Saw X

Saw X nas suas duas horas de duração, primeiro tenta ser um drama sobre um doente oncológico moribundo e depois tenta impressionar com reviravoltas sofisticadas, mas é inútil com a estupidez omnipresente do argumento e da realização. Com estupidez, quero dizer a estilização de um assassino em massa sádico como mártir e juiz, com quem devemos sentir empatia quando ele está a procura de um tratamento que salve a vida; e a quem devemos depois apoiar no massacre dos que o torturaram. Além disso, a punição do principal personagem negativo, pela qual esperamos durante todo o filme, é a menos «satisfatória». Com estupidez, quero dizer a cena comicamente exagerada com os intestinos, ou que os personagens não pensaram em virar a cabeça de lado durante o waterboarding de sangue para que esse não escorresse nos seus rostos. Sem mencionar as habilidades de uma das vítimas durante a operação cirúrgica em si mesma. Por muito que eu goste de HORROR mais do que a maioria dos espetadores, fico ainda mais incomodado quando é tratado como um género para idiotas. (05/10/2023)

Oh yeah!! Saw X is a pleasant surprise for me and the franchise is back in full force. I personally like this franchise a lot, it's a nice showcase of gore and torture with a high level of craftsmanship and we rarely see it in such quality, but here I have to appreciate that the film can once again work as a dense revenge psycho-thriller and the return of the iconic serial killer Jigsaw is the best thing that could have happened to the franchise. This is actually a very personal revenge and John Kramer is actually portrayed as a good guy who even the viewer is tempted to root for (because his victims are also pretty big bastards that you wish dead) and I loved that nice contrast. I enjoyed Jigsaw's background, even though the introduction is a bit slower, but, what the hell, Jigsaw is such a cool character that he is entertaining even if he doesn't set traps and torture. From the second half onwards it's the same old Saw we love with all that goes with it. The traps are once again well thought out and inventive (it's really crazy what they’ve been able to come up with in these 10 episodes), the gore is beautiful and very intense (I have to say that even I as a blood lover was a bit uncomfortable this time, and I've seen a lot), all that leg cutting and brain scratching will stick in my head for a long time. The return of Amanda was also a delight, adding a nice nostalgic spice to the film, and the closer the film got to the end (the iconic soundtrack started playing and the cool twists started rolling again), I couldn't be dissatisfied. I do have a minor complaint about the finale (the sneaky bitch definitely deserved something utterly morbid, but on the other hand there is room for another installment where they can once again go all out). I have to say that I had great fun for the first time in a while, I devoured every second of it and I'd happily watch it again in a heartbeat. Together with Evil Dead Rise the clear winners of this year's Gore section. 8.5/10. (23/10/2023)

Certainly better than I expected when the next Saw was announced (the best since the sixth installment), but at the same time not so good that I understand the surprisingly high ratings across film databases. It benefits from the fact that Jigsaw's main antagonist is an incredible bastard, and that the film thus breaks slightly from the existing template by making Kramer and his sidekicks the protagonists. It would have worked better, though, in my opinion, if this approach had come right after the first original episode. It's too late now, especially knowing all that's been (and will be) going on, and this is really an unplanned padding made out of necessity after the creators eliminated the villain too soon, driving the series into a dead end in which it has hopelessly sunk deeper and deeper over time. (23/10/2023)