The Saw movie franchise has featured plenty of twisted games, shocking plot twists, and tons of blood and gore over the years. Now, the tenth entry in the series has been released with Saw X. Does this latest installment meet the expectations of long-time fans, or should it be game over for Saw? Let’s analyze every twist and trap to find out. 

The Good

One of the most fascinating elements of Saw X is that John Kramer feels more like the hero of this story than the villain. He’s still putting folks in traps and forcing them to fight for their lives, but the story is told from his perspective rather than one of the victims or the cops. The way the story unfolds allows the audience to root for Jigsaw, one of the faces of modern horror. This way of turning the formula on its head leads to the film feeling unique compared to the other entries in the franchise.

All the acting is great throughout Saw X, but it’s Tobin Bell who gives an especially commendable performance as John Kramer/Jigsaw. He gives the character a lot more depth than many other horror icons by allowing him to have heart while also being quite twisted. This may be his greatest performance in any movie in the series.

The Saw franchise usually puts victims in traps or games that at least somewhat matches what they’ve done to wind up in them. Some, though, are pretty big stretches. In Saw X, the sinister games reflect the victims’ crimes extraordinarily well. The traps Jigsaw puts them in make so much sense that it’s weirdly satisfying, and even allows for speculation as to what the other characters will need to do in their own games. 

It’s also worth noting that each scene that focuses on the games being played is just as much twisted fun as classic Saw. They’re even edited similarly. You’ll wince and want to look away but also feel every bit of suspense. The gore effects look completely real as well.

In true Saw fashion, there’s a rather interesting plot twist during the final act. No spoilers as to what it is, but it is quite satisfying when it plays out. It’s a lot of fun that certain traditions such as this are kept ten movies in.

Saw X is probably the best shot film in the series. The cinematography is masterful and guides the emotion of every scene, whether it be somber, heartfelt, or just plain sickening. Every shot also just looks absolutely stunning.

The Bad

The first third of the movie is a bit on the slow side. It’s done this way to set the scene for the rest of the story, but the pacing early on could have been stronger. It’s not quite dull, as it does feel like it’s building to the meat of the story, but it does begin to drag just a bit until the games begin.

There’s a point in the movie where a character needs to grab something that’s out of reach. One character mentions trying to use their clothing to make a rope to reach the item, which is something that’s been seen to work previously in this series. However, this isn’t even attempted. Instead, they cut open a dead body to use an intestine as a rope without even a second thought. This is far from a terrible issue with the movie, but it’s so ridiculous that it leads to unintentional humor.

Another very minor issue is that John Kramer is noticeably older than he was in previous entries despite this one taking place between the first and second movies. Obviously, Tobin Bell is now older and that’s why, but it’s still noticeable for those looking for a chronological order binge. Yes, part of it is the character’s cancer treatment, but he was also receiving the treatment in Saw II and Saw III and still looks older in the movie that takes place before them. This doesn’t hurt the film itself, but it’s hard not to notice.

It is genuinely interesting and entertaining to see John Kramer take on the role of the hero of the movie, but because of that, it’s not quite as scary as some of the classic Saw movies. The movie not being scary doesn’t make it bad by any means, but it’s worth noting for a piece of horror media. If you’re looking for a movie with frights, stick to the first few entries.

Conclusion

Saw X feels like a true return to form for the franchise. It’s gory, thought-provoking, and entertaining in some incredibly twisted ways. There are a few very minor issues here and there, but for the tenth movie in a series, it’s shocking there aren’t more. It may not be the best out of the ten movies, but it’s far from the worst. It’s what a lot of long-time Saw fans have been craving and is sure to make them happy. If you love the plot twists, games, and gore that Saw is known for, then Saw X is an absolute must-see.

Rating: 8.5/10

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