Warning: This article contains spoilers for Saw X.
Saw X features the series’ iconic traps, but the amount of violence in the movie is much different than previous films in the franchise. The new horror movie is the 10th installment of the Saw series and sees Tobin Bell returning as John Kramer, the iconic Jigsaw killer. Saw X follows 2021’s Spiral, which focused on a copycat Jigsaw killer and featured a brand-new set of characters. Bell’s absence in the ninth movie was one of audiences’ main criticisms. Now the real Jigsaw killer is back, which inevitably means that Saw X should be nastier and bloodier than ever.
The first Saw movie was more of a horror thriller. The film had very few of Jigsaw’s signature deadly traps outside the iconic reverse bear trap. The 2004 release was mostly set in a dirty bathroom, where two men tried to uncover why they were trapped inside. However, as the movies became more and more successful, the Saw franchise prioritized the torturous traps over thriller narratives, for better or worse. As a result, the brutal Saw traps have become a trademark of the franchise, and Saw X continues that tradition. Nevertheless, Saw X‘s approach to violence is actually somewhat surprising.
Saw X Is One Of The Least Violent Saw Movies
Audiences seeing Saw X might be expecting endless violence, but that isn’t what they’re going to get. The deadly games scattered throughout Saw X can be counted on one hand, which comes as a surprise given that Saw X is the longest Saw movie. Previous Saw films had over-the-top kill counts. Even as far back as Saw II, the Jigsaw killer had quickly evolved into a mass murderer (even though Kramer would argue he hasn’t killed anyone). Now, a somewhat stripped-back Saw X comes as a shock, especially with the return of Kramer and his killer assistant Amanda.
However, while the gore and violence in the Saw movies is the franchise’s big appeal, less violence in the 10th installment works out for the best. Following major diminishing returns with each consecutive release — both in terms of critical acclaim and box office success — Saw X debuted with the hightest Rotten Tomatoes score of all 10 movies. The film currently sits at a “fresh” 84% on Rotten Tomatoes, meaning that more than eight out of ten critics like it. This marks the first time in the franchise’s history that a film has been rated “fresh,” as the second-highest-rated Saw movie is the original film with a “rotten” 50%.
Saw X Is Still One Of The Bloodiest Saw Movies
While Saw X is one of the franchise’s least gory installments, Saw X is still a Saw movie — and after 10 films, Lionsgate knows exactly what audiences want. There might only be a handful of disgustingly violent games in Saw X, but those traps are totally bloody. They’re as disgustingly elaborate as ever, and the 2023 release might actually contain the bloodiest scene in the franchise’s history. The final act features a unique spin on a method of torture, as one scene sees a certain character getting blood-boarded, which will undoubtedly hold up as one of the most iconic watch-through-fingers moments in the franchise.
