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Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
After three and a half years, the Saw franchise might just be redeemed. While 2017’s Jigsaw held its own positives and negatives, Spiral veers into a new direction with a new story taking place in the Jigsaw Killer’s world. As the film’s subtitle suggests, the plot takes a page from Saw‘s book and contains elements of a Saw movie.
Minor spoilers are ahead for those who have not seen the film.
Plot Summary
Working in his father’s shadow, police detective Ezekiel “Zeke” Banks (Chris Rock) takes on a rookie partner, William Schenk (Max Minghella). Together, they resolve to investigate murders executed by a Jigsaw copycat killer. In the process, Banks finds himself at the center of the killer’s games and discovers the truth about those around him.
Samuel L. Jackson plays Marcus Banks, while Marisol Nichols plays police captain Angie Garza.
Discussion
If you thought it would be difficult for the franchise to find new traps for its victims, then you are mistaken. Although, I would argue that there are just not enough kills in the story. Not just that, but there is only one female character with a sizeable role, making everything about the men.
Darren Lynn Bousman returns to the director’s chair and does some great work here. I watched Saw II to IV before and loved the stories they had to tell, so Spiral felt successful as well.
Josh Stolberg and Peter Goldfinger serve as the film’s writers, with the former having worked previously on Jigsaw. Both have also written for the Avatar: The Last Airbender series, along with Sorority Row and Pirahna. Their experiences in horror and meaningful storytelling are a good combination for the final product that is Spiral. The film is not just about blood, gore, and testing individuals who have done wrong. The narrative provides a good story about the consequences of police corruption, reflecting the political state of the world today.
Jordan Oram has lovely cinematography in the movie, which to me seemed more organic than the franchise’s predecessors. Additionally, the soundtrack is good and gives a flavor to the film that the previous ones did not have.
Performances
For those who think Jackson’s appearance steals the spotlight with his use of “motherfucker,” that is not so. The film makes sure to focus solely on Rock’s character and performance, who proves to work well outside of comedy. Rock and Jackson have two or three comedic moments, but for the most part, all of the characters know to keep the story serious.
Most of the female characters are dedicated to supporting roles or smaller appearances, leaving us with Nichols’s Captain Garza. Whenever I saw her on-screen, I was just awe-struck. However, I would have loved to see her character fleshed out (as opposed to the literal flesh and blood she sheds).
Minghella does good as Rock’s rookie partner character, but I would have liked to see him executed better.
Final Thoughts
As is the case with the previous Saw films, Spiral ends with a twist. This time, the cast and crew of the movie make clear which character takes the shots, which I thought was done well. With a runtime of an hour and a half, it does not come off as short, but for what it’s worth, the script could have a bit more substance. The trap scenes were neat but kept being cut off by transitions to other scenes then cuts returning to the traps. That was not fun to see, and I believe that it could have had more improvement. There were also some plot holes and development I wish could have been polished more.
I love the little nod to Jackson’s character and partner-in-crime duo from Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction. If you know, you know. Also, I loved the appearance of YouTuber Chris Ramsay as a drug dealer. (He also appears in 21 Savage’s music video for Spiral.) I wasn’t too sure how much the time and place setting of the film impacted its story, but it was good to know where we are in the narrative.
Overall, Spiral is a decent horror film in the Saw franchise that is worth the watch. Although released a year later than intended, the film perfectly depicts the current situation of the world. The way the film is presented is good on its own but leaves some room open for improvement. There is no doubt Saw X will come to fruition, and I don’t think I can wait any longer!
Are you excited to see this movie? Have you seen it yet? If so, what are your thoughts? Let us know! For more horror-related news and reviews, follow The Cinema Spot on Twitter (@TheCinemaSpot) and Instagram (@thecinemaspot_). You can also catch us on Facebook (TheCinemaSpotFB)!
Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
