Saw X – A Fresh Take On An Old Classic

It may seem impossible for any horror franchise to reinvent itself in terms of tone and narrative nearly two decades after its inception, and yet somehow Saw X, the latest instalment in the long-running, gory, often convoluted series does so with shocking satisfaction. Rarely is the tenth entry in a horror franchise lauded as being one of the best but make no mistake, this installment may very well be the crown jewel in this iconic horror series. This time around, desperate to find treatment for his debilitating cancer, John Kramer (Bell) travels to Mexico to undergo an experimental medical procedure that is supposedly a miracle cure. But when he discovers that the whole operation is merely a scam designed to rob millions from desperate souls like himself, he took matters into his own hands by putting those responsible through the latest incarnation of his infamous Jigsaw traps.

Saw X is a departure from the usual torture porn of the series as the first act offers a more hopeful story that shows the suffering and hopelessness of the situation Kramer now found himself in and showcases more of his sympathetic, human side. This turn delivers a welcome and interesting change of pace that adds yet another new layer to the series’ central character but is also a wonderful display of star Bell’s considerable range and talent for the first time. Meanwhile, those who have kept coming back to the Saw franchise for its excessive torture and gore will see a lot less of that this time around (though the film still has plenty of horrific, genuinely tense, and nail-biting traps), however, those who watch for Bell’s commanding performance as the iconic horror character will nonetheless still find immense enjoyment. Watching anyone, let alone Jigsaw, get revenge on those who had not only took advantage of him but also robbed him and countless others, gives him and interesting and empathetic motive that add another dimension to his torturous traps. Ultimately, the film features perhaps the most humanized portrayal fictional serial killer.

In the end, when compared to past films in the franchise, especially the first, Saw X marks a stark difference in tone, visuals, pacing and storytelling. The story is straightforward and told in a concise way where every story thread ends up getting tied together in a satisfying way that will have viewers singing the praises of John Kramer and Amanda Young (Smith), no matter how bizarre that sentence sounds. If this is the creative direction the Saw franchise is going, it almost begs for a sequel even though the ending to Saw X is more than fitting.

If an old dog like the Saw franchise can be taught new tricks like the ones that Saw X pulls off, fans both old and new alike will be left begging for more entries in the near future.

still courtesy of Lionsgate

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Luke Elisio

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