‘Saw X’ Review – Tobin Bell Takes Center Stage In A Sequel That’s A Return To Form

If you’re a fan of the Saw franchise, the whole thing has put you through a series of highs and lows. It all began in 2004 when James Wan and Leigh Whannell shocked the industry with their low-budget introduction to the Jigsaw killer, a non-traditional serial killer that tests his victims and their will to live by putting them through deadly “games” where they must inflict great physical pain upon themselves to survive. The film became a hit and with that Saw became an annual Halloween event with each sequel arriving just in time for spooky season.

It started well enough but eventually, like many horror franchises, the whole thing grew tired and it became more about what gory ways can the audience watch people die rather than crafting a compelling story. The last two entries, Jigsaw and Spiral, presented such a stark departure from what fans had grown accustomed to that it seemed there was no way to resurrect the brand from mediocrity. That is until the soon-to-be-released Saw X. Don’t let the number ten fool you. Despite being the tenth entry of the franchise, this is a true return to form and its most wise decision is to put Tobin Bell’s John Kramer front and center in a more emotionally driven story. Don’t worry guys, there are still traps and gore galore to satisfy all of your bloodlust.

The big question would be where can you go with a franchise that has seemed to go just about everywhere at this point? The answer is to take things back to the beginning a bit with the events of Saw X actually being positioned between Saw and Saw II. John is fresh off getting a devastating cancer diagnosis and he is doing everything he can to find a cure. While in his cancer therapy group, one of his fellow members recommends what appears to be the miracle he has been asking for. The miracle takes him to Mexico City and soon he’s getting a procedure from Dr. Cecilia Pederson (Synnøve Macody Lund) and her team that “cures” him.

John is ready to attack life once again until he makes the discovery that the whole thing was just a scam to defraud vulnerable patients out of their money and let them die while they all get rich. Faster than you can say, “live or die, make your choice,” John is back to his old tricks again as he seeks to make all the con artists pay in his signature way for their shady deeds.

This might turn off some fans but Saw X is a decidedly more emotional film and is a bit more story-driven than previous installments. For those just seeking torture and pain, all of that is still there but the film makes the audience work for it. At the center of the story is John’s legitimate journey for a cure and then the crushing realization that he has been duped by those who promised to help him. Due to this, Tobin Bell is given a full opportunity to shine as John. He’s oddly the heart and center of the story and still the master of pain and twisted self-reflection that has been in the DNA of the franchise from its very start. At 81 years old, it’s great to see Bell take center stage here. Saw is very much his franchise and this sequel takes notice of that.

Since the film takes things back earlier in the timeline, we also get to see the return of Amanda Young (Shawnee Smith), a junkie who was once the subject of one of Jigsaw’s moral-infused traps that would ultimately become his apprentice. The character made a surprise return in Saw II following the events of the first film and with this movie being a connective tissue, we get to see more regarding how their relationship formed and how she adopted his philosophy. In this film, which takes place just weeks after the original, we meet an Amanda who is more vulnerable and innocent. The character is still green in the lessons that she’s learning from John and she’s a bit more compassionate. The mentor teaching his mentee aspect of the movie turns out to be its strongest element and Amanda, along with John, provides the sequel with a beating heart that turns out to be the best part of the story.

Saw X also works as a bit of a scathing commentary on the American healthcare system. The film doesn’t provide a groundbreaking stance on this but it does paint a credible portrait of why some might seek out experimental procedures when the system that is supposed to help them seemingly fails them. Before seeking out the treatment in Mexico, John had already borne witness to the true horrors of the insurance and pharmaceutical professions. He has watched these industries cut corners of life-saving medical breakthrough procedures only to keep patients sick in order to line their pockets.

Director Kevin Greutert, who helmed the sixth and seventh installments, returns to the franchise with something to prove here. Having directed the later installments of the series, he might seem like an odd choice to bring the franchise back to its roots but his knowledge of the mythology actually makes him a perfect fit. With help from writers Josh Stolberg and Pete Goldfinger, everything feels more grounded and focused. Yes, the look of the film is still frenetic as ever and you never doubt you’re watching a Saw film but they let the story breathe before the mayhem truly begins.

In addition to a more grounded story, the film does bring all the pain and torture fans have come to love about the franchise. There are new and ingenious traps that are savage in their intent, even if they don’t reach the iconic levels of the reverse bear trap or the hypodermic needle pit. There are eight traps on display in the film and they offer a clever spin on the pain John felt following being duped in regards to the procedure he was told would save his life. This allows the traps to be stomach-churning but also intelligent in their execution. For instance, there is a cancer radiation machine that becomes co-opted to burn the flesh off of one of Cecelia’s con artist cronies, unless she can break her hand and ankle all while suspended in mid-air. If you think it doesn’t get worse from there, then you simply just don’t know Saw.

Spooky season can now officially begin with the arrival of Saw X. There is enough on display here to please hardcore fans of the franchise and maybe even convert the uninitiated. For a series well into its tenth installment, it’s refreshing to see that this old dog still has some impressive tricks up its sleeve (stick around for a mid-credits scene that also surprises). The games have begun once again and fans should be absolutely thrilled to play along.

Saw X arrives in theaters on September 29, 2023 courtesy of Lionsgate.