Saw X

Cast View all

	Tobin Bell	John Kramer
	Shawnee Smith	Amanda Young
	Synnøve Macody Lund	Cecilia Pederson
	Steven Brand	Parker Sears
	Renata Vaca	Gabriela
	Joshua Okamoto	Diego
	Octavio Hinojosa	Mateo
	Paulette Hernández	Valentina
	Jorge Briseño	Carlos
	Costas Mandylor	Hoffman
	Michael Beach	Henry Kessler
	David Alfano	Doctor
	Katie Barberi	Cancer Support Group Leader
	Lucía Gómez-Robledo	MRI Technician
	Donagh Gordon	Dr. Finn Pederson
	Sebastián Torres	Masked Gunman
	Cristo Ruiz	Tattooed Guy
	Baltimore Beltran	Carlos's Father
	Kerry Adra	TV Host
	Natasha Goss	Cancer Victim 1
	Craig Hurley	Cancer Victim 2
	James Burg	Boy in Park
	Bailey Guidry	Coffee Shop Worker
	Isan	Custodian

Crew View all

Director	Kevin Greutert
Writer	Pete Goldfinger, Josh Stolberg
Producer	Mark Burg, Jason Constantine, Kym Crepin, Gabriel Del Valle, Luisa Gomez de Silva, Daniel J. Heffner, Gregg Hoffman, Ketura Kestin, Oren Koules, Ulrich Maier, Mindy Sheldon, Stacey Testro, James Wan, Leigh Whannell
Musician	Charlie Clouser
Photography	Nick Matthews

Trailer

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Personal

Notes

My quick rating - 7.2/10. I was really hoping to squeeze Saw X into my #Shocktober lineup, and honestly, it turned out to be a pretty fitting way to close out the month. In a horror franchise that has often struggled with sequel fatigue and increasingly convoluted timelines, Saw X surprisingly emerges as a dark, inventive entry that breathes some much-needed life back into the series. Who would’ve thought that movie number ten would be the one to pump fresh blood into the trap-filled veins of Saw and not Chris Rock's Spiral?

Taking place between the events of the first Saw and Saw II, this entry sees the series put its sole emphasis on the man himself, John Kramer, once again acted to perfection by the inimitable Tobin Bell. Confronted with his own imminent death, Kramer flees to Mexico in a bid to locate a cure for his plight. Unfortunately, playing around with false hope and the consequences of exploiting the patient’s circumstances turns out to be a very, very bad decision when the patient happens to be Jigsaw. Especially when the man happens to be dying.

I believe one of the film’s biggest strengths is its smart, calculated storytelling. Rather than existing solely to rack up a body count, Saw X actually feels like it has something to say. The story fills the gap of the previously mentioned Saw flicks and creates a path of its own, immersing itself in Kramer’s troubled mind as he navigates his weakness, his fury, and his twisted determination for justice. Kevin Greutert, along with writers Pete Goldfinger and Josh Stolberg, somehow manages the impressive feat of making you pull for John Kramer, which feels morally wrong…yet undeniably effective.

Amanda, brought back by Shawnee Smith, is a good way of connecting this film to the rest of the series. She gets to explore this emotional conflict and loyalty that would be a natural thing to experience. Especially when she is standing right beside Jigsaw on what is so clearly a personal mission. It is actually a good call to make, and it adds well to this continuity without being obvious.

Of course, this is still a Saw movie, and the traps do not disappoint. They're innovative, gruesome, and visually compelling, and they showcase the “sadistic ingenuity” the series has come to be known for. What makes Saw X different from a lot of the “Saw” films, on the other hand, is the fact that the narrative is given the focus it deserves for the first time in a long while, and the writing does not disappoint either

Ultimately, Saw X feels like a proper return to form. The movie pays respect to the legacy of Jigsaw while infusing fresh life so it never feels stale. With performances that work, kills inventive in concept, and an exploration into morality and justice unexpectedly thoughtful, Saw X proves even ten movies in, this series still has a few traps left worth stepping into. Whether you want to or not.

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