When faced with death, who should live versus who will live are two entirely separate things. “Saw X” is the tenth installment of the “Saw” movie series, released 19 years after its first film.
For those unfamiliar, “Saw” is a film series based around a serial killer who traps his victims in twisted games to test their will to survive in the face of physical and psychological torture. Most don’t survive these demented tests. They often die in brutal, gory fashion by the film’s iconic traps, from their jaws being ripped apart by a bear trap being wrapped around their heads, to their ribs being forcefully ripped apart to make angel wings. These traps and their gut-wrenching results have made this series the favorite of many horror fans to this day.
There is little information about the film's plot, but the synopsis and the trailer help even it out. The movie begins with John Kramer, the serial killer also known as Jigsaw, visiting a hospital to learn more about his cancer and the hopes for a cure. After learning that his cancer is spreading and he doesn’t have much time, he gets offered a solution that could save him, a miracle cure housed in Mexico City. Jigsaw goes to Mexico City and undergoes the procedure, but he realizes that the tumor that caused his cancer was never removed and that the whole operation was a scam. Now hungry for vengeance, Jigsaw kidnaps the doctors who tried to “cure” him and preps them for one of his newest games, boasting more devilish traps that will upset the strongest of stomachs.
The cast has been set, and they’re sure to bring nostalgia with them. Tobin Bell will reprise his iconic role as John Kramer. Bell has appeared in multiple pieces of entertainment media, including “Let Us In,” “12 Feet Deep,” “Mortal Fear” and “The X File,” to name a few. Then, there is Shawnee Smith, an American actress well known for her performance in the CBS sitcom “Becker” and in the “Saw” series as Amanda Young.
A “Saw” film wouldn’t be a “Saw” film without the director who helped create them all. Returning to the director’s chair after 13 years, Kevin Greutert makes a reappearance for “Saw X.” Greutert is an American film director, writer and editor, known for his work in the “Saw” film series and for making character-based supernatural horrors. When the “Saw” series began, Greutert was an editor for the first five films before making his directorial debut on the sixth film.
“Saw X” is the perfect film for those who want a stomach-churning media masterpiece and a large dose of nostalgia. The film comes out on Sept. 29 in AMC Theaters, Cinemark Theaters and many others.