‘Spiral: From the Book of Saw’ 4K UHD Review

July 23, 2021 Victor Medina

Rating: 3.6 out of 5

THE SET-UP

Police Detective Ezekiel ‘Zeke’ Banks (Chris Rock) chases a killer who targets cops using the twisted style of traps used by the original Jigsaw killer, John Kramer. Also stars Samuel L. Jackson, Max Minghella, and Marisol Nichols. Directed by Darren Lynn Bousman

THE DELIVERY

Spiral, the ninth entry in Lionsgate’s hugely successful Saw franchise, is a serviceable entry in the horror series, injecting a fresh perspective not seen in previous films. Die-hard horror fans, however, will likely be underwhelmed at this new take, which attempts to appeal to a wider audience by bringing in Chris Rock as star and executive producer.

Sadly, the problem with the film is Chris Rock himself. The comedian reportedly pitched his idea for a Saw movie to Lionsgate, who jumped at the chance to reboot the franchise with the actor.

Despite his comedy background, Rock has shown an ability to play a dramatic role, as his role in “Fargo” showed. With Darren Lynn Bousman (who directed Saw II, III, and IV) at the helm, the film itself retains the right tone, except where Rock is involved. His performance as Detective Zeke Banks is wildly out-of-place, with every line delivered in his signature stand-up style. It immediately sucks you out of the film, and at no point do you ever believe that Rock is an actual police detective in the midst of a life-and death situation.

Rock’s performance is even more disappointing in comparison to the rest of the cast. Max Minghella (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) is very good as Zeke’s new partner William Schenk, and Marisol Nichols (“24,” “Riverdale”) is pitch-perfect as Zeke’s captain. Samuel L. Jackson brings some gravitas as Zeke’s father (and former police chief) in a pivotal but limited role. As director, Bousman should have reined in Rock’s performance and demanded more nuance, but with the comedian serving as executive producer, it seems his approach to the role went unchecked. The film suffers because of it.

The plot involves a Jigsaw Killer copycat who is targeting dirty cops, all of whom have a connection to Zeke. The killer delivers messages to Zeke via video clips on USB drives, each of which reveal a new victim. As Zeke gets closer to the truth, he discovers the killer is out for revenge, with a motive that hits too close to home.

Saw fans know the movies are all about the traps, and Spiral doesn’t disappoint in that aspect: the kills are definitely not for the squeamish. The traps themselves aren’t ridiculously elaborate – something that personally bugged me in other Saw films – although the logic gets stretched pretty thin at times. One trap is set up inside a police precinct, and you’ll wonder how no one managed to notice it being set-up or sprung right under their nose.

Even in great horror movies, logic often takes a back seat. In Spiral, however, there are some infuriating lapses in common sense, in order to accommodate Rock’s performance and some all-too-convenient traps. The less you think about the shortcomings, the better.

On the plus side, the traps themselves often have a symbolic personal connection to the misdeeds of each cop being targeted, which is a nice touch to the script.

I watched the original Saw at a sneak preview in 2004, and was impressed at how dark and unapologetically morbid it was. It was the antithesis of the PG-13 horror-lite films popular at the time, and it stayed true to brand in all of its sequels. Spiral, on its own, is a solid horror film, but it falls short in comparison to its Saw brethren.

Chris Rock’s performance gives the film an uneven tone, inserting ill-timed one-liners that diffuse the tension far too often. Although it has some moments worthy of the Saw legacy, it ultimately feels like a reboot in need of a reboot.

Movie: 2.5 out of 5

VIDEO AND AUDIO

Spiral was filmed on the Sony Venice CineAlta digital camera, which captures a 6K image. As a result, the transfer to 4K is, at times, stunning. Cinematographer Jordan Oram gives the film a gritty, 70s look for the daytime scenes, with some desaturation and a faded yellow palette. Detail in these scenes are excellent.

The video truly stands out, however, in the shadows, when traps are presented in dimly-lit subway tunnels and abandoned warehouses. Here, primary colors are used in highlights to give dramatic pop, and in 4K, you really appreciate the look. It gives those scenes the dramatic visual flair it needed.

The Dolby Atmos sound mix is impressive, and at times, almost nauseating during the trap scenes. Saw fans will understand what I mean by that, and know that your home theater setup will provide an immersive, satisfying experience. There’s nice channel separation, and the sound design delivers the splats, slices, screams, and burns with gruesome clarity.

Video: 5 out of 5

Audio: 4 out of 5

SPECIAL FEATURES

Bonus features are included on both the 4K disc and the Blu-ray included in the set. I was impressed that the extras on the 4K disc were actually presented in 4K, something a lot of UHD discs do not do. I often find it infuriating that some 4K discs feature extras only on the enclosed Blu-ray, so including the full roster on both discs is an appreciated touch.

The special features include:

Audio Commentaries. Two commentaries are included. The first features director Darren Lynn Bousman, co-screenwriter Josh Stolberg, and composer Charlie Clouser. The second features producers Oren Koules and Mark Burg. Although both commentaries are solid, Bousman’s commentary is far more informative.

‘The Consequences of Your Actions: Creating Spiral’ documentary. This “making of” documentary is made up of five parts: ‘A New Chapter in an Old Book,’ ‘New Blood,’ ‘A Steady Hand,’ ‘Setting Traps,’ and ‘Hacking Away.’ This excellent documentary provides great insight into the film’s development and plenty of behind-the-scenes footage. Chris Rock, Darren Lynn Bousman, and other members of the cast and crew participate. Running Time: 59:05

‘Drawing Inspiration: Illustrated Trap Breakdowns’ featurette. Director Darren Lynn Bousman walks the viewer through the “trap” scenes, explaining how each gruesome death was carried out. Running Time: 8:45

‘Decoding the Marketing Spiral’ featurette. The producers of the film discuss the marketing, particularly posters, and the history of marketing for the entire Saw franchise is reviewed. Running Time: 6:12

Theatrical Teaser Trailer. Running Time: 1:43

Theatrical Trailer. Running Time: 2:26

Digital Copy. A code for a digital copy of the film, redeemable through services including VUDU and iTunes, is included. Lionsgate movie codes are not redeemable through Movies Anywhere.

Special Features: 3 out of 5

THE BOTTOM LINE: Chris Rock’s performance makes for a downward ‘Spiral’

Spiral falls short of its potential, due in large part to Chris Rock’s over-the-top performance. His constant one-liners fall flat, undermining an otherwise solid horror flick. The 4K UHD set provides a great technical presentation, and some decent extras.

Movie: 2.5 out of 5

Video: 5 out of 5

Audio: 4 out of 5

Special Features: 3 out of 5

Final Rating: 3.6 out of 5