[FILM REVIEW] SAW X Review (2023)

October 8, 2023October 8, 2023 Dave Alex First, Canada, Central Coast Radio, Costas Mandylor, David Griffiths, Donagh Gordon, Jorge Briseno, Josh Stolberg, Joshua Okamoto, Kevin Greutert, Mexico, Michael Beach, Octavio Hinojosa, Paulette Hernandez, Pete Goldfinger, Renata Vaca, Saw X, Shawnee Smith, Steven Brand, Subculture Radio Show, Syvonne Macody Lund, The Popcorn Conspiracy Radio Show, Tobin Bell, USA

Summary: 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.

Year: 2023

Cinema Release Dates: 28th September 2023 (Australia), 28th September 2023 (Thailand), 29th September 2023 (UK), 29th September 2023 (USA)

VOD Release Dates: TBA

Country: USA, Mexico, Canada

Director: Kevin Greutert

Screenwriter: Pete Goldfinger, Josh Stolberg

Cast: Michael Beach (Henry Kessler), Tobin Bell (John Kramer), Steven Brand (Parker Sears), Jorge Briseno (Carlos), Donagh Gordon (Dr. Finn Pederson), Paulette Hernandez (Valentina), Octavio Hinojosa (Mateo), Syvonne Macody Lund (Cecilia Pederson), Costas Mandylor (Hoffman), Joshua Okamoto (Diego), Shawnee Smith (Amanda Young), Renata Vaca (Gabriela)

Running Time: 118 mins

Classification: MA15+ (Australia), 18 (Thailand), 18 (UK), R (USA)

OUR SAW X REVIEWS

David Griffiths’s Saw X Review

Dave’s rating Out Of 5 <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://subcultureentertainment.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Stars3.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="75" height="25" src="https://subcultureentertainment.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Stars3.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2849"/></a></figure> <div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><a href="https://subcultureentertainment.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Saw-X-Feature2.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://subcultureentertainment.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Saw-X-Feature2-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-33690" srcset="https://subcultureentertainment.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Saw-X-Feature2-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://subcultureentertainment.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Saw-X-Feature2-300x225.jpg 300w, https://subcultureentertainment.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Saw-X-Feature2-768x576.jpg 768w, https://subcultureentertainment.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Saw-X-Feature2.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure></div> Alex First’s Saw X Review To call it torture porn would be fair and reasonable. Regardless, the Saw franchise has built a strong and loyal following since it sliced and diced its way into the public consciousness in 2004. I am hardly an afficionado. In fact, I have seen very few of the 10 Saw films, but I still thought there was something to this latest instalment. The movie is set between the events of the original Saw and Saw II (2005). The pleasure from pain, taciturn protagonist John Kramer (Tobin Bell) is diagnosed with a terminal illness. He is told he has but months to live. As a result, he is willing to try anything for a second chance. Kramer, a.k.a. Jigsaw, attends a cancer support group. Sometime later, he crosses paths with a man from the group who, surprisingly, appears to be the picture of health. Kramer is naturally inquisitive. That’s when the man details an experimental procedure performed by controversial European specialist Dr Finn Pederson (Donagh Gordon). It worked and as a result he is cancer free. Intrigued, Kramer does his own research, which leads him to Dr Pederson’s daughter Cecilia (Synnove Macody Lund). She appears to have taken up when her father left off. After paying big money, the following week Kramer finds himself in a makeshift clinic in an old warehouse, off the grid, near Mexico City. Cecilia appears warm and empathetic and he meets members of her team. They include driver Diego (Joshua Okamoto) and Gabriella (Renata Vaca), the woman who shyly greets Kramer and ensures he is comfortable during his stay. Medically, there is anesthesiologist Mateo (Octavio Hinojosa) and nurse Valentina (Paulette Hernandez). Kramer also comes across Parker Sears (Steven Brand), another patient undergoing treatment. While Kramer’s surgery appears to go well, soon thereafter he realises he has been duped. The entire operation was a scam … and Cecilia has struck it rich defrauding the most vulnerable. Kramer determines that he will call to account all those in on the ruse. A civil engineer and architect for almost 40 years, Jigsaw rounds them up and straps them in for the ride of their lives. In other words, Kramer has designed some complex torture apparatus for the small group to try to navigate. In his twisted belief system, everyone deserves a chance to redeem themselves, even if ever so minor. Helping him do his dirty work is his apprentice Amanda Young (Shawnee Smith), whom he is training to succeed him. There will be blood and guts and limbs flying every which way. The sickening morality play that is the cornerstone of Saw X is well developed by writers Josh Stolberg and Pete Goldfinger. There are twists aplenty. Just as you think the film will labour over a particular thread or run out of steam, it turns tail. That is commendable. The tension builds. The pressure valve is constantly turned up, as we wait for the next round of bloodletting. The ghoulish methods of torture have their own creative bent, if you pardon the pun. Then, of course, there are the characters, led by the methodical, largely humourless John Kramer. Tobin Bell brings dogmatic menace to the role. As Kramer protégé Amanda Young, Shawnee Smith channels reverence and self-doubt. Conversely, there is self-confidence about Synnove Macody Lund as Kramer’s potential saviour cum adversary Cecilia Pederson. I found myself invested in the outcome, a sure sign that director Kevin Greutert has his mindset in the right place for the selective tastes’ genre. Alex’s rating Out Of 5 <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://subcultureentertainment.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Stars3.5.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="87" height="25" src="https://subcultureentertainment.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Stars3.5.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2850"/></a></figure> Average Subculture rating Out Of 5 <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://subcultureentertainment.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Stars3.5.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="87" height="25" src="https://subcultureentertainment.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Stars3.5.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2850"/></a></figure> Other Saw X Reviews: Nil Trailer: <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <iframe loading="lazy" class="youtube-player" width="800" height="450" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/t3PzUo4P21c?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent" allowfullscreen="true" style="border:0;" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation">