For a film franchise as cemented within the horror landscape and iconography as the "Saw" series, it can be difficult to excite fans with every new release. Yet, miraculously, the creatives behind "Saw X," the series' latest and tenth installment, managed to create a phenomenal sequel.
In a slew of franchise horror films that have failed to live up to the standards of their original predecessors, "Saw X" subverts expectations. Despite the incredibly referential promotional campaign for the film online, including a cheeky parody of the Nicole Kidman AMC advertisement featuring Billy the puppet, the film's greatest qualities occur on screen.
The "Saw" franchise is no stranger to the non-sequential placements of its recent sequels, and "Saw X" is another reminder. Set between the events of "Saw" (2004) and "Saw II" (2005), the film sees the welcome return of the unconventional "Jigsaw" serial killer John Kramer (Tobin Bell).
Learning that he has only a few months to live due to an advanced brain cancer diagnosis, Kramer ventures to Mexico seeking the "miraculous" experimental curing treatments done by the mysterious Cecilia Pederson (Synnøve Macody Lund). After undergoing surgery, Kramer's naive belief that he is cancer-free shatters once he discovers that the treatment is just a facade. Kramer seeks revenge on those who wronged him by kidnapping Pederson and her accomplices: Diego (Joshua Okamoto), Gabriela (Renata Vaca), Mateo (Octavio Hinojosa) and Valentina (Paulette Hernández). Kramer then subjects each of them to play a round of Jigsaw's infamous games.
"Saw X" quickly evokes the frenzied and bleak atmosphere of "Saw." It is a welcome return to form, primarily thanks to the film's director and editor, Kevin Greutert. In this entry, however, Greutert avoids many of the poorly executed characteristics prevalent in later sequels and opts to align the film closer to the original's tone.
A dramatic effort is made throughout the film to build on the suspense and intensity behind every minuscule yet climactic moment. The hectic editing known as a signature within the franchise returns whenever characters are placed in one of the intricately designed, sometimes lackluster traps. Despite the best efforts of the editing, some trap outcomes feel too similar and the result of its characteristic editing once the time runs out.
This similarity in resulting outcomes is nothing new within the realm of "Saw" films. However, the intensity and uneasiness felt when the characters struggle to complete each trap feels unique. The traps within "Saw X" are more rustic, based on their surroundings and hand-crafted in nature, heightened by the sheer brutality of the film's visual effects that are as gruesome as they are technical marvels.
Every wire cutting through flesh and bone, suctioning of eyeballs or scalpel carving through a character's skull can be felt amongst viewers. The film is not for those who are incredibly squeamish to these visuals, but fans of splatter films, who are well accustomed to this type of gore, are in for a pleasant treat.
Apart from the overuse of the problematic yellow filter when depicting outside settings in Mexico, "Saw X" contains some of the most visually appealing shots in the franchise. One scene in particular involves the kidnapping of Pederson from inside her home.
Excellent use of wide shots and lighting makes Pederson's home seem like a dollhouse, highlighting the sheer wealth she has accumulated from her scams. The scene also invokes one of the film's best uses of sound and tension building, as the masked Pig crashes into Pederson's home in a truly horrifying manner.
"Saw X" truly shines and sets itself apart from its predecessors through its emotionally layered screenplay, written by Josh Stolberg and Peter Goldfinger, that centers on Kramer. Alongside his favored, Pig mask-wearing apprentice Amanda Young (Shawnee Smith), Kramer takes center stage in this film for the first time in the franchise.
The decision to center on Kramer's struggles with his mortality results in a more complex understanding of Jigsaw, who becomes someone viewers may want to root for throughout the film. Accompanying his more protagonistic role in the film is his dedicated connection to Carlos (Jorge Briseño), a young boy who lives near Pederson's facility.
The film does not fully explore the connection built between Kramer and Carlos and expects viewers to be fully convinced of the two's friendship during the climactic moment. Despite this, the film manages to skirt around the issue by increasing the emotional stakes and morality of the characters by placing the young child in danger. The scene allows Bell to truly showcase his acting abilities, which are greatly on display throughout the entire 118-minute runtime.
Shawnee Smith delivers an equally convincing performance as the morally gray Amanda Young and her sympathetic cries for Jigsaw's victims are incredibly memorable. The supporting characters also offer well-rounded performances, most notably from Lund as the conniving Pederson, but most do have the longevity to showcase their abilities fully.
The highly memorable, head-bouncing score from famed composer Charlie Clouser, who broke records by becoming the first American to score 10 films in a single franchise, according to Liz Shannon Miller of Consequence, unsurprisingly returns in the film. Closer's iconic sounds fill viewers' bodies with "Saw"-induced dopamine once the first strike of the hammered dulcimer is heard. While effortlessly executed, The film's many jaw-dropping plot twists are only intensified by the incredible remixed sounds of Closer's forever iconic "Hello Zepp."
Longtime horror fans and seasoned viewers of the "Saw" franchise are in for an emotional scarring, excellent franchise horror film with "Saw X." While the film is not perfect, "Saw X" manages to beat the worst Jigsaw trap that plagues the horror genre — badly made sequels.
Rating: 4.5/5
