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