Unveiling the Untold Secrets Behind Saw X's Epic Runtime: Director Discloses Surprising Volume of Script Pages

Summary

Saw X, the tenth installment of the franchise, will be the longest movie yet at 118 minutes, surpassing Saw III's previous record of 108 minutes.

Director Kevin Greutert divulges that the movie's original version was longer. However, he had to condense and eliminate certain scenes in order to prevent it from appearing excessively lengthy or monotonous.

Saw X serves as a prequel to Saw II and reintroduces Tobin Bell as John Kramer and Shawnee Smith as Amanda Young. The film offers fresh insights into the developments and dynamic of their respective characters.

Director Kevin Greutert of the Saw X franchise discusses the movie's length, revealing that it surpasses previous installments in duration. Set to release on September 29, the tenth installment is the longest in the series, running at 118 minutes. Greutert, in an interview with The Direct, shares that the film initially had a much lengthier cut. Despite the extended runtime, Greutert aims for the movie to maintain its pacing and avoid any sense of being excessive. Read his thoughts on the subject below.

Saw X's Runtime Promises A Huge Installment

Surprisingly enough, the initial version of the film was considerably lengthier. This is quite unfamiliar to me since all the films I have directed in the past have been much shorter than what I had envisioned. However, with this particular project, we invested an extensive amount of time in writing and shooting. As a result, the initial edit of the film was excessively long. It turned out to be lengthier than my original intention due to the extensive footage we captured on set and the numerous script pages we had to cover. Consequently, I had to meticulously trim and shorten various scenes, even more so than I had originally desired. Despite the film's nearly two-hour duration, I sincerely hope that it does not come across as bloated or dragging in any part. Rest assured, the final cut comprises the best and most essential footage we captured.

With most movies in the Saw franchise averaging around 95 minutes in length, the nearly two-hour runtime of Saw X holds the promise of a significant installment. One of the factors that adds to the anticipation is the return of Tobin Bell as John Kramer. Instead of continuing the storyline directly from Jigsaw and Spiral: From the Book of Saw, Saw X takes us back to before Saw II, serving as a prequel. Set only weeks after the events of the original movie, the plot revolves around Kramer discovering a potential treatment for his cancer diagnosis.

In the upcoming installment of the Saw franchise, Bell will reprise his role as the Jigsaw Killer, alongside Shawnee Smith who will also be returning as Amanda Young after her appearance in the third film. This new movie aims to delve deeper into her character and her relationship with Kramer, shedding new light on her arc before the events of Saw II. The cast will also include Synnøve Macody Lund, Steven Brand, and Michael Beach.

The director for this film, Greutert, is no stranger to the Saw franchise, having previously directed Saw VI and Saw 3D, as well as being involved in editing the first five films and 2017's Jigsaw. Though his previous directorial efforts were not well-received by critics, Greutert expresses confidence in this new movie, hoping that it will be a memorable one and potentially pave the way for future installments if it proves to be successful. However, Greutert also admitted to being uncertain about a clear new direction for the Saw franchise, which raises questions about whether certain storylines will remain unresolved by the end of Saw X.

Source: The Direct