Tobin Bell returns as Jigsaw in the first true Saw sequel in years in this bloody good Saw X trailer from Lionsgate.

Jigsaw is back in the Saw X trailer! They tried to make the series work without him but, alas, it couldn’t be done. Now, after missing out on the spin-off Spiral: From the Book of Saw, Tobin Bell is back as the iconic Jigsaw Killer in Saw X, which just dropped its first official trailer. Lionsgate seems bullish on the return of one of horror’s most iconic villains, with them planning a wide theatrical bow on September 29th. Now, I know what you’re thinking – isn’t Jigsaw dead? It turns out Saw X is a prequel to the latter films, with it set between the events of Saw and Saw 2. 

According to the official synopsis:

A sick and desperate John Kramer travels to Mexico for a risky and experimental medical procedure in hopes of a miracle cure for his cancer — only to discover the entire operation is a scam to defraud the most vulnerable. Armed with a newfound purpose, the infamous serial killer returns to his work, turning the tables on the con artists in his signature visceral way through devious, deranged and ingenious traps.

Saw X definely looks like a slick return to form for what was a pretty huge horror franchise for a good decade or so. The series has grossed over a billion dollars, with each film being not only successful theatrically, but also perennial favourites on DVD. The last true Saw film, Jigsaw, cleared over $100 million worldwide. While Spiral: From the Book of Saw won’t really tie into Saw X, it’s still being considered part of the canon, as it was the ninth film, and this is being billed as the tenth. Kevin Greutert, who edited the first five Saw movies, and directed Saw VI and Saw 3D (both of which ranked highly in our Saw movies ranked list) returns to direct, along with franchise favourite Shawnee Smith, reprising her role as Amanda Young, a former Jigsaw victim turned protege. 

Are you excited for Jigsaw’s return? Let us know in the comments!

Paul Verhoeven‘s 1990 Total Recall (f*ck that remake btw) remains an iconic and enduring classic in the realm of action and sci-fi. Add the overly aggressive blood squibs, imaginative production design, top-notch action, Verhoeven’s signature satirical flair, and you have yourself an absolute classic. Today Lance and The Arrow discuss one of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s best film! Peak Schwarzenegger baby!

Total Recall stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rachel Ticotin, Sharon Stone, Ronny Cox and Michael Ironside and is about:

When a man goes in to have virtual vacation memories of the planet Mars implanted in his mind, an unexpected and harrowing series of events forces him to go to the planet for real – or is he?

The M.O. of The Arrow in the Head Show is: After many years behind the scenes, we’ve decided to take our sarcastic, booze-influenced style into the video age with The Arrow In The Head Show! Hosted by John Fallon aka The Arrow and Lance Vlcek, the show digs into the good, bad, and ugly of horror, sci-fi and action from the golden ages of the ’80s through the underrated 90s and maybe a bit beyond. Something groovy and a tad rough around the edges, we are here to talk shop with a drink in hand, a bit of foul language, and a whole lot of heart.

Check out previous episodes of The Arrow in the Head Show below! Peruse all of our shows and subscribe to the channel while you’re at it here: Arrow in the Head Show YouTube channel.

Episodes of The Arrow in the Head Show are also available to listen to as audio-only podcasts. Get the 411 at THIS LINK.

Any TMNT fan is going to have a blast with this movie as it provides references to the past while still carving itself a new identity.

PLOT: Follows the Turtle brothers as they work to earn the love of New York City while facing down an army of mutants.

REVIEW: I count myself as a massive fan of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Whether it’s the old cartoon show, the live actions films of the 90’s, or even the original comic book. While I didn’t vibe with the Michael Bay-produced films, I’ve always loved the turtle action in them. So the fact that this one does the right thing and focuses on the titular characters versus April O’Neil, is already a massive win in my book. That’s what I want in a turtle movie and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem has that in spades. And while there’s certainly a degree of origin story present, it mostly serves to reintroduce the public to this gang of green teens versus treading old ground.

One of the most brilliant decisions that the filmmakers make is casting actual teenagers as the Turtles. This already feels like a massive improvement over the near 30-somethings we’re used to getting. They actually feel like teenagers without being dreadfully annoying. The voice acting as well as the writing for each of the teens feels spot on. These aren’t the fully formed versions that we’ve seen in the past, and so they’re still developing some of those traits that would grow to become staples of the character ie. the leadership of Leo. I was a little trepidatious with the change to April O’Neil from an established reporter to an anxious high schooler, but it mostly works. Her connection with the Turtles is beautifully done.

My favorite arc of the story though is Jackie Chan‘s Master Splinter. Past iterations really settle on having him be a wise old man who occasionally cracks jokes. But here they are able to put him in an interesting place that allows him to grow as a character. They finally acknowledge that Splinter doesn’t always know what’s best for the boys. I particularly liked how much he saw of himself in Superfly (Ice Cube), who is another standout. He brings so much energy to the role and sounds like he’s having a blast doing it. When you look at the supporting cast, it’s not surprising there are so many funny side characters. Paul Rudd, John Cena, and Natasia Demetriou all voice various mutants, which allow for what may have been forgotten moments to really leave an impression.

It’s easy to compare the animation to that of Into the Spiderverse but I think it does a good enough job of differentiating itself from those films. Mutant Mayhem is gorgeous and you could stop nearly every shot and use it as a screensaver. There’s a getaway sequence that is a real highlight. And I feel as though the writers absolutely stuffed the film full of references to all sorts of past Turtles’ outings. So unless you count yourself as a fan, you may not get as much out of these moments. Still, I’d say the film does a good job of providing funny moments throughout.

I will say though: I’m not entirely sure how this plays for kids. Most of the children in the screening I was at, seemed mostly disinterested in the film. Whether that’s the slow pacing or the fact that they just didn’t have an investment in the characters, it was a bit alarming given a lot of the box office is expected from families. But I know as a thirty-something nerd who grew up on Turtles, I found myself laughing and having a grand ole time. I can’t wait to see where they go with this and what other characters they bring in. While Shredder is certainly a given, I’m hoping Bebop and Rocksteady are able to take on a more villainous role. All I know is I’m ready for more Turtles!

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM will be IN THEATERS EVERYWHERE AUGUST 2ND, 2023.

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