With Tobin Bell reintroduced to the Saw franchise after the non-Jigsaw Spiral: From the Book of Saw, Saw X director Kevin Greutert has said we’ll see more of Bell’s John Kramer, aka Jigsaw, in this latest entry than we have in any previous entry.
Jigsaw was officially killed off after just three entries, but would return in various ways thanks to flashbacks, recordings, and others taking on the role. The already confusing Saw timeline takes another twist for Saw X which is the tenth film in nearly 20 years, but is also effectively Saw 1.5 as it’s set between the first two films.
But all that matters for fans is Tobin Bell is back as John Kramer and we’re heading back to when the series felt its freshest. In an exclusive interview with Empire magazine, Greutert was pleased to reveal he’s making the most of having Jigsaw back as ”Kramer is the center of the story”.
Less Slaughterhouse, More Emotion
Greutert goes on to explain how this will be a grittier, more grounded Saw with a very different focus. Even if it will still be an uncomfortable watch (as is tradition), “[Saw X] is an emotional journey that you go on with John Kramer, and less a slaughterhouse that you experience from the point of view of the victims” says the director, ”Obviously there will be people that can’t handle it, but I think it has a good chance of appealing to people beyond gore freaks.”
In Saw X, John Kramer travels to Mexico after the events of the first Saw movie in order to find treatment for his cancer. When things don’t go as planned and the procedure turns out to be a scam, his wrathful alter ego gets to play.
Shawnee Smith is also back as series regular Amanda Young, and Saw X will head to theaters on September 29, 2023.
