The Stream: A bit too long and drawn out and only 1 really gross part

The Big Screen: Nice story work and one yikes sequence

The Final Bill: Humaninzing story while keeping the gory mess

– S2S: Movie Review
Director: Kevin Greutert
Writers: Pete Goldfinger, Josh Stolberg
Stars: Tobin Bell, Shawnee Smith, Synnøve Macody Lund
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Rating: R (Bloody and violent)
Runtime: 1 hour 53 minutes (+ short mid-credit scene)
Production Companies: Aldea M Estudios, Corazón Films, Lionsgate Productions
Platform: Released in theaters September 29, 2023
Notable Trailers: Killers of the Flower Moon, Dream Scenario, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, The Marvels, The Exorcist: Believer, Silent Night, Hunger Games The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

It’s Halloween Season, Streamers! You know what that means – Horror Movies! You can’t have horror movie season without a few series and one being Saw. Saw came out with its 10th film in the franchise with Saw X. This movie is taking us back in time in the sequence of movies, but it’s not really a prequel. In Saw X, our main man John “Jigsaw” Kramer travels to Mexico for a risky and experimental medical procedure to rid him of his brain cancer. Unfortunately, he discovers some scammers that need his brand of redemption. Of course, gory hijinks ensue.

Now, I’m a big original Saw fan and have followed along the way. I understand there is a storyline, a complicated one, that tracks the violent, bloody mess Jigsaw has left behind. Here, I think the filmmakers leaned into the storyline and humanizing a serial killer and it works. I honestly can’t say I didn’t understand why he did what he did without seeing this story, but I just didn’t agree with his form of vigilante justice and rehabilitation process. In a similar vein, one could say the same about our prison system as well, but we won’t go there. Saw X finds a way to somehow be delicate and hardcore at the same time. It is a strange posture for a horror movie but done well. The only bad parts are that it takes way too long to develop what we already know is coming and once it gets going the movie isn’t really scary or that imaginative like others in the series. In fact, the gore part of the movie takes a severe backseat to the storyline and, quite frankly that’s not what people came to see. While I don’t need imaginative ways for people to be tortured and killed, if I’m paying to see this movie… you might as well give me my money’s worth. It was nice to have the oldies back in the movies but not really necessary, seeing as we know how they end up in the timeline. Just be glad we don’t have to deal with Chris Rock again.

Long story short, Saw X is a solid addition to the franchise. It’s quite watchable and keeps you invested due to the humanizing storyline but lacks the wowing gore and imagination factor other movies of the franchise have hung their hat on. Grab a bowl of popcorn and watch this matinee film, but you’ll be wanting more Halloween horror after you’ve viewed it.