A Review

With "Saw X," the "Saw" series is back and bloodier than ever. Whether that's good news or bad depends strictly on one's affection for this vicious series. I'm personally not a fan so I'm probably not the target demographic for this now 10-part franchise that has established itself as a horror figurehead despite the fact they aren't that scary. They're just... unpleasant. I'm not against movies being graphic or making me uncomfortable if that's the point. "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and "Hereditary" are two of my favorite horror movies ever and those movies are intended to make you squirm. But those movies are disturbing for their craft more so than for their excesses.

One thing you can't call "Saw X," though, is a rehash of the other "Saw" films. The focus here is brought closer to Jigsaw so that John Kramer becomes the main character for a change. This is becoming a common angle in movies these days. Turning a well-established villain into a protagonistic anti-hero. We've seen it with everyone at this point, from The Joker to Cruella DeVil. But subverting the old template isn't enough to make it good. Like most of the films before it, "Saw X" isn't interesting enough character or story-wise to justify sitting through all the grueling torture.

But like i said, who was this movie intended for? The people who love the 9 other Saws or the ones like me who have dismissed them? The answer is as obvious as this one's ending. I clearly didn't like "Saw X," but it wasn't made for me so what's it matter? If you had a blast with all the others in the franchise, then you'll probably like this one too. Don't let what I think spoil your twisted fun. Happy Halloween everyone!