![](images/sawx.jpg) 
## The Skinny

Taking place between the first and second Saw movies, Saw X finds its lead (John Kramer, played by Tobin Bell) in need of a life-saving surgery - which turns out to be a scam (relax, this isn't a spoiler...it's in the trailer).

## The Good

I can't believe I'm actually writing the following: this Saw movie has some heart. And not the _literal_ kind that John's victims have to pull out of their bodies in order to escape his traps or whatever, but real emotion! To know he's walking into a scam is uncomfortable, but it helps you appreciate just how slick the players involved are. And I'm sure building up hate for the antagonists is very intentional by the writers - so that we don't mind at all when John starts carving them (well, making them carve _themselves_) into little pieces.

## The Bad

I haven't been able to watch movies like this since I had kids. Some of the scenes in here really made my stomach churn. I sort of blame my COVID fevers for picking this particular film, and while I definitely wouldn't say it was a bad film, it made me feel bad as a person to watch. And I took a shower immediately afterwards (night sweats might have been a factor as well).

## The Ugly

Pretty much everything that happens after John captures the people who wronged him.

## The Bottom Line

As much as a movie about that centers around torture can be "good" I'll say I was thoroughly entertained and there were some twists I thought I saw coming but didn't. And despite some over-the-top gore, there remains a tiny emotional heart at the center of _Saw X_.

## Score
**4/5 stars**