Time: 118 Minutes
Age Rating: R18 – Gore & sadistic violence
Cast:
Tobin Bell as John Kramer/Jigsaw
Shawnee Smith as Amanda Young
Synnøve Macody Lund as Cecilia Pederson
Steven Brand as Parker Sears
Renata Vaca as Gabriela
Michael Beach as Henry Kessler
Director: Kevin Greutert

Saw X was one of my most anticipated movies of this year, I’m a big fan of the Saw franchise, even with its low points. Following the very disastrous intended final chapter with Saw 3D, the franchise has been a little confused with what direction it would go in next, and had two attempts at reboots with Jigsaw and Spiral (the latter being a little more successful). Following all that, they decided to not only bring back Tobin Bell to reprise his iconic horror villain John Kramer/Jigsaw, but to also have him as the main character of the movie. With that, as well as Saw VI director Kevin Greutert helming the movie, I was very excited. As a fan, Saw X was very satisfying to me.

Saw X takes place between Saw I and II. Technically you can watch it after checking out the first film, but I think you’ll get more out of it if you’ve seen the first 7 movies. One of the biggest appeals of this movie is that this is fully a John Kramer movie. Tobin Bell’s Kramer has always been key to the franchise, but X is the first of the series to have him as the clear cut protagonist, despite him once again creating a deadly game with inventive traps. Some people might take issue with the first act, in which its less focussed on deadly traps (except for one scene), and instead largely focussed on John Kramer living his life with cancer before learning about a special treatment which could possible cure him. It’s starts out as more a drama than a horror movie, and it’s only when the movie approaches its second act where the main game starts. It is slowly paced and it could bore some people, but I was personally invested and I liked where it was going. It felt like a real character piece, and I appreciated that it took its time to establish John and the other characters instead of just rushing into the game. It does well at making you not only sympathise with John Kramer, but also root for him in a credible way, especially when it turns out that he was scammed. At the same time, it never feels out of character for him.

Compared to some of the other movies in the series, Saw X is quite straightforward, and doesn’t go for some of the over the top convoluted timeline twists like some of the other movies. While it is one of the heavier Saw movies on a story and character level, it is enjoyable too. The suspense and tension are strong, especially when it comes to the scenes involving the traps. There’s even some cheesiness, whether it’s with the dialogue, or even absurdity with the traps and gore. There’s particularly a gruesome non trap scene halfway through which was just so ridiculous that it was hilarious. Saw X has the habit of flashing back or cutting back to events that happened in the past a bit too much, and it can also get melodramatic at points, but I consider both to be part of Saw’s soap opera charm. The third act also make some fresh decisions for the series that I wasn’t expecting, and it ends in a satisfying way. I think the mid credits are well worth sticking around for, especially if you are a Saw fan.

The performances are really good. Tobin Bell as John Kramer/Jigsaw is one of the main staples of the series. He’s largely absent throughout much of the first movie and was initially shown as just a psychopathic serial killer. However, from Saw II and continuing onwards, the movies would reveal more about him and gave him a moral code, separating him from other iconic horror killers. While we got to learn more about Kramer over the course of these movies, Saw X still manages to show a different side of him. Bell is excellent in this movie, very believable and giving a lot of humanity while being effectively menacing. Also returning is Shawnee Smith as Amanda Young, who serves as Kramer’s apprentice, and she is also great. After Saw II and Saw III, I wanted to see John and Amanda interact a lot more, so I’m glad that we got that here. Their dynamic is believable, and this movie further develops their co-dependent relationship, as John is trying to prepare Amanda to take over for him once he’s dead. Generally the acting for the victims in the Saw movies can be a little hit or miss, but Saw X probably has the strongest performances here, especially when it comes to conveying terror. Synnøve Macody Lund does well at being the true villain of the movie, even though the writing for her makes her character cartoonishly evil, the performance is good enough that it works.

Longtime Saw editor and director Kevin Greutert has done some great work once again with the latest instalment in the franchise. The cinematography is stunning and well composed, and with the colour tones, it definitely attempts to go back to the look of the original 7 Saw movies. With this movie being a Saw movie there are some very creative traps and while I’m not sure I would place many of them as among the best in the series, they are nonetheless very well done. Of course, its very gory and the practical effects are top notch. The frantic editing makes a very welcome return, it’s a staple in the series and is enjoyable in the trap scenes as well as the big reveal scenes. Finally, Charlie Clouser composes another great score in his 10^th soundtrack for the series. Clouser along with Tobin Bell has remained the most reliable aspect of these movies, and his work here is possibly up there as one of the best of the series.   

Saw X is one of the best entries in the Saw franchise and a return to form. As expected, it is intense and gruesome, but also has a character driven focus, surprising emotional weight, solid direction, and excellent performances from Tobin Bell and Shawnee Smith. I’m excited to see where the series goes from here.