14.10.23
Hats off to a massively successful franchise with remarkable staying power, despite some previous duds in its catalogue. I have fond memories of the original Saw film, and watching the sequels 2 through 5 in the cinema with friends during university. There’s something nostalgic about the Saw movies that takes me back to those Halloween nights, and Saw X marks an impressive return to form for the series after the last few forgettable instalments lacking the twisted charm of John Kramer.
Saw 1.5 as it should be imagined, wipes the slate clean and acts as a direct sequel to the first film, presenting a simple revenge tale with Kramer at the forefront. It channels the deranged spirit that was core to Jigsaw’s oddly endearing presence in a way the other sequels failed to capture. Being driven by revenge works logically within the Saw universe in a way some of the silly, bloated plot lines of the previous films did not. It delivers exactly what is expected; barbaric death traps, twist finales and character callbacks, which all contribute to making the film unpretentiously satisfying on the big screen.
However, the villains remain rather forgettable and the themes feel dated, offering no new relevance to issues in 2023 beyond the franchise’s long-running commentary on the failings of the American healthcare system. I feel like for casual movie fans this works just fine, but for horror fans wanting something with bigger teeth, perhaps it’s time to evolve the message into something more timely or provocative.
By putting Jigsaw back in the spotlight, Saw X recaptures some of the twisted magic that made the original so impactful. But it’s still covering well-tread ground for a franchise that’s spawned ten films over nearly two decades. While one of the stronger instalments since the first Saw, the film plays it safe when it could have pushed the boundaries even further. Still, it’s impressive the series has come this far from its humble origins, and there may still be potential for Saw XI and beyond if its creators are willing to take greater risks moving forward.