David Hackl took a job in the film business 23 years ago when he ran out of money to pay for his schooling in architecture. The decision paid off, and though he never returned to his studies, he will this year make his feature directorial debut with Saw V — set to wrap shooting in Toronto at the end of the month.

As a production designer on Saw installments two through four, the Toronto filmmaker worked closely with director Darren Lynn Bousman and exec producer Dan Heffner on the treacherous traps for which the franchise and its villain Jigsaw are famous. That helped him get in the director’s chair.

‘I had gained the confidence of the producers and people at [U.S. distributor] Lionsgate,’ Hackl tells Playback Daily while on a filming break. ‘Also, because I was so involved in the design of the traps and a lot of the story of the past Saw films, I was the natural to move into this position.’

In the latest movie, a recurring character played by Costas Mandylor sets out to carry on Jigsaw’s legacy. The film also stars Julie Benz (Dexter) and Scott Patterson (Gilmore Girls).

He says the biggest challenge is filming the traps, adding that the process is ‘highly technical.’

‘They have to look horrifically dangerous and yet be ultimately safe for the actors,’ says Hackl. ‘I loved designing them, but now I’m really enjoying working with the actors and [DOP] David Armstrong.’

Saw V is the fourth in the franchise to shoot at Toronto’s Cinespace Studios. Post-production will be completed at Urban Audio and Deluxe for delivery in mid-September.

Hackl says he enjoys the Saw films more than the genre in particular, offering that many horror movies are ‘poorly done.’

‘The Saw franchise has more thought put into it than the average horror movie. For me it’s like solving a jigsaw puzzle…trying to figure out the film, how the traps are going to work, and their connection to the characters,’ he explains.

While the inexpensive franchise has been hugely successful for Lionsgate, with Saw II scoring US$87 million in North America in 2005 — its grosses at the box office dipped in the last few years, with Saw III bringing in US$80 million in 2006, down to US$63 million for the fourth version last year, according to Box Office Mojo. The Canadian distributor is Maple Pictures.

Hackl says he’s still in disbelief over the opportunity to direct Saw V. ‘Not only am I taking over one of the biggest U.S. horror franchises ever…the fact that I’m a Canadian guy doing it, believe me, there’s some sweet justice to that,’ he says.

Saw V is set for release on Oct. 24, in time for Halloween.