SPOILER FREE Saw X Rating and Review
Before I go too into the review, I want to say how EXCITED I was whenever I heard that a new Saw movie was coming out! Even better, I even got to meet Shawnee Smith (Amanda Young) at a convention before the movie came out. Whenever I asked her what to expect of the new movie, she said that it would be a love letter to all Saw fans. Oh, was she right.
- Does very well in following the same formula, but still making it stand out from the rest
I enjoy how this movie has gone back to its more homegrown roots. Now, I enjoy the Saw franchise as much as anybody, but as time went on and more movies came out, they got more and more out of touch. However, this movie appears to ground itself back and put more love and time into this project. While it followed the formula of testing people who may or may not deserve a second chance and adding the classic Saw twist, it still had a couple of scenes that made me drop my jaw in place.
- Throws Easter eggs to long-time fans
Now, you don’t NECESSARILY need to be a huge Saw fan to understand what is happening in the story. However, for those that have watched at least a good portion, they throw references to previous traps and quotes from past movies. I was basically the pointing Leonardo DiCaprio meme throughout the movie.
Kramer is in the spotlight for this film as it follows him in the earlier stages of his Jigsaw identity. He, of course, has already done a few games so he has had practice. Even so, he is still yet to rise to the vicious and merciless man that he grows to be in later films. While other movies in the franchise have put some focus and given Kramer some depth, this movie is mainly from his point of view. It’s interesting to see his relationship/apprenticeship with Amanda further explored, and how even someone who appears to be a death god is still somehow a mortal human
Oh, my sweet baby girl. I support women’s wrongs AND rights. This movie puts a focus on Amanda’s ascension into owning the title of being Jigsaw’s apprentice. I appreciate how the movie doesn’t portray Amanda as someone cold and heartless, but someone who is trying to figure out her place in the games as someone who has been on both sides.
The victims in this movie made me really think about second chances, and if everyone truly deserves them. While some of the victims really tugged at my heartstrings, I had to remind myself that they were there for a somewhat valid reason. Extreme? Perhaps. Despite this, they are all lumped together because of their decisions…which have consequences.
Oh the traps go HARD in this one. As a horror fan, I have seen bodies torn apart, brutal stabbing and splicings, just people getting offed each and every way. These traps add something creative to the movie and, of course, each one has their own poetic justice to it. A minor complaint I would have is that some were easier than others. While one victim would have to insanely mutilate themselves with one trap, another would still have to hurt themselves but not on the same level as the other.
Overall, a well-rated and balanced movie that I would DEFINITELY recommend to my bloodhounds!
