Fans of the Saw franchise have been eagerly awaiting the release of the tenth installment, and it seems to have been well worth the wait.
After Saw
Longtime fans of the films are calling it the bloodiest Saw film yet and even going so far as to say it’s the best in the franchise.
Saw X takes place between the first Saw film and Saw II. John Kramer (Tobin Bell) travels to Mexico in hopes of a cure for his terminal illness.
After Saw
When he realizes that the medical procedure he was traveling for was a scam, he was determined to prevent the scammers from scamming anyone else by forcing them to play his twisted games.
With more motivation than ever, Kramer uses his Jigsaw persona to create what fans are calling the franchise’s goriest film yet.
Fans have taken to Twitter to praise Saw X for being “top-tier gore.”
“So Saw
One fan even added clips of some of the goriest falls.
The first clip showed a man having to saw off the top of his head and another clip showed a woman having to saw off her leg.
Because of these “twisted and downright disturbing” traps, fans are calling the tenth installment “brutally gory as ever.”
“Happy to say #SawX is the most fun you can have in a theater all year,” one user tweeted. ‘Brutally gory as ever, the tenth installment is one of the franchise’s best: slick, twisty and invigorating. Tobin Bell and Shawnee Smith are finally going deeper, it’s great.”
Longtime fans of the films are calling it the bloodiest Saw film yet and even going so far as to say it’s the best in the franchise.
Due to the film’s ‘twisted and downright disturbing’ pitfalls, fans are calling the tenth installment ‘brutally gory as ever’
Another tweeted: ‘#SawX is a return to form for the franchise that we’ve all been hoping for. It’s sick, twisted and bloody.
“Tobin Bell gives us his best Saw performance, but Shawnee Smith holds his own every step of the way. Lots of fan service. Traps are gnarly. My new favorite from the series,” she added.
One user dropped a review of Saw
They continued, “An iconic horror franchise returns… Crazy, twisted and downright disturbing. Keeps you on the edge of your seat and fingers your holes. This isn’t just any scary movie, it’s the best Saw movie ever! A fitting ending and at the same time preparations for the future.’
Many felt that Saw X is the best in the franchise because of this, and the brilliant story elements.
It took twenty years, eight films, and one ill-advised digression from Chris Rock, but this franchise may have finally learned to play to its strengths. Easily my favorite of the bunch,” one user wrote.
‘#SawX Absolutely ruled!! THIS IS THE SAW I MISSED!! While still VERY bloody and twisted,” another tweeted. “The personal John Kramer story added so much emotion and depth that the franchise was lacking. I’m still shocked that they made Jigsaw a “hero” and it worked!! I now have a new favorite sequel.”
Many have praised the latest sequel for returning to the roots of the franchise they all know and love, with serial killer Jigsaw receiving widespread acclaim from fans.
One user dropped a review of Saw
Many felt that Saw X is the best in the franchise because of this, and the brilliant story elements
“#SawX is definitely a SAW movie through and through. I’ve never been a fan of the franchise but this is hands down the best SAW movie,” a third tweeted.
‘Tobin Bell and Shawnee Smith completely steal the show with their amazing performances. It is perhaps the most brutal SAW film. #FantasticFest,” they added.
In fact, many have credited Bell for the success of this most recent installment, as well as the franchise’s ability to hone in on what made the films so successful.
“#SawX delivers exactly what the series has been missing since its heyday: a compelling story that ties into the larger mythology, consistently creepy traps, and a chance for the ever-reliable Tobin Bell to be at the center of the action,” said one fan tweeted, adding, “Longtime fans will be satisfied.”
Shawnee Smith, who plays Kramer’s student Amanda, has also received high praise.
“#SawX is exactly what I wanted from SAW from the very first time. A perfect transition film for the franchise that offers so many possibilities,” wrote another.
“They REALLY made Tobin Bell the hero of the story and gave a fantastic performance + Shawnee Smith gets SO MUCH!”
“By focusing on John Kramer and letting Tobin Bell carry the film himself, #SawX elevates itself to one of the best in the series,” a third wrote.
Also with thanks to director Kevin Greutert, they continued: “Bell and sharp direction from Kevin Greutert make this timely, sharp and somewhat of a sequel to Saw VI. As John says, it is a rebirth.”
Many have credited Bell for the success of this most recent installment, as well as the franchise’s ability to hone in on what made the films so successful.
Fans praised Bell’s performance on Twitter
One fan boldly stated that the franchise should end on a good note since this would be the last film
One fan boldly stated that the franchise should end on a good note since this would be the last film.
“#SawX is a celebration of why we all fell in love with Saw. JOHN KRAMER & AMANDA YOUNG,” they wrote.
“It’s one of the best sequels of the franchise. Tobin Bell and Shawnee Smith are excellent. In my opinion, this should be the end of Saw. A great way to complete the circle.’
Bell’s character, John Kramer, died of a terminal illness in Saw III. However, the Saw films continued without him thanks to apprentices he selected before his death.
Therefore, fans did not expect Bell to create a new franchise, much to their disappointment.
Producer Oren Koules admitted that they had put themselves in a difficult position.
“Listen, we’re the idiots who killed the leadership after Saw III,” he said EW. “(But) how long can we suspend disbelief if the man has terminal cancer?”
Shawnee Smith, who plays Kramer’s student Amanda, has also received high praise
The only way they could realistically integrate Bell into the franchise was to go back in time, which they did for Saw X.
The only way they could realistically integrate Bell into the franchise was to go back in time, which they did for Saw X.
“I think Tobin has more screen time in this film than in the last five or six films combined,” Koules’ co-producer Mark Burg told the newspaper. “He opens the movie, gets through the whole movie, and ends the movie.”
Director Greutert also revealed that Bell was just as involved in the creative process.
“He was very involved at the script level, participating in post-production and even coming up with additional dialogue after we shot the film, which we incorporated into the story,” he told EW.
He also added that Bell “sets the rules in a way, because he’s so deeply into the John Kramer character and channels himself in a way.” Not that he has such a dark side, but as an artist.’
He added, “He has an integrity that is really recognizable in the character of John Kramer. If he thinks we’re doing something that violates the lore of the character and the entire Saw saga, he’ll make it clear to us that he thinks it should be done a different way. And he is always right about that.’