John Kramer (Tobin Bell) is back. The most chilling installment of the SAW franchise yet explores the untold chapter of Jigsaw’s most personal game. Set between the events of SAW I and II, this story finds a sick and desperate John traveling to Mexico for a risky and experimental medical procedure in hopes of obtaining a miracle cure for his cancer – only to discover the entire operation is a scam to defraud the most vulnerable. Armed with a newfound purpose, John returns to his work, turning the tables on the con artists in his signature visceral way through a series of ingenious and terrifying traps.
What We Thought:
I’m a big fan of the Saw films. I’ve rewatched the full franchise at least twice and I have to say, Saw X might be the best film since the first one. This movie takes place in between the events of the first and second film and fits in pretty effortlessly.
The biggest reason the film is so good is because of Tobin Bell. He acts his butt off in this movie. If you look at the franchise historically, Bell is in most of the movies, but doesn’t get to really act. As great as Saw is, Bell is on the floor presumed dead for 99% of it. Sequels have him in it and his voice is a dominant presence throughout, but some films have the disciples controlling everything because John Kramer/Jigsaw is either too sick to do anything or dead.
Saw X is the John Kramer show. Once Saw shows him alive at the end, Saw X kicks in showing him being diagnosed with cancer and trying to find anything that can help him. Bell is so good because for the majority of the film he is acting as John Kramer and not Jigsaw. He’s a cancer stricken man looking to live and gets caught up in a scheme. It’s the first time we really see all of John Kramer, who he is, how he interacts with every day people and is simply a man who wants to live. There are plenty of traps and tons of blood, but Saw X humanizes John Kramer and shows why he would become someone like Jigsaw.
Plus I loved the film because I went through a major medical issue over the past 2 years myself having the worst operation to recover from and my friend was diagnosed with cancer around the same time. To see Kramer/Jigsaw get revenge on con artists taking advantage of sick people is beautiful. Of all the people to wind up dead in the Saw franchise, these are the most deserving to me. The storyline of Saw X is perfect timing in my life.
I really liked Saw X and it honestly might be in my top 10 of 2023. It fits in between the first and second films plot wise, but it feels completely fresh. Maybe it’s because Tobin Bell is given more to do and absolutely crushes it, but it feels like a new take on the franchise. That being said, if you are a fan of the series you’ll dig it too. It has all the gore and violence you’ve come to expect in a Saw movie, but it adds in a top-notch performance from Bell. If you like Saw and its sequels or are a fan of Tobin Bell, then the movie is…
Highly Recommended!
Special Features:
Audio Commentary with Director-Editor Kevin Greutert, Cinematographer Nick Matthews, and Production Designer Anthony Stabley
Reawakening Multipart Making-of Documentary:
– I Want to Play a Game: Bleeding New Life into the Saga
– This Time It’s Personal: Characters and Casting
– Another Time, Another Place: Locations and Cinematography
– There Will Be Blood: Production Design and Make-up
– Leave Nothing to Chance: Post-Production
– Live or Die: Release and Legacy
Drawing Inspiration: Illustrated Scene Breakdowns with Director-Editor Kevin Greutert
Make-Up Department Trap Tests
Deleted Scenes
Theatrical Trailer
The Nerds Templar 