Jigsaw Gets An Emotional Arc in SAW X

Jigsaw and his apprentice Amanda make their grand return, exacting revenge on a group taking advantage of the terminally ill. While audiences may flock to Saw X for its infamous traps and gore, they’ll be surprised to find something full of emotion, rich character expansion, and an impressive story that puts Tobin Bell in the spotlight he deserves.

After receiving devastating news about his cancer, John Kramer (Tobin Bell) believes he’s found a saving grace in an unapproved treatment developed in Norway by Dr. Pederson. Desperate for this so-called cure, John travels to the outskirts of Mexico City where Pederson’s daughter Cecilia (Synnøve Macody Lund) is continuing trials with very select patients.

The facility is ultra-secretive, only staffed with a small group of medical professionals to keep their life-saving treatment from being shut down. And after a successful surgery, John believes he’s now in the 90% who’ve been cured.

But as John recovers, he discovers everything was a charade. Leaving Pederson and her associates unaware they’ve just messed with the most ingenious and elusive “serial killers” of all time.

Saw X transports viewers to the franchise’s earlier days, set between the first film and its 2005 sequel. It’s a treat to see both John and Amanda (Shawnee Smith) back in action, as it always felt like we lost them too early.

What became of the series was mostly uninspired, something just offered up to push the limits further than the previous. The first three films had delivered such clever yet twisted stories that follow-ups just lost. While attempts were made to breathe new life into the series (notably with 2017’s Jigsaw and 2021’s Spiral), it was always just measured up to its worst.

But Saw X proves the series can get back to its strengths thanks to writers Josh Stolberg and Peter Goldfinger and director Kevin Greutert, all of whom have been part of the Saw machine previously, the latter since day one.

Saw X spends a good portion of time getting viewers to humanize John. We’ve seen him as a foreboding villain, even on his deathbed, but we’re truly getting acquainted with him now. Though some sequels tried to offer sympathetic touches to his character, the films never allowed him to breathe outside of decrepit buildings and rusty traps.

This newest film gives Bell that space, and he delivers a surprisingly emotional performance, easily his best in the series. It might feel odd to feel a connection with someone billed as a killer, but it’s in these moments we see that John is no monster — and that’s touched on again in the climatic finale.

It feels inventive and fresh but harks back to the first film and sequel. It fits right into the narrative and presents what the series used to be about. While it’s always been known for its deadly games and gore, there was also a time when it wasn’t about being aggressively over-the-top without some level of emotional drive from its characters.

After nearly 20 years of Saw films, Saw X was such a refreshing return to form. Of course, the memorable traps are there with the gruesome practical effects and thrilling suspense. But it feels like this film transcends that. 

There would be no series without Jigsaw, and this film gives the character and Tobin Bell the extra moment both warranted. You can believe the hype on this being one of the best of the entire franchise.