SPIRAL
US, 2007, 90 minutes, Colour.
Joel David Moore, Zachary Levi, Amber Tamblyn.
Directed by Joel David Moore and Adam Green.
Spiral is a brief psychological drama, focusing on a young man who works in a telemarketing company. Just by the look of him, it is obvious that he has emotional problems and psychological problems. You also sketches and paints. Is played by the co-writer and co-director, Joel David Moore.
We see him at home, trying to cope, an ominous door ajar at the end of the corridor, like pouring out. We see his sketches, we see him painting. Is continually supported by his friend from school days, Berkeley (Zachary Levi) who works with him, as is his phone calls of anxiety in the middle of the night, reassures him at work, feel some obligation taunts him from the days at school. he himself is in a relationship which comes to a head when he invites Mason to a Christmas dinner and his girlfriend objects.
While Mason generally achieves his phone call targets at work, he goes out as a sandwich by himself in a seat At the Encounters of the Amber (Amber Tamblyn). She is chatting, they become friendly, he scored is heard to work and back, they come out, and he decides to painters. they have several episodes when he paints and hangs her paintings. She is curious, discovers his other sketchbooks, becomes afraid, wondering what has happened in the last portrait, because all the pictures of the women of the same postures, which is torn out.
Mason has dreams that he has killed people, is reassured by Berkely that the red on his hands is only paint. Berkely has never seen Amber, and she does not arrive for the Christmas meal. When Mason, who sometimes wakes from nightmares with red on his hands, appears at work once in Cannes, Berkely simply advise him to wash his hands. Thinks that all the women, including Amber, with fantasies. Then, a colleague mentions Mason going out with amber, in Berkely goes into the street appalled at what might have happened…
1. A psychological thriller? Drama? Character study?
2. The city, workplaces, apartments, streets and restaurants, and authentic feel? Musical score and atmosphere?
3. The title, as applied to Mason’s behaviour?
4. The portrait of Mason, his age, appearance, looks of anxiety, waking in the night from dreams, murderous content? At work, trying to cope with his phone calls, the others at work and not helping? His relationship with Berkeley, memories of the past, Berkeley’s continued support and reassurance? Mason and his meeting Amber, sitting on the seat, the sandwich, gradually talking, and burdening himself, his explanations about paintings, the explanations about jazz? The bond between the two? Going out? Going home, the rain, the night together? His wanting to paint Amber, the various settings, opposing, almost completed paintings? His reaction to her finding the pay of a sketchbook, the torn out page? Bringing home, the confrontation, blood or paint on his hands? At work, Berkeley’s reassurance, that Amber did not exist? Because she did not come to the dinner, and not knowing of Mason’s search for her and her return to the apartment? The revelation that there were other women and that he may well have murdered them?
5. Amber, pleasant, on the seat, discussions, warming to Mason, his sketches, the jazz, out with him, the night, looking for socks, finding the sketchbook, the torn out page, a parcel? Not come into the Christmas meal? Returning to the flat apartment? The confrontation, her death?
6. Berkeley, friend from the past, his continued support of Mason, feeling that he should? Not believing him about the women? The Christmas dinner, his partner, his anger towards her, her leading? The final reassurance of Mason? The colleague speaking about Amber as real? His realisation…?
7. The ordinary settings, the work of the office, the workers, walking the street, the jazz? The contrast with the enclosed world of Mason’s room, his paintings, the door at the end of the corridor, a jar, the light coming out? The suggestion of murders?
