It’s nearly 20 years since the horror of John ‘Jigsaw’ Kramer was unleashed with the famed Saw franchise. Since then, the outings have been a bit of a see-saw in their appeal. But with the latest offering, director Kevin Greutert has brought the series with a bloodied bang. Saw X begins on a sad note as John Kramer (Tobin Bell) finds himself suffering from cancer with just a handful of months to live. Hope shines on him when he discovers the success story of another patient who goes into complete remission thanks to an experimental, albeit risky, treatment. Kramer decides to take his shot, soon to realise it’s all a scam that has sucked many vulnerable patients dry of their money and hope. It’s then retribution time as the group of culprits finds itself locked up and playing the deadly ‘jigsaw’ games. The gore is cranked up, and how in the new movie. Fans who have loved the slasher franchise will rejoice at how devious and gruesome the vengeful Kramer gets. Easily one of the best-crafted in the series and the genre. Some scenes are so hard to watch that they will make your stomach churn, but hardcore followers wouldn’t have it otherwise, would they? Peter Goldfinger and Josh Stolberg have weaved the narrative that balances the gut-wrenching fare with storytelling in equal measures. You will question the vengeful vigilante’s methods yet be on board and may even empathise with the killer and his motive. The taut screenplay and direction will keep you hooked until the end, even if you turn your face away occasionally. The contraptions and the games will thrill you in a sick way. Tobin Bell is outstanding as Jigsaw and essays the never-seen-before side of his personality with great aplomb. He excels as a terminally-ill man as well as a ruthless killer. Believe it or not, the movie has some emotional scenes with his Shawnee Smith, who makes quite the comeback as his partner in crime, literally, Amanda Young. Synnøve Macody Lund, as the cold and conniving ringleader of the scam, Cecilia Pederson, stands her might, too. Be warned that the movie is exceptionally graphic and will make your stomach churn. For the niche viewers who enjoy gorefest, this is a treat and a powerful addition to the series. It’s also a good one to introduce new fans to the genre. It’s sick and slick and would be best enjoyed in all its glory on the big screen.Read more

There are two types of people in this world: those who absolutely hate the 'Saw' franchise, finding it gory and unnecessary, and those who eagerly await each new installment, devouring it with utmost delight. I belong to the latter group. To me, the Saw films represent an unabashed tribute to a genre that has long been forgotten: torture horror. Within the horror genre, there are various sub-genres, including the paranormal, psychological, and gory blood-churner. Then there are the 'Saw' movies, which have carved out a niche of their own, almost like a cult following. 'Saw X', the 10th installment, is the latest addition to this nearly two-decade-old franchise, and it comes closest to paying a fitting tribute to its predecessors. The Saw movies play on the emotional struggle to find sympathy for the characters who face consequences based on the choices they make. Over the course of the last 10 films, the makers have devised new methods of torture, using every possible trick in the book and inventing a few new ones. Just to see Tobin Bell reprise the role of John Kramer is a treat. This time around, he seeks revenge for a promised cancer remission treatment that goes bad. When Kramer realises the promise of curing his cancer was actually a fraud, he decides to subject the culprits to the mind hacks of Jigsaw and his games. Most of you will be waiting for the torture sequences to begin, but the film has a lot going on for it besides the violence. The film’s cinematography looks opulent and almost larger than life than any of its previous films. The setting is definitely made for 70mm. Despite the claustrophobic nature of its premise, 'Saw X' feels more open and big in its setting. 'Saw X' has multiple moments that scream out on the edge-of- the-seat stomach churning rollercoaster ride that is so bad that you want it to stop-but you also want to see what’s happening to the next victim. 'Saw X' does full justice to its franchise and triumphs in every single aspect of being a true blue horror film. It’s definitely not for the weak hearted, but then you know that already! 'Saw' fans will be in for a massive treat with X being the best offering of this cult of a franchise.Read more