Review of Spiral: From the Book of Saw (2021) by Thequietgamer — 29 Jul 2021

As much fun as 2017's Jigsaw was, it being one of the better entries in the series overall, there were some clear signs that these movies were in need of a shakeup moving forward. Keeping John Kramer's story going for so long after his death like that was just getting convoluted and more than a little ridiculous, while also making it nearly impossible for newcomers to jump in. That's part of what got me so excited for Spiral. A big portion of the pre-release marketing was centered around how this was meant to take the franchise in a new direction, while still remaining true to its roots. Something I think it succeeds at marvelously.

This is no reboot. Rather, it's the next chapter in the Saw universe. By going the copycat killer route the film is able to acknowledge and be connected to the original storyline in order to ensure there's a sense of continuity for longtime fans, while cleverly giving itself the freedom to do its own standalone thing and put some unique spins on familiar elements in the process to potentially bring in some new ones.

Things play out much more like a crime-thriller this time out as we watch an honest cop try to uncover who is killing the corrupt police officers in his precinct (a plot device that feels very topical these days). The pace may be a bit slower than that of its predecessors in the first half, but the mystery is compelling and Chris Rock's surprisingly effective attempt playing against type makes even the most plodding moments at least moderately engaging. I was a bit worried about the comedian's acting ability going into this, and while some aspects of his performance are suspect I feel feel he did a fine job with his sarcastic wit going a long way towards making the protagonist likable for more than just his sympathetic backstory.

The signature traps are smaller-scaled than any of the ones we've seen from Saw II and up, but they are memorable in their simplicity. The deaths themselves are also noticeably less gory. The thrills and chills you would expect are still in place. The horror is just handled in a way that allows more of the tension to come from the actual nature of the situation, as opposed to only the sight of blood and metal. All of which cause Spiral to hearken back to the very first title that started it all, which you can catch it giving more than a few affectionate nods to.

To help pay for some of the bigger names in the cast, including a criminally underutilized Samuel L. Jackson, the visuals have taken something of a hit. These films have always been rather low-budget, but this is easily the cheapest looking of the bunch. The effects for the guts and mutilation are fine, but things like the dollar store quality fake facial hair really stick out like a sore thumb. I get part of the reason Lions Gate has no problem keeping this property going is because it costs them little to make and has always brought in massive returns, but if they're going to start hiring more recognizable talent like this maybe they should put some more money into them as well. Can you imagine Saw with the financial backing of a modern day blockbuster?

Outside of that there's nothing I could really complain about as Spiral accomplishes everything it set out to do. It's just enough of a reinvention to be the fresh start the franchise needed, without betraying what made it so popular in the first place. I hope it gets some sequels because this got me excited to "play a game" again in a way a more direct continuation or full-on, slate-wiping reboot wouldn't have.