Saw X ★★★

SAW X is apparently the best reviewed film of the franchise since the original, released almost 20 years ago in 2004.

It’s a collection that I’ve dipped in and out of over the years – I watched the original again the other day – but have never become absorbed in the lore or trajectory of the main through character, serial killer Jigsaw.

He’s actually missing from most of the films, unless you count regular flashbacks, so John ‘Jigsaw’ Kramer’s return for Saw X is very welcome, mainly because he is played so well by Tobin Bell. .

Ok, hang on a minute – return? Isn’t he dead?

Well, yes, but the creators do a swifty here, winding back the years and plot development to give us a direct sequel to the first film that also serves as a prequel to Saw 2.

So, you could call it Saw 1.5 if you really wanted to be a jackass about it.

As his moniker suggests, Kramer is both into puzzles and an enigma himself.

His God complex manifests itself in punishing those he believes guilty of a crime by kidnapping them and providing one final chance at personal retribution.

Unfortunately, his idea of a chance is a pretty slim one, involving a myriad of personal dilemmas from cutting your own foot off to killing somebody and searching through the contents of their stomach for a key that will free you from one of his elaborate mechanical traps.

The idea of retribution is an interesting and problematic one throughout the franchise because much of the time a victim’s escape involves sacrificing the life of somebody else, which does seem in keeping with the premise. But then sometimes the act of causing another death comes back to haunt you.

Maybe it’s best not to ponder this too much and just enjoy the rides.

Saw X does have something fresh to say about the public health system in America as this time Kramer is duped into wasting time and money on trying to cure his own cancer and takes revenge on those responsible.

If you like the Saw films, this is definitely one of the better ones.