Saw X Review: 5 Ups & 5 Downs

Ups...

5. Vengeance Drives The Story

Anyone who has seen the trailer for Saw X knows this is a story harbouring clear and present motive, as Jigsaw hunts and traps some ne'er-do-wells who faked an off-the-books miracle surgery for his brain tumour and then made off with his cash.

As such, X is a straight-up tale of vengeance from beginning to end, marking it out from the other Saw films, which lean hard on their mystery elements, making liberal use of flashbacks and non-linear narratives.

Relying on a singular story following a small group of crooks from their initial misdeeds through to their redemption or demise, there is a notable lack of the detective thread that runs through the other films. That means no police, SWAT, FBI or law-enforcement of any kind searching for the killer; we're riding along on the big man's wrath from titles to credits, and only his victims can save themselves.

It's simple, straightforward, and when blood is shed, every drop feels earned.