“The most artsy Saw Movie in the entire franchise”

Dir: Kevin Greutert
Prod: Mark Burg, Oren Koules
Writ: Josh Stolberg, Peter Goldfinger
Cast: Tobin Bell, Steven Brand, Shawnee Smith, Synnøve Macody Lund, Michael Beach

Saw X is the tenth installment in the Saw franchise, and it’s easily one of the best, most awesome, and most artsy entries in the series.

First, Saw X stands out is that it takes its time telling a story. This is the first Saw movie that solely focuses on John Kramer, and despite his ideology and being a psychopath serial killer, he’s the protagonist. The fact that we care for him is remarkable, and that’s largely due to Tobin Bell’s fantastic performance, which is consistent with every Saw movie.

Thanks to the great screenplay by Josh Stolberg and Peter Goldfinger, this entry is more character-driven compared to previous Saw films. Kevin Greutert’s direction also deserves praise, if the Saw franchise hadn’t had so much studio interference, this is actually a truly amazing movie with Tony Scott-esque direction. The way it’s directed makes the film look great.

The performances are top-notch too. Shawnee Smith’s portrayal of Amanda is strong, even though she looks older, considering the movie takes place after the first one but before the second. It doesn’t matter, as the acting is excellent across the board. Synnøve Macody Lund as Dr. Pederson delivers a great villainous performance, and, of course, Tobin Bell is the highlight. His performance is particularly impressive in a horror franchise that’s known for its gore rather than its acting or story.

The story itself is fantastic, as it centers on John Kramer in a way that feels more character-driven, rather than another rehash of earlier Saw sequels. This movie doesn’t follow the typical formula of “there’s a police investigation, victims playing the game, and a twist in the third act.” Instead, Saw X plays more like an arthouse film disguised as a Saw movie, and it kind of reinvigorates the franchise. While there is a twist, it’s not overly surprising, but the overall story still works. What’s especially shocking is that this is the first Saw movie to have a happy ending. The writing is so good that you might even find yourself actually rooting for John Kramer’s victims to die, because their actions are far worse than anything he’s done.

Overall, Saw X is a great choice for Saw fans who want something fresh. If you’re someone who enjoys arthouse films, isn’t a big fan of the Saw franchise, and is looking for a solid Saw entry, this is the one to watch. Grade: A-

PS: Stay for the post-credits scene because it’s insanely great! probably one of the best post-credits scenes I’ve seen in a movie, honestly.