Saw X picks up only weeks after the first movie, with John Kramer traveling to Mexico after learning of a miracle cure for his terminal cancer. However, it turns out that this is not the case. The “miracle cure” is actually a fraud meant to con money out of those with no hope. With this loss of hope, John Kramer finds a new purpose when he and his apprentice abduct the con artists, subjecting them to a series of horrifying, deadly traps.
Saw X is directed by Kevin Greutert from a screenplay penned by Peter Goldfinger and Josh Stolberg. Tobin Bell returns as John Kramer and Shawnee Smith reprises her role as Amanda Young, while Synnøve Macody Lund, Steven Brand, Michael Beach, and Renata Vaca join the cast as well. Saw X is produced by Mark Burg and Oren Koules.
Screen Rant spoke with producers Mark Burg and Oren Koules about their new installation in the Saw franchise, Saw X. They discussed exploring John Kramer in this movie outside of Jigsaw and empathizing with him at the start of the movie. Koules and Burg also shared which trap is their favorite in Saw X.
Mark Burg & Oren Koules Talk Saw X
Screen Rant: This movie is right up there with the first Saw; it hit on so many levels. I think the Saw franchise is best when it’s focused on John Kramer. We’ve seen him represent the worst in humanity at times, but this time, we really tap into his human side and his more sympathetic side. What went into that decision to see this side of John Kramer?
Mark Burg: We really wanted to tell John’s story and go back — and the only way to do it is to do it pre-Saw III, while he was still alive. We had to go back in time and ask our audience to just believe it. And it’s a standalone movie; you don’t have to see any other Saw movie to love this movie.
We’ve seen Tobin Bell be Jigsaw a ton, but you don’t get to see him be John Kramer all that often. Oren and I made the decision to meet John Kramer, and let’s live with John Kramer for a while and go on his journey for this movie. That’s what this film is.
John Kramer to me feels like the Punisher of the horror genre. Tobin Bell is so good in this role. Can you guys talk to me about what makes you guys fall in love with Tobin Bell in this film?
Oren Koules: He’s one of us, especially in this movie. He’s a guy that, as we learned in the second scene in the movie, has terminal cancer. He has months; not years. And he then finds out, through various sources, that there’s experimental surgery and experimental treatment to extend his life. All of us would do it; you’d do it, I would do it, and Mark would do it.
If someone said, “You could do this. Go get a satchel of money and go do this,” you would try it. I think it makes him real because everyone would do what he does. For the first 25 minutes of the movie, you’d be in his shoes every step. I think that’s what makes them accessible
There’s so many cool traps in this movie. What stands out as one of your favorites?
Oren Koules: We like different traps. I like the head and the leg trap.
Mark Burg: I love the first trap with the eyeballs, which is everybody’s nightmare. Everybody’s bent their finger back, or jammed it or hurt it, but try bringing your finger all the way to your wrist. That’s gotta be painful. But also, everybody’s heard of waterboarding. When the writers came up with a blood-boarding trap, I was like, “Ingenious.”
This takes place between Saw I and II. Is this where you would like to continue on with the franchise from this point on?
Oren Koules: We’re very superstitious. We don’t really think too much about what we’re going to do next, until this one comes out. And one of the reasons is that you realize some people like characters; don’t like characters. How the audiences react [is] then how we read and react.
Mark Burg: We’ll start October 2 thinking about, if this movie works, where should the story go.
About Saw X
John Kramer (Tobin Bell) is back. The most chilling installment of the SAW franchise yet explores the untold chapter of Jigsaw’s most personal game. Set between the events of SAW I and II, a sick and desperate John travels to Mexico for a risky and experimental medical procedure in hopes of a miracle cure for his cancer – only to discover the entire operation is a scam to defraud the most vulnerable. Armed with a newfound purpose, John returns to his work, turning the tables on the con artists in his signature visceral way through a series of ingenious and terrifying traps.
Check back soon for our other Saw X interview with Kevin Greutert & Anthony Stabley.
Key Release Date
Saw 10
Release Date:2023-09-29
