Dr. Gordon about the penlight Mark Hoffman planted.<ref>{{cite video|title=[[Saw V]]|format=[[DVD]]|year=[[2009 in film|2009]]|publisher=[[Lions Gate Entertainment]]|quote='''Tapp''': Is this yours, Doctor? [''Holds up Lawrence Gordon's penlight'']}}</ref>
In ''[[Saw V]]'', a memorial service is held for the deceased officers from the Jigsaw murders. Tapp's police picture is held next to his partner Steven Sing.<ref name= "Saw: The Video Game"/><ref name= "Saw V">{{cite video|title=[[Saw V]]|format=[[DVD]]|date=[[2009 in film|2009]]|publisher=[[Lions Gate Entertainment]]}}</ref> He also appears briefly in a flashback, enquiring Dr. Gordon about the penlight Mark Hoffman planted.<ref>{{cite video|title=[[Saw V]]|format=[[DVD]]|date=[[2009 in film|2009]]|publisher=[[Lions Gate Entertainment]]|quote='''Tapp''': Is this yours, Doctor? [''Holds up Lawrence Gordon's penlight'']}}</ref>


==Characterization==
==Characterization==
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===Comparison to other ''Saw'' characters===
===Comparison to other ''Saw'' characters===
The obsession of Tapp to catch Jigsaw shown in ''Saw'' and the ''Saw: The Video Game'' has since been portrayed by several other characters in the ''Saw'' films. Key among these is Tapp's fellow detective [[Daniel Rigg]]. Rigg, who had been subject to much trauma after witnessing several deaths at the hand of Jigsaw<ref name= "Rigg - Saw II Characters">{{cite web|url=http://saw.ugo.com/?cur=rigg-ii|publisher=[[UGO]]|title=Rigg - Saw II Characters|accessdate=2009-11-22}}</ref>, became obsessed with saving every victim who needed help. This caused Rigg to be placed in a series of tests in ''[[Saw IV]]'' so that he could let go of this obsession. Similar to the Freedom and Truth endings of Tapp's tests in ''Saw: The Video Game'', Rigg could not let go of his need to save victims, which ultimately led to his own death, just like Tapp.<ref name= "Saw: The Video Game"/><ref name= "Saw IV Unrated Director's Cut">{{cite video|title=[[Saw IV|Saw IV Unrated Director's Cut]]|format=[[DVD]]|year=[[2008 in film|2008]]|publisher=[[Lions Gate Entertainment]]}}</ref><ref name= "Movie Spoiler for the film - SAW IV">{{cite web|url=http://www.themoviespoiler.com/Spoilers/saw4.html|publisher=The Movie Spoiler|title=Movie Spoiler for the film - SAW IV|accessdate=2009-11-22}}</ref>
The obsession of Tapp to catch Jigsaw shown in ''Saw'' and the ''Saw: The Video Game'' has since been portrayed by several other characters in the ''Saw'' films. Key among these is Tapp's fellow detective [[Daniel Rigg]]. Rigg, who had been subject to much trauma after witnessing several deaths at the hand of Jigsaw<ref name= "Rigg - Saw II Characters">{{cite web|url=http://saw.ugo.com/?cur=rigg-ii|publisher=[[UGO]]|title=Rigg - Saw II Characters|accessdate=2009-11-22}}</ref>, became obsessed with saving every victim who needed help. This caused Rigg to be placed in a series of tests in ''[[Saw IV]]'' so that he could let go of this obsession. Similar to the Freedom and Truth endings of Tapp's tests in ''Saw: The Video Game'', Rigg could not let go of his need to save victims, which ultimately led to his own death, just like Tapp.<ref name= "Saw: The Video Game"/><ref name= "Saw IV Unrated Director's Cut">{{cite video|title=[[Saw IV|Saw IV Unrated Director's Cut]]|format=[[DVD]]|date=[[2008 in film|2008]]|publisher=[[Lions Gate Entertainment]]}}</ref><ref name= "Movie Spoiler for the film - SAW IV">{{cite web|url=http://www.themoviespoiler.com/Spoilers/saw4.html|publisher=The Movie Spoiler|title=Movie Spoiler for the film - SAW IV|accessdate=2009-11-22}}</ref>


Tapp also bears similarities to other characters including [[Peter Strahm]] and [[Eric Matthews]]. These characters are similar due to their own [[tragic flaw]], which is placing priority on catching Jigsaw over police procedure, in this instance. This is shown when both Tapp and Strahm refuse to call for back up upon following a lead on Jigsaw because of time restraints. In ''Saw'', Tapp refused to call for backup when raiding Jigsaw's lair, which caused him to lose his partner Steven Sing and also resulted in having his own neck slashed, non-fatally however. In ''Saw IV'', Strahm calls for back up before entering Jigsaw's lair, but does not wait for them to arrive, which nearly kills him after being locked in a room alone and put into a test he survived. In ''Saw V'', Strahm follows [[Mark Hoffman]] to his home, where he, again, refused to call back up, which resulted in him being killed by Hoffman's trap and left as a suspect due to being framed.<ref name= "Saw: The Video Game"/><ref name= "Saw V"/><ref name= "Saw IV Unrated Director's Cut"/><ref>{{cite video|title=[[Saw V]]|format=[[DVD]]|year=[[2009 in film|2009]]|publisher=[[Lions Gate Entertainment]]|quote='''Strahm''': I was supposed to die in that trap. '''Erickson''': You never should have been there without backup.}}</ref>
Tapp also bears similarities to other characters including [[Peter Strahm]] and [[Eric Matthews]]. These characters are similar due to their own [[tragic flaw]], which is placing priority on catching Jigsaw over police procedure, in this instance. This is shown when both Tapp and Strahm refuse to call for back up upon following a lead on Jigsaw because of time restraints. In ''Saw'', Tapp refused to call for backup when raiding Jigsaw's lair, which caused him to lose his partner Steven Sing and also resulted in having his own neck slashed, non-fatally however. In ''Saw IV'', Strahm calls for back up before entering Jigsaw's lair, but does not wait for them to arrive, which nearly kills him after being locked in a room alone and put into a test he survived. In ''Saw V'', Strahm follows [[Mark Hoffman]] to his home, where he, again, refused to call back up, which resulted in him being killed by Hoffman's trap and left as a suspect due to being framed.<ref name= "Saw: The Video Game"/><ref name= "Saw V"/><ref name= "Saw IV Unrated Director's Cut"/><ref>{{cite video|title=[[Saw V]]|format=[[DVD]]|date=[[2009 in film|2009]]|publisher=[[Lions Gate Entertainment]]|quote='''Strahm''': I was supposed to die in that trap. '''Erickson''': You never should have been there without backup.}}</ref>


This same flaw is also shown in a more obvious way in ''Saw II'', where Eric Matthews chooses to ignore police interrogation procedure and instead degrades Jigsaw out of frustration because his son, Daniel Matthews was currently in Jigsaw's test at the time. Eric eventually beat Jigsaw, who was arrested earlier, against the rules of his test instead of waiting for the [[Special Weapons and Tactics|SWAT]] team to trace the location of his son's test. This was later revealed that Daniel was already safe because his test was recorded on video that was taken days before. Upon discovering this, Eric was abducted at the location of Daniel's test by Amanda Young and left to die. This flaw of the police figures in the films all come from prioritizing Jigsaw's arrest over following police procedure, which all result in their eventual deaths.<ref name= "Saw: The Video Game"/><ref name= "Saw II special edition">{{cite video|format=[[DVD]]|title=[[Saw II|Saw II special edition]]|year=[[2006 in film|2006]]|publisher=[[Lions Gate Entertainment]]}}</ref><ref name= "Eric Matthews - Saw II Characters">{{cite web|url=http://saw.ugo.com/?cur=eric-matthews-ii|publisher=[[UGO]]|title=Eric Matthews - Saw II Characters|accessdate=2009-11-22}}</ref>
This same flaw is also shown in a more obvious way in ''Saw II'', where Eric Matthews chooses to ignore police interrogation procedure and instead degrades Jigsaw out of frustration because his son, Daniel Matthews was currently in Jigsaw's test at the time. Eric eventually beat Jigsaw, who was arrested earlier, against the rules of his test instead of waiting for the [[Special Weapons and Tactics|SWAT]] team to trace the location of his son's test. This was later revealed that Daniel was already safe because his test was recorded on video that was taken days before. Upon discovering this, Eric was abducted at the location of Daniel's test by Amanda Young and left to die. This flaw of the police figures in the films all come from prioritizing Jigsaw's arrest over following police procedure, which all result in their eventual deaths.<ref name= "Saw: The Video Game"/><ref name= "Saw II special edition">{{cite video|format=[[DVD]]|title=[[Saw II|Saw II special edition]]|date=[[2006 in film|2006]]|publisher=[[Lions Gate Entertainment]]}}</ref><ref name= "Eric Matthews - Saw II Characters">{{cite web|url=http://saw.ugo.com/?cur=eric-matthews-ii|publisher=[[UGO]]|title=Eric Matthews - Saw II Characters|accessdate=2009-11-22}}</ref>


===Physical Appearance===
===Physical Appearance===
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{{reflist|2}}
{{reflist|2}}


==External Links==
==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
{{wikiquote}}
* {{imdb character|0002598}}
* {{imdb character|0002598}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Tapp, David}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tapp, David}}

[[Category:Saw characters]]
[[Category:Saw characters]]
[[Category:Fictional police detectives]]
[[Category:Fictional police detectives]]

Revision as of 04:01, 5 December 2009

For more information, see List of Saw characters.
Saw character
Danny Glover as David Tapp in Saw
David Tapp
Gender: Male
Relationships: Steven Sing (partner)
Allison Kerry (fellow officer)
Amanda Young (source)
Jennings Foster (fellow officer)
Jeff Thomas (source)
Eric Matthews (fellow officer & detective)
Daniel Rigg (fellow officer)
Enemies: Jigsaw
Lawrence Gordon
Zep Hindle
Mark Hoffman
Oswald Mcgullicuty
Melissa Sing
First appearance: Saw
Last appearance Saw V
Status: Deceased
Portrayed by: Danny Glover (film)[1]
Earl Alexander (game)[1]

David Tapp was a fictional character from the Saw franchise. While introduced as a supporting protagonist in Saw, Tapp did not become a major character until Saw: The Video Game, which featured him as the lead protagonist and player character. He was portrayed by Danny Glover in the films, and the voice of Earl Alexander in the game.[1]

Appearances

Saw

In Saw, Detective David Tapp investigates a series of crime scenes all linked to the same murderer. The victims have all been placed in to traps that attempt to teach them to appreciate their life, a quality they decidedly lack. The victims who fail these "tests" all have a jigsaw piece cut out of their bodies, which earned the killer the alias The Jigsaw Killer by newspaper writer Oswald Mcgullicuty.[2] Saw II later reveals these missing pieces are intended to show the missing survival instinct of Jigsaw's victims.[3]

Tapp and his partner, Steven Sing, discover a penlight with fingerprints at one of the crime scenes. Forensics indicate the fingerprints belong to Doctor Lawrence Gordon, who is coaxed to the police station for questioning. Saw V later revealed that Jigsaw accomplice Mark Hoffman had planted this penlight to arise suspiscion on Gordon.[4] While a few victims have been discovered already, one victim named Amanda Young manages to survive her test. Lawrence watches while Tapp interrogates Amanda for her testimony. After hearing her testimony, Tapp gives Lawrence a ride home, becoming more suspicious that Lawrence is Jigsaw.[2]

File:David Tapp in Saw (Danny Glover).jpg
Danny Glover as Tapp in Saw. Tapp is seen approaching the crime scene of Mark Rodriguez.

Tapp recovers the video tape left at Amanda's trap location and studies it to eventually decipher the location of Jigsaw's lair. Tapp and Sing find Jigsaw in his lair, but fail to arrest him due to Jigsaw non-fatally slashing Tapp's neck and Sing falling victim to one of Jigsaw's traps. Following Sing's death, Tapp becomes unstable and begins to obsess over catching Jigsaw, which causes him to be discharged from the police force and lose his wife in a divorce.[2]

As Jigsaw was able to hide his identity when his lair was raided, Tapp is still convinced that Lawrence is Jigsaw, unknowing that Lawrence had been abducted and is currently in a trap of his own. This causes him to stake out his home, watching it from another apartment through a video camera. During this, Tapp sees Zep Hindle at the Lawrence's house and later hears gunshots coming from the house as well. Tapp responds, discovering that Alison Gordon and her daughter Diana were being held hostage by Zep. A gunfight ensues, which allows Alison and Diana to escape. Tapp chases Zep to the site of another Jigsaw game, later revealed to be Lawrence's trap. Before discovering the trap site, Zep manages to shoot Tapp in the chest, leaving him alone, wounded in a sewer.[2]

Saw: The Video Game

In Saw: The Video Game, Tapp is healed by Jigsaw after being shot in the chest during the first Saw film and is brought to the abandoned Whitehurst asylum. Tapp is placed in the reverse bear trap Amanda Young was in, which he quickly escapes after Jigsaw scolds him for his lack of appreciation for his life and the lives of others.[5][6]

Upon escaping, Tapp ventures through the asylum, facing others during their tests, some of which involve Tapp in numerous ways. Tapp's first major test is to save Amanda Young, the woman he interrogated during Saw, not knowing she had since become Jigsaw's secret apprentice. Upon saving her, she stages her kidnapping by another Jigsaw apprentice called Pighead and Tapp moves to his next test. The second test is for Jennings Foster, a fellow officer of Tapp's who had committed a hit-and-run which he framed an innocent person for. Tapp, conflicted, saves Jennings who runs away, blaming Tapp for being there.[5]

David Tapp as he appears in Saw: The Video Game. Tapp is shown in the series signature "Reverse Bear Trap".

Tapp's third test is for Melissa Sing, the widow of Tapp's former partner Steven Sing who has since become a neglectful mother to her son. Jigsaw informs her that Tapp had ignored calling for backup or getting a search warrant when searching Jigsaw's lair in the first Saw film, a careless step which was the reason Steven was killed.[7] Believing Tapp could have prevented his partners death, Melissa began to blame him for her misfortunes. Upon Tapp finding and saving her, Melissa leaves Tapp to deal with his other tests.[5]

Tapp proceeds to save Oswald Mcgullicuty, a newspaper writer who coined the alias "Jigsaw" and began accusing Tapp of being Jigsaw. After saving Oswald, Tapp rescues Obi Tate, an arsonist who wanted to be tested by Jigsaw. Tapp then proceeds to save his sixth victim, Jeff Thomas. Jeff was the man who was in the drill trap when Tapp and Sing had raided Jigsaw's lair during Saw. Upon surviving his first test, Jeff had become suicidal after Tapp had harassed him to discover Jigsaw's identity; this caused him to be placed in his second trap, in which Tapp saved him.[5]

After saving all of the victims in the asylum, Tapp kills Pighead to proceed to Jigsaw, who labels Tapp as a murderer for killing Pighead and others in Whitehurst. Tapp finds and chases Jigsaw, but to only find two doors labeled Truth and Freedom.[5]

If the Freedom door is chosen, Tapp escapes and is labeled as a hero, but kills himself for the stress of losing Jigsaw. If the Truth door is chosen, Tapp chases Jigsaw and catches him, only to find that it was Melissa Sing. A tape recorder informed Tapp that Melissa was assigned by Jigsaw to watch over Tapp's test otherwise her son would be killed. Melissa then breaks free from Tapp but is killed by a tripwire trap, similar to the one her husband Steven was killed by. Burdened by these deaths, Tapp becomes insane and is left in a functional asylum where he still believes he is playing Jigsaw's games.[5]

Saw V

In Saw V, a memorial service is held for the deceased officers from the Jigsaw murders. Tapp's police picture is held next to his partner Steven Sing.[5][8] He also appears briefly in a flashback, enquiring Dr. Gordon about the penlight Mark Hoffman planted.[9]

Characterization

Initially, Tapp is introduced in Saw as a typical police figure. When investigating the Jigsaw murders, Tapp begins to overlook police procedures and protocols in order to apprehend Jigsaw. This eventually gets his Partner murdered and his own throat slashed. With this, Tapp becomes mentally unstable and develops an extreme obsession with Jigsaw in order to avenge his partner.[6] This evolution in Tapp's character eventually becomes his tragic flaw that leads to many misfortunes from him. The immediate consequences for this was the divorce from his wife and being discharged from the police force.[10] UGO described Tapp as "A good man who was driven mad by evil circumstances..." and noted the choice he had between saving victims and catching Jigsaw.[11]

Comparison to other Saw characters

The obsession of Tapp to catch Jigsaw shown in Saw and the Saw: The Video Game has since been portrayed by several other characters in the Saw films. Key among these is Tapp's fellow detective Daniel Rigg. Rigg, who had been subject to much trauma after witnessing several deaths at the hand of Jigsaw[12], became obsessed with saving every victim who needed help. This caused Rigg to be placed in a series of tests in Saw IV so that he could let go of this obsession. Similar to the Freedom and Truth endings of Tapp's tests in Saw: The Video Game, Rigg could not let go of his need to save victims, which ultimately led to his own death, just like Tapp.[5][13][14]

Tapp also bears similarities to other characters including Peter Strahm and Eric Matthews. These characters are similar due to their own tragic flaw, which is placing priority on catching Jigsaw over police procedure, in this instance. This is shown when both Tapp and Strahm refuse to call for back up upon following a lead on Jigsaw because of time restraints. In Saw, Tapp refused to call for backup when raiding Jigsaw's lair, which caused him to lose his partner Steven Sing and also resulted in having his own neck slashed, non-fatally however. In Saw IV, Strahm calls for back up before entering Jigsaw's lair, but does not wait for them to arrive, which nearly kills him after being locked in a room alone and put into a test he survived. In Saw V, Strahm follows Mark Hoffman to his home, where he, again, refused to call back up, which resulted in him being killed by Hoffman's trap and left as a suspect due to being framed.[5][8][13][15]

This same flaw is also shown in a more obvious way in Saw II, where Eric Matthews chooses to ignore police interrogation procedure and instead degrades Jigsaw out of frustration because his son, Daniel Matthews was currently in Jigsaw's test at the time. Eric eventually beat Jigsaw, who was arrested earlier, against the rules of his test instead of waiting for the SWAT team to trace the location of his son's test. This was later revealed that Daniel was already safe because his test was recorded on video that was taken days before. Upon discovering this, Eric was abducted at the location of Daniel's test by Amanda Young and left to die. This flaw of the police figures in the films all come from prioritizing Jigsaw's arrest over following police procedure, which all result in their eventual deaths.[5][16][17]

Physical Appearance

An early sketch of Tapp as he is shown in the Saw video game

Tapp is shown to be an older male approximately in his mid-50s during the first film's timeline. In contrast to many horror and action games, Tapp is not portrayed as super-human or physically superior in any way. Being older, he is less fit and therefore inferior in combat situations. This is shown in Saw when Tapp loses a fistfight to Zep Hindle, which results in Tapp being shot in the chest. This is similarly shown in the Saw: The Video Game when Tapp has a hard time wielding heavy weapons and is usually slower than opponents to attack.[5][18]

Tapp's distinguishing most distinguishing attribute, his thickly scarred neck, was acquired early in Saw. His scar also altered his voice, making it hoarse.[2][11] This feature allowed Adam Faulkner and Lawrence Gordon to identify Tapp with little effort when piecing together their abductions. Similar to other detectives in the Saw franchise, Tapp is seen wearing civilian clothing when he was on the police force, with the exception of Saw V that showed a photograph of him in his uniform.[8]

Byron Hinson felt that Tapp's rendition in the Saw: The Video Game looked nothing like Danny Glover's Tapp from the film. He also stated that he looked many years younger, but blamed this partially on poor character textures and drawings.[19] In addition, Moby Games felt that while Earl Alexander did well at voicing Tapp for the game, he felt he sounded nothing like Danny Glover, which detracted from the game experience and pointed out the contradiction of Tapp's clear voice in the game despite his scarred throat. The reviewer went as far to jokingly compare Earl Alexander's voice as being closer to Samuel L. Jackson's than Danny Glover's.[20]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Detective David Tapp (Character)". IMDB. Retrieved 2009-11-22.
  2. ^ a b c d e Saw: Uncut Edition. Lions Gate Entertainment. 2005. {{cite AV media}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ Saw II special edition. Lions Gate Entertainment. 2006. Jigsaw: It was the police and the press who coined the nickname Jigsaw. I never encouraged or claimed that. The jigsaw piece that I cut from my subjects was only ever meant to be a symbol that that subject was missing something. A vital piece of the human puzzle. The survival instinct. {{cite AV media}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ Saw V. Lions Gate Entertainment. 2009. Hoffman: There is another detective that you should be aware of. His name's Tapp. He's smart, and he's getting closer. John: I know who he is. I need you to lead him to someone for me. A doctor. A healer who needs some healing. {{cite AV media}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Saw: The Video Game. Konami. 2009. {{cite AV media}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ a b "Saw Reviews". GameSpot. 2009-11-17. Retrieved 2009-11-22.
  7. ^ Saw: Uncut Edition. Lions Gate Entertainment. 2005. Tapp: Who said anything about a warrant? {{cite AV media}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ a b c Saw V. Lions Gate Entertainment. 2009. {{cite AV media}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ Saw V. Lions Gate Entertainment. 2009. Tapp: Is this yours, Doctor? [Holds up Lawrence Gordon's penlight] {{cite AV media}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ "SAW The Video Game". CBS News. 2009-11-11. Retrieved 2009-11-22.
  11. ^ a b "Detective Tapp - Saw Characters". UGO. Retrieved 2009-11-22.
  12. ^ "Rigg - Saw II Characters". UGO. Retrieved 2009-11-22.
  13. ^ a b Saw IV Unrated Director's Cut. Lions Gate Entertainment. 2008. {{cite AV media}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ "Movie Spoiler for the film - SAW IV". The Movie Spoiler. Retrieved 2009-11-22.
  15. ^ Saw V. Lions Gate Entertainment. 2009. Strahm: I was supposed to die in that trap. Erickson: You never should have been there without backup. {{cite AV media}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  16. ^ Saw II special edition. Lions Gate Entertainment. 2006. {{cite AV media}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ "Eric Matthews - Saw II Characters". UGO. Retrieved 2009-11-22.
  18. ^ "Saw: The Videogame Review". FPSFan. 2009-10-13. Retrieved 2009-11-23.
  19. ^ "SAW: Playstation 3 Review". Techulous. 2009-11-22. Retrieved 2009-11-23.
  20. ^ "Review of the game Saw". Moby Games. 2009-11-03. Retrieved 2009-11-23.
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