Saw X

4 out of 5 stars.

Saw X is a good horror film that takes the franchise into a whole new level which has more of a story than letting blood and gore take over. Yes it does have blood and gore but focuses more on John Kramer perspective as he goes after a group of scammers.

The film starts out a little slow with John going to Mexico. Discovering a group that saves people from there terminal illness. Only to find out they scam people for money while they don't perform the miracle surgeries. He grabs each one and places them into bloody traps for there redemption.

Good plot. The traps are brutal and gory. But the film does not let the gore take over while letting the story be the focus group. Great cast ensemble lead by Tobin Bell. The films plot twist was good but the fate on one character in a trap is left with a little disappointment. There is a mid credit scene that will leave the fans surprised. Overall, it may be a fresh new direction for the franchise and it was really needed.

The Saw movies are those we go into with the lowest of expectations, and even then there have been instances of utter disappointment (think Saw 3D or Jigsaw). But now, for almost the first time since Saw II in 2005, there finally is a "good" Saw movie. Yes, actually good.

Saw X does two very important things that make it work so well. The first is that we now have a movie where John Kramer is finally the main character. Rather than having to learn about him through his victims, like was so for the 8 other movies he was in, we finally get to know John Kramer through John Kramer. The second is that we're finally on John's side, essentially rooting for a serial killer, because the "players" in this movie are written to be some of the most disgustingly scummy people on Earth.

Saw X is much longer (with a runtime of 118 minutes) compared to the 9 other movies (all of which average at 90), and is paced much slower too; which quite honestly works really well. The games are decent, the violence is unwatchable (which in Saw language means it's good) and we also get a few fun Easter eggs.

There is yet one major disappointment, but that's spoiler territory since it has to do with the ending, so I will ignore that for now. Other than that, the movie was surprisingly good and I honestly did enjoy it more than I thought I would. If you have been keeping up with the Saw movies, definitely go check it out in cinemas!

John Kramer is told he has just months left to live, he's given home of a new treatment, a life saving surgery being held in Mexico, when it doesn't quite go as expected, he takes his revenge.

We're at the point now where new horrors just aren't sticking, hardly anything looks worthy of a follow-up, so we're getting endless Scream and Halloween movies, all of which seem to diminish with time, Saw though has been different, could this later one offer something new?

This latest film really does offer something new, it's unlike any of its predecessors, very much John's story, it's all from his point of view, we're almost made to feel a degree of sympathy for him, it's very, very clever. There's a monster even greater than John Kramer.

I should be used to the macabre deaths by now, but once again they manage to shock and horrify, there are some nasty moments here, a girl a few rows in front of me was actually sick during the second death scene, it is a very nasty moment.

The pace is unlike any other Saw movie, deliberately so, I found the build up very interesting, the fallout was very exciting, not for the faint hearted.

Tobin Bell delivers yet another excellent performance, he really does shine once again, and credit to the makeup team, you see a physical decline in the character as the movie develops, it's very well done.

It made me add The Hollies to my playlist.

Is that the end? I doubt it, I doubt it very much.

8/10.

Great to see Saw franchise back in theaters and not another spinoff. It's been 13 years since I got to enjoy an actual Saw movie in theaters and I got to say I was not disappointed! Without spoiling anything, make sure to hang around after the credits roll. I remember getting hooked on this franchise in October of 2004 as a college kid, expecting something like the movie Seven going in, but leaving not fully knowing that would become my favorite movie of all time. 19 years later I'm still a Saw junkie! This entry, while still very much a Saw movie, was different, but in a good way. The pacing felt like Saw 3 as did the tone. It had good length and did not feel rushed like some of the unfortunate sequels that between Saw 5-3D. This blew Jigsaw and Spiral out of the water!! It's also a movie that would mostly make sense for a new viewer never having seen a Saw movie but also is still going to please most hardcore fans. There weren't as many rabbit holes as I had hoped for but still some surprises. The twist certainly wasn't the best and was not jaw dropping at all, partly because I saw part of it coming a ways off, but this movie didn't need a twist to be great. Saw X is truly a tribute and story for John Kramer, just as we heard it would be. Violence level is right at the top of what we've seen, but more realistic like the early entries and not over the top cheesy violence like in later sequels. That's about all I can say, so enjoy it!

'Saw X' returns with fervor to the franchise's unsettling realms, aligning its haunting narrative to explore the exploitation inherent in the current anti-big pharma rhetoric. Despite its stance, the anti-big pharma movement is just as profit-driven as big pharma; but as depicted here, its unregulated nature can lead to highly destructive actions severely impacting individuals' lives.

At 81, Tobin Bell reprises his iconic role as John Kramer with remarkable vitality, maintaining the character's haunting grip on the audience with his enduring portrayal. It was also a nostalgic and incredibly rewarding experience to see the return of Shawnee Smith as Amanda Young.

The narrative is seamless and compelling, guiding the audience through its labyrinth of moral quandaries with an impactful flow.

The victims in this installment are framed as some of the most deserving in the series, heightening the film's moral ambiguity and intensifying the notions of retribution among viewers.

Despite the climactic twist being predictable, it retains its satisfying essence.

'Saw X' is a compelling blend of socially pertinent themes, stellar performances, and satisfying narrative, providing a lingering experience. All in all, it's my second favourite film in the saw franchise.