Film Review #030 - Saw X (2023)

Saw X (2023) is the tenth movie in the Saw series. It is a sequel to Saw (2004) and a prequel to Saw II (2005). It was directed by Kevin Greutert and written by Peter Goldfinger and Josh Stolberg. Saw X (2023) marks my first full-length horror movie experience, particularly in a cinema setting.

Cinematography: Cinematography was surprisingly good. It has a very unique style of camera movements while it follows the basics of camera shot techniques and mostly there were medium shots and closeup shots. I like the cinematic approach when there is a full shot and camera is going backwards slowly and other scenes forwards. I've never seen this before in the movies. The use of two distinct color palettes was notable, although I found the vibrant colors in the Mexico scene to be somewhat overdone.

Locations and Setting: The chosen locations added to the film's stunning visual appeal, enhancing the horror atmosphere. I loved it.

Survival Scenes: As a first-time horror viewer, the more explicit survival scenes were quite intense and challenging to watch.

Story and Character Development: The story is deep and thought-provoking. John Kramer's character development stood out, portraying him empathetically as the protagonist. His role adds a philosophical dimension to the film, exploring moral dilemmas about human survival.

Music and Sound Design: Music composed by Charlie Clouser in this movie is a standout point. It suits the film vibe overall. It has a very mysterious atmosphere just like going into the unknown. The critical piano notes added a nice touch depth to the narrative The sound design was detailed and well-integrated, with elements like ticking sounds and sweeps enriching the scenes.

Plot and Structure: I appreciated the non-linear structure of the film's first part, which made for an artistic and engaging storytelling approach. The dialogues were well-developed, occasionally ironic, and focused on the moral and philosophical themes. I liked the plot twist as it made the scenes more complicated. While some scenes were somewhat predictable, it did not detract from my overall enjoyment of the movie.

Overall Impression: By the movie's end, I felt something was missing, and certain scenes in the movie felt overly exaggerated, e.g., cinematography and character development but it worked. However, these aspects did not significantly diminish my overall positive experience with the film. For its overall cinematic experience, I give it an 8 out of 10.

Rating: 8/10