Saw X

A strong contender for the best of the Saw sequels, Saw X follows Tobin Bell’s John Kramer as he travels to Mexico for an experimental cancer treatment – with the picture subsequently detailing the violence that ensues after things go (predictably) awry. Filmmaker Kevin Greutert, armed with Josh Stolberg and Pete Goldfinger’s screenplay, kicks Saw X off with a decidedly unusual and unexpected opening stretch that plays more like a low-key drama than a horror picture, as the movie initially focuses on Kramer’s subdued exploits and efforts at finding a cure for his seemingly inoperable brain cancer – with the inclusion of an entertainingly gruesome daydream the only clue that one’s watching a Saw sequel. It’s clear, certainly, that Bell’s completely captivating and engaging performance plays a significant role in sustaining the viewer’s interest through this gore-free stretch, and while the movie’s 118 minute running time does result in a few small lulls, Saw X progresses into a gripping midsection that contains virtually all of the broadly-conceived elements one has come to associate with this franchise – with the twist being that Kramer himself has been successfully transformed into a sympathetic (!) hero this time around. (This is despite the fact that the movie, for the most part, comes off as a pared-down entry within the notoriously complex franchise, as Greutert eschews flashbacks and a convoluted narrative in favor of something far more straight forward.) By the time the intriguing, far-from-predictable climactic stretch rolls around, which contains a number of expected surprises and revelations, Saw X has confirmed its place as a seriously successful and impressive follow-up that seems likely to win over Saw neophytes (while simultaneously satisfying the series’s most ardent fans).

***1/2 out of ****