Saw X Hacks Off Spiral’s Best Achievement (& Locks Itself Back Into A Continuity Trap)

As marketing makes clear, «Saw X» seeks to offer two treats to its longtime fans: the return of John Kramer and Amanda Young (Shawnee Smith), and a further exploration of Jigsaw’s origin. On both counts, the film is setting itself up for failure.

The idea of a prequel in a series as relentlessly laden with flashbacks as «Saw» is already stupefyingly misguided. Even more bizarrely, this prequel is centered on John Kramer — a character whose backstory is already so fleshed-out and full of complicated additions and retcons that there’s basically nothing novel left to explore. The chronological setting of «Saw X» — placed between the first two films, because everything before the first film is already covered — is a naked excuse to bring back Tobin Bell for cheap marketing nostalgia. 

During development, someone in the room should’ve realized they were writing themselves into an unnecessary trap. So perhaps they thought bringing back Amanda, as well, would sell the prequel concept as a worthwhile endeavor — it’s just too bad they spoiled her return in the trailers, again, for cheap marketing nostalgia. 

Even if they hadn’t, no new Amanda Young reveal could top the character twists in «Saw II» and «Saw III.» At this point, learning the exact minutiae of her early relationship with John can only be about as satisfying as learning where Han got the name «Solo» from. With that in mind, there is one potential silver lining to the focus «Saw X» puts on Kramer — maybe, after this, the series can finally move on from him.