Sightlines · reception

How Saw X was received

2023 · Kevin Greutert · Saw X on Sightlines

The arc

After Spiral stumbled, nobody expected the tenth Saw film to be the franchise's redemption — but Saw X landed as the best-reviewed entry in the series' history, and two years on it's still the consensus pick for 'the good one' alongside the 2004 original.

What’s debated

The recurring fight: is turning John Kramer into a sympathetic, borderline-heroic protagonist the smartest thing the franchise ever did, or a moral cop-out that lets a serial killer off the hook?

Its footprint

It gave horror Twitter and Letterboxd the 'John Kramer did nothing wrong' era — reviews cheerfully rooting for Jigsaw — and its release the same day as PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie spawned the beloved 'Saw Patrol' double-feature meme.

Where it stands

An instant fan favorite and legacy-sequel success story — the rare part-ten that horror fans genuinely recommend, powered by affection for Tobin Bell's fullest performance as Kramer.

Did you know? Director Kevin Greutert is franchise family: he edited the original Saw (and several sequels) before directing Saw VI, Saw 3D, and this one — and Saw X became the first film in the series to score 'Fresh' on Rotten Tomatoes.