Spiral: From the Book of Saw (2021)

May 12, 2021 (US) • Horror, Mystery • 93m

Overview

Working in the shadow of an esteemed police veteran, brash Detective Ezekiel “Zeke” Banks and his rookie partner take charge of a grisly investigation into murders that are eerily reminiscent of the city’s gruesome past. Unwittingly entrapped in a deepening mystery, Zeke finds himself at the center of the killer’s morbid game.

Director

Darren Lynn Bousman

Writers

Pete Goldfinger, Josh Stolberg

Top Billed

Chris Rock

Keywords

sequel murder police corruption survival horror body count procedural father son relationship mystery killings murder of a policeman death game

Where to watch

Free / Included

Rent

Buy

Top Billed Cast

Chris Rock

Zeke Banks

Max Minghella

William Schenk

Samuel L. Jackson

Marcus Banks

Marisol Nichols

Angie Garza

Dan Petronijevic

Marv Bozwick

Richard Zeppieri

Detective Fitch

Patrick McManus

Peter Dunleavy

Ali Johnson

Jeannie Lewis

Zoie Palmer

Kara Boswick

Dylan Roberts

Sergeant Morgey

K.C. Collins

Detective Drury

Edie Inksetter

Detective Kraus

Nazneen Contractor

Coroner Chada

Thomas Mitchell

Detective O'Brien

Carvin Winans

Officer Paul

Leila Leigh

Officer Mark

Chad Camilleri

Benny

Jerry Getty

Conductor

Connor Smith

Junkie

Peter Hoy

Pawn Shop Owner

Chris Ramsay

Crack Punk

Morgan David Jones

Officer Barrett

Nadine Whiteman

Officer Grant

Miles Koules

Terroni Delivery Man

Frank Licari

Emmerson

Maximus Castrounis

Young William

Leonidas Castrounis

Young William

John Tokatlidis

Burns Cop

Nick Alachiotis

Man in Alley

Sean Jones

Officer Livingston

Brian Cook

Lone Reporter

Scott Cook

M80 Boy

Genelle Williams

Lisa Banks

Andrew Perun

Paramedic

Bryan Thomas

Tweeker

Trevor Gretzky

Officer Pat

Clinton Walker

Addict

Jacob Boose

Delivery Guy

Nneka Elliott

Reporter #1

Val Cole

Reporter #2

Brandon Zakkai

Gruff Neighbor

Joseph Pierre

Thug #1

Sebastian MacLean

Thug #2

Alexos Andros

Thug #3

Gannon Racki

Man #1

Luke Gallo

Man #2

Isys Alexis

Woman

Christopher Tai

Cop #1

Tim Ziegler

Cop #2

Jaclyn Vogl

Hooker #1

Caleb Ellsworth-Clark

Bike Courier

Joseph Racki

Dark Figure

Rick Gacia

Homeless Guy

Howard Green

Gangbanger #1

Donovan Boucher

Gangbanger #2

Matthew Lee

Gangbanger #3

Elena Khan

Homeless 1 (uncredited)

Heidi Matijevic

Hooker (uncredited)

Josh Stolberg

Police Officer (uncredited)

Crew

Dev Singh

Editor

Stacey Testro

Executive Producer

Kevin Greutert

Executive Producer

Gregg Hoffman

Executive Producer

Jason Constantine

Executive Producer

Ketura Kestin

Co-Producer

Silvia Platsis

Makeup Artist

Keirsten Morris

Key Makeup Artist

Stephanie Gorin

Casting

Randy Daudlin

Makeup Department Head

Peter Block

Executive Producer

Patrick Baxter

Special Effects Makeup Artist

Ormangoren Gurkan

Boom Operator

Mark Wilkening

ADR Mixer

Robert Woolfson

Sound Mixer

Hugh Goodden

Special Effects Technician

Angelo Raguso

Sound Designer

Jon Campfens

Visual Effects Supervisor

Peter Denomme

Visual Effects Producer

Tobias Kreißl

Visual Effects Supervisor

Tim Luecker

Visual Effects Producer

Ira Cohen

Gaffer

Emilie Boucek

Sound Editor

Simon Miminis

Music Editor

Paul Franklin

Location Manager

Jordan Burg

Music Supervisor

Nadia Guglieri

Script Supervisor

William Kellerman

Foley Artist

Jeffrey Roy

ADR Mixer

Rafael Pacheco

Visual Effects Coordinator

Ahmar Bailey

Music Producer

Tom Bjelic

Sound Editor

John Laing

Sound Editor

Daniel Moctezuma

Foley Recordist

Pablo José Fuertes

Visual Effects Supervisor

Beau Parsons

Visual Effects Supervisor

Scott Greer

Music Supervisor

Keith Elliott

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Steve Baine

Foley Artist

Mark Zsifkovits

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Xerxes Shuzhang Yang

Sound Editor

Shawn Morris

Special Effects Technician

Mark Gingras

Supervising Sound Editor

Dhaval Jasani

Location Scout

Jeff Skochko

Special Effects Supervisor

Marc R. Taylor

Set Dresser

Farris Popat

Set Dresser

François Dagenais

Special Effects Makeup Artist

Ines Rose

Art Direction

James Wan

Characters

Leigh Whannell

Characters

Marc Dassas

Production Manager

Jonnie Katz

Second Assistant Director

Robert Racki

Stunt Coordinator

Philip Stilman

Post Production Supervisor

Mark Schneider

Stunts

Billy Oliver

Stunts

Kiante Elam

Stunt Double

Branko Racki

Stunt Coordinator

Curtis Parker

Stunt Double

Branko Racki

Stunts

Mike Chute

Stunts

David Sparkes

First Assistant Director

Eric Daniel

Stunt Double

Joseph Racki

Stunt Double

Mike Gow

Stunts

Mark Schneider

Stunt Driver

Ermes Blarasin

Stunts

Shelley Cook

Stunts

Michael Fylyshtan

Steadicam Operator

Andy Gershon

Music Supervisor

David Lewington

Assistant Art Director

Dylan Rampulla

Stunt Double

Cecil Philips

Stunts

Olivia Edmonds

Art Department Coordinator

Kris Kearns

Set Dresser

Keirsten Morris

Makeup Artist

Alexander Narizni

On Set Dresser

Vann E. Gouweleeuw

Assistant Makeup Artist

Rion Gonzales

Camera Operator

Stefano Amelio

Set Dresser

Michael Fylyshtan

Camera Operator

Michael Nesbitt

Assistant Art Director

Lisa Deveaux

Makeup Artist

Liam Ward

Camera Operator

Josh Keller

Third Assistant Director

Martin Budd

Set Dresser

Jennelle Greene

Assistant Makeup Artist

Liam Ward

Steadicam Operator

David Lewington

Set Designer

François Dagenais

Prosthetic Designer

Torianna Lee

Stunt Double

Billy Oliver

Stunt Driver

Scott Cook

Stunt Driver

Kristen Calibaba

Third Assistant Director

Allison Mondesir

Hair Department Head

Donna Hunt

Hairstylist

Marcos Smith

Hairstylist

Paulina Harcus

Key Hair Stylist

Patrick Baxter

Makeup Effects

Traci Loader

Makeup Effects

Pete Goldfinger

Writer

Mark Burg

Producer

Darren Lynn Bousman

Director

Josh Stolberg

Writer

Oren Koules

Producer

Terri Drennan

Set Decoration

James Wan

Executive Producer

Leigh Whannell

Executive Producer

Daniel J. Heffner

Executive Producer

Greg Chown

Art Direction

Laura Montgomery

Costume Design

Anthony Cowley

Production Design

Chris Rock

Executive Producer

Jordan Oram

Director of Photography

Charlie Clouser

Original Music Composer

21 Savage

Songs

Kevin Barry

Assistant Costume Designer

Collection

Saw Collection

Saw

Saw II

Saw III

Saw IV

Saw V

Saw VI

Saw 3D

Jigsaw

Saw X

Spiral: From the Book of Saw

Reviews

Manuel São Bento

⭐ 3/10

May 13, 2021

If you enjoy reading my Spoiler-Free reviews, please follow my blog @
https://www.msbreviews.com

When it comes to horror, I'm always willing to give any film a shot, even when everything indicates it's probably going to be a massive failure. I'm admittedly not a SAW fanatic, despite quite enjoying the first two movies. After these, I can't even remember which installments I actually watched or not. Not even the most recent Jigsaw caught my attention. In preparation for Spiral, I tried to determine precisely how it would be placed in the saga's timeline, which proved to be a surprisingly challenging task. Basically, what matters for this film is that John Walker (Tobin Bell) and his work as the Jigsaw serial killer are acknowledged, making this a sequel. With that said…

Unfortunately, Spiral doesn't change my opinion about the franchise. It's a formula-driven saga that no one really cares about too much anymore. In fact, I'm pretty shocked by the fact that this installment was even greenlit, having in mind the particularly sensitive times our society lives in. Countless movies and TV shows are held to stricter standards nowadays with the risk of getting canceled or boycotted if a certain subject is treated poorly. With so much gratuitous violence, it's surprising to see this franchise still alive. Boasting curious casting choices - Chris Rock leading a horror flick is definitely an attention-grabber - the extremely bloody, gory trap killings are packed with life-or-death dilemmas as always, which will surely please hardcore fans.

However, these are just not as captivating or "fun" as before. This movie doesn't possess a single, memorable trap that surpasses any of the dozens (hundreds?) from before. Just like Josh Stolberg and Peter Goldfinger's screenplay, it's just another lazy, unsurprising variation of a well-known formula. To be fair, and I'm trusting other critics who watched all of the other installments, this is supposedly the version that separates the most from the structure people first witnessed in 2004 and 2005. Still, being different doesn't mean better, and the competition isn't exactly defined by masterpieces. From my perspective, Spiral is just another generic take on an overdone story.

From the repetitively identical kidnapping sequences to the consequent traps, the potential of a great film depended on how Darren Lynn Bousman (SAW II, III, IV) and the duo of writers tackled the characters, mainly the protagonist. The lack of characterization is definitely a problem, but the baffling laziness in storytelling ruins the entire flow of the movie. With an overwhelming amount of flashbacks and an incredibly choppy, annoying editing work (Dev Singh), the non-stop heightened, super tense atmosphere transforms every single scene like it's the most crucial moment of the film. Consequently, a vast majority of the dialogues are characters screaming and cursing at each other in almost every interaction.

The out-of-control tone negatively affects the cast's performances. Many people will look at Chris Rock (Dolemite Is My Name, Madagascar) and believe he's delivering an over-the-top display, but he's just following the chaotic environment established by the director. During the first minutes of the movie, Rock is amusing and funny as expected, but he's also able to tap his more dramatic side. However, when every single line of dialogue needs to be interpreted as if it's the most vital part of the film, very few actors can pull it off. Samuel L. Jackson (Glass, Spider-Man: Far From Home) is one of them, but his expectedly short screentime doesn't allow for much entertainment. Though it's always special seeing SLJ cursing at someone.

Finally, SAW is also about finding out who is responsible for the disgusting game, and Spiral doesn't remove that essential block of narrative. The issue here is the lack of a jaw-dropping revelation. Obviously, this is as subjective as everything you just read until now, but I would be astonished if most viewers didn't guess who the new Jigsaw copycat is during the first act. I do want to end on a positive note, so I'll compliment the bold ending. It partially holds the studio against the wall in the sense that the probability of this movie getting a sequel being higher, which can make some viewers think it's too forced. I rather believe they just wanted to have an intense finale, which I can't really deny.

Spiral might offer enough blood, gore, and brutal traps/murders to fans of the franchise, but overall it's still just another lazy, predictable take on the SAW formula. Despite the violently captivating life-or-death sequences, none stands out as an unforgettable moment. Josh Stolberg and Peter Goldfinger's screenplay lacks efficient character development, impactful revelations, and, honestly, a massive amount of creativity. From the repetitively tiresome flashbacks and kidnapping scenes to the extremely out-of-control tone, Darren Lynn Bousman isn't able to take the story to its potential. Everything is dialed up to its maximum as if every single line of dialogue needs to be screamed from the top of a mountain, which transforms the entire atmosphere into a chaotic environment. Chris Rock can't be the only one to blame for his over-tense line deliveries, especially when he starts so well. A strong yet abrupt ending doesn't compensate for such dull storytelling. I wish I could write that I'm disappointed, but I didn't have high expectations for this one.

Rating: D+

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JPV852

⭐ 4/10

July 15, 2021

The latest entry into the Saw series has a couple okay moments but otherwise this was pretty bad. The acting was probably the worst culprit, chiefly Chris Rock who sprinkles in his comedic rants while Samuel L. Jackson phones it in, not that he's given a whole lot to work with (including a hilariously bad fake mustache for a flashback scene). It's also really predictable as I called who the killer was early on.

I'm okay with taking the series … read the rest.

Martha

⭐ 5/10

July 26, 2022

Chris Rock acting like Chris Rock with a daddy Samuel l Jackson acting like Samuel l Jackson in a weird twist of a movie that felt like a small short story in the saw series. It's not a bad movie but there's a few things that it lacked including more blood being spilled and more inventive traps. It kind of became more about the characters and less about what the spiral was trying to do which was copy jigsaw.

jenmglna

⭐ 4/10

August 10, 2022

It was bad. The writing is bad. It could be better tho. Actors are not so great either. I don't know if it's just me or Chris Rock is not really suitable for his character. I just want to say kudos to the cinematographers. Love the cinematography of this film and editors as well!