What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedSaw X
Kevin Greutert · Film · 2023
If you loved Saw X, start with Painkiller (2023) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Saw X across media.
What hooked you in Saw X was the way it weaponizes medical desperation and moral retribution against those who exploit the vulnerable.
Books on the same thread
Misery
Stephen King · Book · 1987
Explores: Obsession, Captivity, Isolation.
Much like the powerlessness John Kramer faces in Saw X, this story traps its protagonist in a terrifying struggle for survival against a captor who exerts total physical control.
The Scared Stiff
Donald E. Westlake · Book · 2013
Explores: Insurance Fraud, Faked Death, Financial Desperation.
If the scam at the heart of Saw X kept you gripped, you will enjoy this look at the high-stakes consequences of insurance fraud and desperate financial deception.
Millennium
Stieg Larsson, David Lagercrantz · Book · 2005
Explores: Corruption, Journalism, Misogyny.
Fans of the investigative hunt in Saw X will appreciate how this narrative exposes deep-seated corruption and the systemic vulnerability of those caught in the crosshairs of powerful predators.
With a Vengeance
Riley Sager · Book
Explores: Revenge, Deception, Class conflict.
The relentless pursuit of retribution found in Saw X is mirrored here, as a character navigates the dangerous fallout of seeking vengeance against those who wronged their family.
Series on the same thread
Dexter
James Manos Jr. · Series · 2006
Shares 2 threads with Saw X: Moral Ambiguity, Vigilante Justice.
If you admired the vigilante justice of John Kramer in Saw X, you will find a compelling kindred spirit in this series that explores the grey areas of moral righteousness.
Monster
Series · 2004
Explores: Moral Dilemma, Existentialism, Nature vs. Nurture.
This story echoes the medical stakes of Saw X by following a surgeon whose life unravels after a fateful encounter with a manipulative patient, testing the limits of ethics.
Painkiller
Series · 2023
Explores: Corporate Greed, Addiction, Pharmaceutical Industry.
The predatory pharmaceutical industry depicted here provides a real-world parallel to the medical scam in Saw X, highlighting the cycle of greed that ruins innocent lives for profit.
Chainsaw Man
Series · 2022
Explores: Debt, Devil Hunters, Transformation.
Like the protagonist of Saw X, the lead here is driven by crushing debt and a desperate need to survive, leading to a life defined by violent, morally ambiguous choices.
Podcasts on the same thread
Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine
Justin McElroy, Dr. Sydnee McElroy · Podcast · 2026
Explores: quackery, scientific skepticism, historical absurdity.
Those fascinated by the medical backdrop of Saw X will appreciate this deep dive into the historical absurdity of failed treatments and the dark side of human health innovation.
Killer Stories with Harvey Guillén
Spotify Studios · Podcast · 2026
Explores: dark human nature, criminal psychology, public fascination.
This podcast explores the same dark human nature and devastating cons that push the characters in Saw X toward their violent, calculated paths of retribution and justice.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Where does Saw X fit in the overall franchise timeline?
Saw X is set specifically between the events of the original Saw film and Saw II. It follows John Kramer as he seeks an experimental medical procedure in Mexico before returning to his signature work.
Why does John Kramer travel to Mexico in Saw X?
In Saw X, John Kramer travels to Mexico seeking a risky and experimental medical procedure that promises a miracle cure for his cancer. He discovers the operation is a scam intended to defraud vulnerable patients, which triggers his return to his work.
Is Saw X a sequel to the first Saw movie?
Saw X is an interquel that takes place chronologically between the events of Saw and Saw II. It focuses on John Kramer's journey to Mexico for a medical procedure and his subsequent retaliation against the con artists who defrauded him.
What is the primary conflict for John Kramer in Saw X?
The primary conflict in Saw X occurs when John Kramer realizes the medical operation he traveled to Mexico for is a scam. This betrayal serves as the catalyst for him to turn the tables on the con artists using his signature methods.