SPIRAL, FROM THE BOOK OF SAW
US, 2021, 91 minutes, Colour.
Chris Rock, Max Minghella, Samuel L.Jackson, Marisol Nichols.
Directed by Darren Lynn Bousman.
Most movie fans know how to react when they see Saw in the title of a film. (And something of a shock when they realise that the first Saw film opened almost 20 years ago – and that this is the ninth episode in what has become the Saw Franchise.) No problem for fans. They will immediately want to see Spiral.
For audiences who are not sure that they want to see Spiral, to enter into the world of Saw, a grim world of capture, imprisonment, torment, death, they might like to watch the first five minutes of this film (but will probably need fewer than five) to determine whether they want to stay or not.
There is a chase, a capture, a gruesome hanging of the victim in the New York subway, a train approaching, a television monitor challenging the prisoner, accusing him of police corruption and lying in court cases, an impossible option whereby he might save his life…
Reassuring fans of the franchise, this kind of scenario is repeated regularly throughout the film. In the early 2000’s, commentators coined the phrase “torture porn” citing the Saw films as examples of this graphic, grim, depiction of torture in close-up. Spiral will probably be cited also in this context.
But there is a shift in the storytelling. If the torture sequences were omitted or, at least, toned down, then this would be a police investigation story. There is the issue of the unexpected deaths, discovered to be vindictive executions, accusations of police brutality.
At the centre of the investigation is veteran policeman, Zeke Banks. He is played, of all people, by Chris Rock who, for many decades, has had a strong reputation as a stand-up comedian as well as over the years building up a catalogue of comedy movies, romantic comedies, dramas. In the initial minutes where he appears, waiting to go on a raid, he reminds us of his comic routines, an amusing riff on how to talk about Forest Gump with politically correct vocabulary, about his disabilities. And there are some comic moments throughout the film.
However, all is deadly serious. Police are being killed. Zeke’s father, the former chief of police, now in retirement, becomes involved in the investigation – and, as a bonus, he is played by Samuel L. Jackson. In the meantime, the officer in charge appoints a rookie, William (Max Minghella), to work with Zeke, Zeke is initially resentful, but immediately they are called out to the first above-mentioned torture/execution.
On the one hand, there is the buddy aspect of the two police working together. There are tense details of the developments of the investigation. Then there is a twist, three possible suspects as to who is behind all these Spiral killings – and a surprise (or not a surprise) to discover the truth and the credibility of the motivation.
Perhaps the most unsatisfactory aspect of Spiral is its final moment! Just as everything is resolved, Zeke turns towards the killer – and the final credits suddenly appear. Well, that obviously means a sequel!
- Title? The spiral symbol and its presence throughout the film? Sinister? The subtitle of the film – and the linking with the Saw franchise? The glimpse of the photo of John Kramer? Discussions about the Saw killings? The new development with this story?
- The appeal to the horror fans? The number of killings? The visualising of the killings, the gore, special effects? The murders and torture interspersed throughout the narrative? Accusations of torture porn?
- The basic framework of a police investigation story? Detectives, the work at the office, the precinct? Police relationships? The addition of the father-son relationship?
- Chris Rock in the central role, his reputation, stand-up comedy, the opening and the comedy about Forest Gump and disability, the comic wisecracks throughout the film? But the serious character and situation?
- The introduction to the theme, the police officer in the fun park, the criminal grabbing the bag, the pursuit, the pit, the detective investigating, being trapped, the torture, his tongue, the visuals of the television, the explanation of lying in court, the options to live or die? The police later going to the scene of the crime, the subway, the train crash?
- Zeke Banks, Chris Rock, style, repartee, work as a detective, his relationship with his father, memories of the past, the visit to the train shop? His father’s reputation, retired chief? His meetings with his father, sharing the meal? The wisecracks between them? Zeke and his career, his partner and the death of the witness, and later repercussions for the plot? His being wounded, his men not giving him back up, disliked in the force? His return, being put in charge of the spiral case? Angie, relying on him? The others and their dislike, lack of cooperation?
- William Schenk, young, considered a rookie, his being appointed as partner to Zeke, Zeke and his reluctance? Called out, the scene of the crime, William’s reaction? The growing partnership in sharing? Wisecracks?
- William, his ambitions since young, influenced by Zeke’s father, the irony of the truth behind this? His story about his wife and family? His seeming to be the straight up-and-down policeman rookie? The collaboration with Zeke, crime scenes? His working at night, phone call, the sounds of the baby crying? Then his sudden disappearance, death, skinned?
- The story of police corruption, the regulations, police dominance, taking the law into their own hands? The further police being taken, tortured, deaths? Angie, the abandoned building, the going to the basement, the confrontation, the torture, Zeke and the others at the door, the accusations against her? Her death?
- The visit to the former policeman, his prison sentence, the confrontation with the witness, his shooting him, the son witnessing it? His work in rehabilitation in the church? Zeke suspicious of him? His also being taken, the confrontation with Zeke, Zeke trying to save him? His death?
- Zeke, concerned about his father, not returning the phone calls? His father, continuing his investigations, captured, strung up? Zeke and his being captured, witnessing his father? Their talking? The key, unlocking it, Zeke to bring down his father, the options, the accusations against his father as supervising the police dominance and brutality?
- William, the revelation, the set-ups? Wanting revenge? His ideology, against corruption, purifying the police force? Wanting to work with Zeke as an honest squad?
- Zeke’s father, the option, Zeke shooting at the target, his father’s death?
- The audience coping with the dramatic ending – and the sudden emergence of the credits? Sequel?
