SAW X
US, 2023, 118 minutes, Colour.
Tobin Bell, Shawnee Smith, Synnove Macody Lund, Steven Brand, Renata Vaca, Joshua, Okamoto, Paulette Hernandez, Costas Mandylor, Michael Beach.
Directed by Kevin Greutert.
The Saw horror movies is one of the most successful franchises in cinema history – or, perhaps, the most successful. 10 Saw films over 19 years (and video games based on several of the film is). The first film was created by James Wan and Leigh Whannell, two young Australian writers and directors in those early days and still executive producers. Each has had successful careers, James Wan directing the Aquaman superhero movies, Whannell writing and acting smaller films. Australia has made many contributions to world culture – the franchises something of PS to this achievement!
Clearly, this is a film for Saw and horror film fans only. Any unsuspecting viewer will know after the first torture sequence, five minutes into the film, whether they want to stay or not. Probably not. And, the most part of the film resembling the original Saw, audiences will be expecting some gruesome torture sequences, victims chosen, victims accused, victims taunted, victims cruelly bound, their torturer playing games with them, ultimately cruel and destructive. Which means there are a stomach-churning episodes (intended by the filmmakers) and, for some, some eye-turning-away episodes (not intended by the filmmakers).
Which, in some ways, could do as a review.
However, with the 10th film, there is a challenge to the writers to do something different and, quite intriguingly, they offer a premise which, during the first 40 minutes or so, has a great deal of promise. Here is Tobin Bell, once again, as John Kramer, Jigsaw, the orchestrator of the torturing of those who are guilty, using diabolical tortures as he becomes a God/ devil equivalent of judging moral transgressions, providing hell torments in their deaths. But, here is, looking like death warmed up!
And, he is, discovering he has brain cancer, only months to live, discovering a doctor and procedures in Mexico promising surgery and healing. This part is quite interesting (and even a plaque pleasant touristic taxi driver through Mexico City).
And then the discovery of what has really happened, the call to judgement, the imprisoning of the victims, Jigsaw with his assistant, Amanda, discussions of moral issues, a highly defiant doctor asserting herself against Kramer, a twist in complicity, turning of the tables and, no hesitation in indicating that, all going well, so to speak, Saw XI is a probability.
