Saw X

After all these years, here it is, and after the efforts to modernize and Hollywood-ify the two previous installments, here is good old Saw as we know it. Well, maybe with the difference that the dirty camera filter has been dropped and instead of jumping from one "trap scene" to another, Saw X focuses more on a single room with four people, and in addition to the quantity of traps, it goes more for quality and presents us with a pretty rich background of all the victims, so your hatred and satisfaction at their deaths is well taken care of. Similarly, I appreciate the first 45-minute warm-up which reveals Kramer's motives and after which it's straight to the point and full speed ahead to the finale. The film has an idea, it makes great use of the Mexico theme, the dirty garage and the eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth revenge, and the more it races towards the end, the more it picks up the pace. But the biggest pleasure is definitely the twist at the end and the literally breathtaking turn that shocked like a bitch, changed the whole game and left me gaping. Up until then the film was riding an already entertaining enough wave, and then comes this unexpected blow that just ripped my balls off and I was screaming inwardly with joy like a little kid. The gore and the traps are ingenious, we get Jigsaw's clues in the form of his verbal metaphors, Kramer is given a huge amount of room to develop his character and there's a mini-cameo from Hoffman in addition to Amanda, so the film nicely ticks off all the audience's desires at once. I was convinced of a strong four stars all along, but I can't go other than full score for the ending. Horror event of the year and proper fanservice. Oh, and we have a post-credit scene! (09/29/2023)

Certainly better than I expected when the next Saw was announced (the best since the sixth installment), but at the same time not so good that I understand the surprisingly high ratings across film databases. It benefits from the fact that Jigsaw's main antagonist is an incredible bastard, and that the film thus breaks slightly from the existing template by making Kramer and his sidekicks the protagonists. It would have worked better, though, in my opinion, if this approach had come right after the first original episode. It's too late now, especially knowing all that's been (and will be) going on, and this is really an unplanned padding made out of necessity after the creators eliminated the villain too soon, driving the series into a dead end in which it has hopelessly sunk deeper and deeper over time. (10/23/2023)

The story is actually a sequel to the first film... And I quite liked the direction the creators of the series took. I really had no idea what to expect from Saw X. The first half was rather slow-paced (which isn't standard for this series... that change was refreshing). But then it hit hard. John Kramer broke loose! The traps were once again meticulously designed (some surprised with their brutality). And the ending? The central twist worked. Yeah, nobody’s going to take down Kramer easily. I give it a solid 7/10. P.S. The post-credits scene deserves a star. (03/10/2024)

Over the course of its two-hour runtime, Saw X first attempts to be a drama about dying of cancer and later wants to knock us out with sophisticated twists, but it’s all for nothing due to the pervasive imbecility of the screenwriting and directing. By imbecility, I mean the stylization of the sadistic serial killer into the role of martyr and judge, with whom we are supposed to sympathies when he seeks a life-saving treatment, and whom we are then supposed to root for in the slaughter of those who screwed him over. The punishment of the main antagonist is the least “satisfying”, even though we spend the whole film waiting for it. By imbecility, I also mean the comically overwrought scene with intestines and the fact that it doesn’t occur to the characters to turn their heads to the side so that the blood doesn’t run onto their faces as they are being “waterboarded” with the red stuff. And I’m not even going to get into the abilities of one of the victims in performing surgery on himself. I like HORROR more than most viewers, so it bothers me all the more when it’s handled like a genre for idiots. (10/06/2023)

I’ve always been a big fan of the Saw series, especially during its peak in the early 2000s. Over time, my enthusiasm has mellowed, and my tastes have shifted, but I still have a soft spot for it. So, I was really curious about the tenth installment, though I was a bit apprehensive about the two-hour runtime. After watching, I can say the length is justified and fits well within the narrative. Saw X doesn’t push the story forward; instead, it dives deep into John Kramer’s character, exploring his psychology, humanity, and vulnerabilities. The first part of the film takes its time, carefully setting up a strong foundation for what’s to come. And of course, being a Saw movie, it eventually kicks into high gear, delivering the intense traps and gore that fans expect and crave. Some of the traps are especially brutal, ensuring that gore enthusiasts will be satisfied. One particular trap involving the brain brought to mind the iconic scene from Hannibal, and I’d rank it among the best the series has ever offered – a few minutes of extreme intensity that really got my nerves on edge. Fans of the series should be pleased, as this installment hits all the right notes. If this is Tobin Bell’s final outing as John Kramer, it’s a fitting swan song. By the way, out of all ten films, the only real dud in my opinion is Jigsaw. For such a prolific series, that’s quite an achievement. (09/28/2023)