The 10th installment in the “Saw” franchise, “Saw X” delivers a thrilling return to form that die-hard fans of the series and newcomers alike can enjoy. 

Set between the events of “Saw I” and “Saw II,” “Saw X” boasts one of the least convoluted and plot-hole-stricken stories in the series. The film follows the antagonist of the “Saw” franchise, John Kramer, as he travels to Mexico to undergo experimental surgery in an effort to cure his terminal cancer. It doesn’t go as planned and Kramer finds himself with a new group of victims to test for his twisted games.

Compared to previous installments, “Saw X” devotes more time building realistic characters. While this results in a slower-paced introduction, the film is all the better for it with characters that the audience cares for. 

Kramer, who is generally only seen in flashbacks and heard through tape recordings in a majority of the Saw franchise, acts as a proper lead in “Saw X.” The initial slow pacing of the film is devoted not only to personalizing Kramer, but also the victims of his traps.

Typically in the “Saw” series, the audience is introduced to Kramer’s victims as they wake up in their trap. The audience then learns how and why the victims ended up in the trap through a series of often jarring flashbacks and exposition. Since “Saw X” instead spends time building these characters early, by the time they’re stuck in their perilous traps, the audience already knows how and why they ended up there.

While most characters in “Saw X” are developed and multifaceted, some fall flat and lack realistic motivations for their actions. One character in particular, who I won’t name due to spoilers, is absurdly evil for no discernible reason other than to fulfill their role as a foil to Kramer. 

No “Saw” movie is complete without a collection of gruesome traps and clever plot twists and “Saw X” mostly delivers. 

The majority of the eight traps are appropriately designed around the misdeeds of each victim. The few that aren’t as symbolically relevant still provide plenty of cringe-inducing inventive violence. Overall, the traps in this film cut a nice balance between deep, emblematic punishment and simple, gory dismemberment. 

The plot twist was weaker than some previous entries, but with a concise, simpler plot, there’s less room to include a creative twist. Additionally, because “Saw X” is set between the first two films in the series, the twist couldn’t disrupt the timeline of events leading up to “Saw III.”

It’s clear that caution was taken with “Saw X” to avoid a convoluted plot, shallow characters and other pitfalls that plagued previous “Saw” films. Despite some characters still feeling one-dimensional, this new direction in the “Saw” franchise is a welcome change.

What truly sealed the deal for me was the post-credits scene, which finally gave screen time to a fan-favorite character who had been teased throughout the film, thus making “Saw X” an enthralling watch for both new and returning fans.

Categories: Arts & Entertainment