‘Tis the season for “Home Alone” marathons, memes and jokes. Since the 1990 movie hit theaters, it has been a perennial Christmas classic — and its adorable protagonist Kevin McCallister remains a Yuletide staple.
And every year since 2014, the movie has fostered a darker holiday tradition: a much discussed fan theory that McCallister became a serial killer.
Or more specifically, the theory, put into the ether by the now-defunct Grantland, said Macaulay Culkin’s character grew up to become Jigsaw, a k a John Kramer, the creepy killer from the “Saw” films.
There are a few reasons they said the cherubic but mischievous McCallister became a sadistic murderer. First, his elaborate but crude traps he set up for the “Wet Bandits” played by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern.
Fans also point to their physical likeness with blue eyes and blond hair, and their propensity to torture their victims.
They note that McCallister communicates with people via an electronic device while Jigsaw talks to his trapped victims through a screen.
And in “Saw II,” Jigsaw plans to burn someone alive, and some say that idea was born from McCallister’s fear of his basement furnace.
The wide-eyed ’90s icon also develops a fascination with and fear of his aloof next-door neighbor Marley, who was rumored to be a serial killer nicknamed the “South Bend Shovel Slayer.”
One fan took his theory to Reddit, writing: “For me it’s totally plausible. Kevin = Jigsaw both make intricate traps both are homicidal both have anger issues the bear trap from saw looks like the furnace in Kevin’s basement.
“Jigsaw has a room that looks like Kevin’s basement Jigsaw has a furnace trap playing off of Kevin’s fear the look similar.”
James Wan, co-creator of “Saw,” told the Huffington Post that McCallister was not an inspiration but called the theories “awesome.”
“I should’ve known all along that Macaulay Culkin would grow up to be John Kramer. I think it’s awesome,” he said. “I’m very flattered that people take the time to have fun with all these fan theories. I think that’s why I make these movies. I want the fans out there to have fun with them.”