Saw X Review
The most recent installment in the Saw franchise was released in theaters on September 29, 2023. Saw X was directed by Kevin Greutert and written by both Peter Goldfinger and Josh Stolberg. Saw X sees Tobin Bell reprise the role of John “Jigsaw” Kramer as well as other returning faces such as Shawnee Smith playing Amanda Young and Costas Manylor as Detective Mark Hoffman. In addition to these returning faces the cast features Synnove Macody Lund as Dr. Cerclia Pederson, Steven Brand as Parker Sears, Renata Vaca as Gabriela, Joshua Okamoto as Diego, Octavio Hinojosa as Meteo, Paullete Hernandez as Valentina, and Michael Beach as Henry.
This Saw entry may be called Saw X, but it is a direct sequel to the original Saw film that came out in 2004. In this film John travels to Mexico in search to find a cure to his terminal brain cancer. With only four months left to live, Kramer partakes in an experimental medical procedure that is said to cure all types of cancer. Shortly after the procedure he realizes that he was scammed. The doctors were fake, and they were just there to take money from the sick. John Cramer alongside Amanda kidnap everyone who was in on the scam and forces them to partake in his trademark retribution game. Each person is placed in one of Jigsaws traps and must play in order to survive. One by one the characters are locked into a trap that is specific to them and play their game until everyone has gone. Jigsaw and Amanda watch from a distance and make sure that the game plays out according to plan.
(Spoiler Alert)
The climax of this film sees Dr. Peterson and Parker Sears turning the table on John and Amanda. They lock Cramer and a young boy, who he had befriended earlier in the film into the trap called the blood-board. This trap waterboards the victims in blood. After locking them in the trap Dr. Peterson and Sears look for the money in the office, but this was all part of Johns plan, and the room becomes a gas chamber. There is only one air hole so they must fight each other in order to survive. Dr. Peterson stabs Sears and successfully survives Jigsaws game. The film ends with John giving the young boy the money as the three of them leave the compound in search of others who need to be reconciled. For the first time in the Saw franchise this movie contains a mid-credit scene. In this scene we see that that the games have not concluded, and Kramer has unfinished business with other people involved in the medical scam.
Saw X follows a different formula to that of the other Saw films. In this film John is the main character of the film not the characters in the game, like in Saw: The Final Chapter, We get to follow Kramer’s interactions with the fake doctors, as well as getting to see firsthand how terrible these people are. They give people hope with their lies in order to fill their pockets of millions of dollars. In the past saw films, we learned about the characters while the game was playing out. This created more character development, and the story was able to play its way out. With the characters developed the writers were able to focus on a good story rather than just relying on crazy over the top traps that the characters must escape.
Many movie-goers see a Saw film for the elaborate traps and the scenes where they are playing the games. The traps in this movie were quite elaborate but there were not any that were too over the top to the point where they belonged in a science fiction movie. Each game was filled with loud music and circle camera shots which added to the intensity of the scene. Most of the gore was used with practical effect but it did not look fake like some of the other saw installments.
Saw X is a great rebirth to the Saw franchise, it shows that the Saw movies can continue to thrive with a great story and the ability for the characters to develop. This film is a fun ride and definitely is a must watch this Halloween Season. It is filled with horrific intense scenes that will make you want to look away but a great story that makes you want to keep watching. Saw X is not a cinematic masterpiece, but it did raise the bar from the past films. There are high hopes for the next Saw film to come out.
