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Spiral (2021)

The latest film in the Saw franchise is not your regular run-off-the-mill sequel. Spiral, otherwise known as Spiral: From the Book of Saw, is the first film in the franchise not to feature Tobin Bell as the iconic killer, Jigsaw, beyond a photograph. Whereas Jigsaw gave people a chance to renew themselves through ways of torture, a new copycat killer makes their way through a local police department to exploit the corruption within the system in the hopes it will shake the department to their core and create change. Starring big names such as Chris Rock and Samuel L. Jackson with a great supporting turn from Max Minghella, Spiral breathes new life into the Saw franchise. The films follows Detective Zeke Banks (Chris Rock) who has to figure out the identity of a mysterious killer who appears to be a Jigsaw copycat alongside his new partner, Detective William Schenk (Max Minghella). Zeke also has to deal with the fractured relationship with his father, Marcus (Samuel L. Jackson) who is a retired chief and whose achievements have cast a long shadow over Zeke’s.

Directed by Darren Lynn Bousman who has previously directed Saw II, Saw III and Saw IV and based on a script written by Josh Stolberg and Peter Goldfinger, Spiral has received reviews ranging from the best Saw sequel to the worst sequel. One of the major factors of any Saw film is the traps and the traps in this film are very impressive incorporating some of the most gruesome horror in any Saw film. The opening trap in particularly will have you at the edge of the seat and gives the film an incredibly strong start. There is also a strong foundation story that Spiral brings as well as strong characterisation for the main character with the option to develop the story further. Past Saw films have explored various systems in the past such as Saw VI which follows an insurance executive who is forced to make a series of judgements using the methods applied in his work. What Spiral does is point the finger at the police department specifically as the officers are picked off one by one.

Chris Rock may seem an odd choice for a horror film since he mainly acts in comedies but he shows his dramatic range in this film while also bringing in his signature charisma. His character Zeke is torn between doing the right thing morally or following the corruption and cover ups applied by his colleagues. It seems that this conflict is apparent in his personal life too as he is undergoing a divorce while also being refused visitation to his child. The job clearly has taken over his life and it’s interesting that we don’t see any solution to this. Zeke has an incredibly strong moral compass but he is willing to do anything in order to break the case, even if that means covering up for Marcus when he is suspected of being the killer because he has a hunch that that’s not true.

In support, Max Minghella is great as Detective Schenk who is new to the job. Minghella has long been an underrated actor but he is a great choice for this role as his calm presence opposes Zeke’s frantic nature. The two seem like complete opposites but it turns out that they have a lot in common and the dynamic between them works. It would be great to see a Spiral sequel to see how Minghella’s character is developed even further as he doesn’t get as much screen time as expected. Samuel L. Jackson plays a small part in this film and it’s a great turn that contrasts with what we are used to seeing from him. As Chief Marcus, Jackson is a character who has helped lead a corrupt police department but he doesn’t see it that way. Compared with a lot of recent performances, Jackson’s turn as Banks is a lot more subdued than expected but still packs a punch, especially in the final act of the film.

One of the most iconic aspects when it comes to the Saw franchise is the music. It’s hard to think about Saw and not have the main theme playing in your head. Charlie Clouser returns to score Spiral and it’s a great soundtrack. It’s important to remember that this film is a spin off from the Saw franchise and Clouser does this perfectly in his score. Remixing tracks from the previous Saw films to differentiate the franchises, Clouser’s score feels more modern and up to date in style while also harking back to the nostalgia that comes with the first Saw film.

Overall, Spiral is a great little film that makes its mark in a way where it doesn’t feel tacked on. Not bringing back Tobin Bell was a smart move as it allows the film to make its own rules while showing that this is a completely new era. It would be great to see if they make any more Spiral films and see how they further this story and distinguish the new killer. There may be connections between the new killer and Jigsaw that are revealed in the future but in the meantime, Spiral is a strong start to this new franchise while also bearing some of the trademarks of the Saw franchise.

What did you think of Spiral? Let me know in the comments below!

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“Amok, amok, amok, amok, amok”: Halloween Family Fun

“I’m a master of fright, and a demon of light, and I’ll scare you right out of your pants!” 

– Jack Skellington, The Nightmare Before Christmas

Halloween is a favourite time of year for many. The spooky decorations, costumes and sweets galore, Halloween is the perfect time of year to whip out the horror films and have a marathon. Also, given that we’re in a lockdown situation, it seems like a movie night will be the best way to celebrate the scariest night of the year. However, not everyone can stomach the gore of the Saw films or Midsommar but don’t fret, there are so many films available for younger audiences and the faint of heart. But why do people of all ages love to watch scary films? Filled with creepy costumes, unimaginable monsters and black magic, horror has always been relied on to entertain and stretch the imagination to its limits.

The first name that comes to mind when thinking of family horror is Tim Burton. Combining Halloween with a Christmassy texture in his earlier films such as The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) which features characters he created. His imagination sparked a new wave of gothic childlike films that have gained millions of fans around the world. From the magical music numbers to the vulnerability of his characters, Tim Burton’s vision is undeniably horror but also mixed a variety of genres such as comedy and musical to make it suitable and accessible for all ages. Even in his later films such as 2005’s Corpse Bride, he adapts this approach and it still remains as popular as ever.

Seeing how successful it was on release, Disney have taken ownership of The Nightmare Before Christmas since and before this appeared to channel their Halloween offerings into their live-action films. It’s rare to find someone who isn’t aware of the 1993 hit Hocus Pocus which follows the evil Sanderson sisters, a trio of witches set on killing the children of Salem to regain their youth once more. Led by Bette Midler in one of her best performances, Hocus Pocus follows the same approach at exploring the scary topics through comedy and music. It’s no surprise that, despite being critically panned, dedicated fans watch the film every Halloween. Between the likeable characters and the fantasy aspects introduced through the eyes of a Californian native who has recently moved to Salem with his family. What transpires is the terrifying resurrection of three witches who are hellbent on killing the town’s children before sunrise on Halloween night or they will vanish again. It’s a fun film with quite a bit of adult humour to appeal to older viewers and lots of creative costumes to captivate children. It’s such a great watch. Besides, who doesn’t love to sing along to Midler’s fantastic rendition of “I Put A Spell On You”?

Despite never having made a feature film for them, Burton did work at Disney in the 80s but was fired as his work was deemed too dark for children. However, it cannot be argued that his influence has had an affect on Disney’s approach to scarier films in the years since. This reasoning is odd considering that 1985 saw Disney release their scariest movie to date with The Black Cauldron bringing the Studio’s first PG rating. However, it may be due to the film’s failure at the box office that supported their decision to fire Burton. Aside from The Black Cauldron, the only horror animated films Disney had released by 1990 was The Tales of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1945) which, despite its dark ending, was much lighter in tone than The Black Cauldron. Needless to say, Disney is not the only studio producing horror content for a younger audiences.

Another popular way that filmmakers integrate horror into their films is through satire. Even if younger audiences don’t understand all of the punchlines or references, there are still plenty of laughs to be had. Take Aardman’s Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit and Laika’s Paranorman, two stopmotion animations that take the horror genre and change the rules. The former taking the classic monster werewolf and turning it to a vegetable-crazed were-rabbit and the latter making its protagonist the “monster” as he is a young boy who can see dead people. What makes these films so successful in their audience outreach is that the visuals and stories are enough to captivate and scare younger audiences and older audiences will understand the deeper context.

Halloween has always been a popular time for film fans with new horrors being released every year. Not only is it fun to watch new films but revisiting old favourites for nostalgia always makes for a great time and although it is entertaining to watch some the more gory offerings, it’s nice to watch a lighter family Halloween film as well. Just because a film doesn’t contain massive amounts of blood and guts doesn’t mean that a film can’t be scary and entertaining. Films like The Nightmare Before Christmas and Paranorman have become modern classics because of their fearlessness in bringing out vulnerability in potentially scary characters. No one has to miss out on the jumpscares and thrills after all.

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The Purge Ranking

Original horror films seem to be all the rage this century, pushing the boundaries of emotional trauma and gore. The 21st century has seen various franchises thrive such as the Final Destination series which is more geared towards a younger demographic to the Saw and Hostel series which kickstarted the “torture porn” subgenre of horror. By the 2010s, it felt as though audiences were exhausted by horror filmmakers attempting to make their films more and more unrelenting in gore and a desire for something more engaging and relevant was the way to revitalise the dwindling horror genre. Audiences were responding more to the Paranormal Activity series meaning jumpscares and found footage was proving to be more popular. Enter The Purge, written and directed by James DeMonaco, originally released in 2013 and bringing a new approach to the new outlook on horror. Set in an alternative universe where the malevolent New Founding Fathers of America (NFFA) enter office and pass a bill where crime including murder and torture is legal for 12 hours.

As one of the most divisive franchises this century, The Purge is unapologetic in incorporating current policitical issues more and more with each new film. Classicism is prominent in each film as it is abundantly clear that the rich purge on the homeless and those in more disadvantaged neighbourhoods. The rich also have access to high-tech security, ensuring that their homes won’t be damaged by anyone. Consisting of four films, a TV show and a fifth film due to be released next year, The Purge series is one that has remained popular with its audience with every release.

Here are my reviews and rankings for The Purge films:

The Purge (2013)

The original film starring Ethan Hawke and Lena Heady as the parents in a nuclear household became an understated classic on release. James Sandin (Hawke) runs a firm that designs security software that keeps the rich’s households safe during purge night. When a homeless man (Edwin Hodge) manages to sneak in thanks to their sympathetic son, Charlie, a gang of elite youths happen upon their house and demand that the Sandins give them the man. Brilliantly marketed with the creepy masks donned by the home invaders, The Purge proved to be one of the most interesting ideas in horror in quite some time. A lot of criticism for the film was a demand to see a wider scope rather than just the one suburban household. There are some pacing issues in the script and some characters weren’t as developed as I would like but I think this film was more about pushing the idea of the series than going all out in the first installment. It’s a solid start to a thriving series.

The Purge: Anarchy (2014)

This sequel was released only a year after its predecessor and gave the series a solid direction by being bigger and bolder in its discussion on the class war in America. Focusing on a struggling Latin-American family in LA, we see how those with power use the purge as a means to kidnap people against their will, knowing they don’t have the affluent resources to protect themselves. The household consist of waitress Eva (Carmen Ejogo), her daughter Cali (Zoe Soul) and her father Rico (John Beasley) who is terminally ill. There are a lot of topics just within this family that the film uses as a springboard for the rest of the franchise. From Rico sacrificing himself for money so his family are financially secure, Cali’s enthusiasm for the anti-purge resistance group led by Carmelo Johns. This film also sees the introduction of Sergeant Leo Barnes (Frank Grillo), a man set on revenge for the murder of his son who was killed at the hands of a drunk driver. Soon enough the separate groups join forces and have to work together to survive the purge whilst being stuck outside in the middle of the city.

The Purge: Election Year (2016)

The third installment in this series works its way higher up the ranks as a rising star in the political world, Senator Charlie Roan (Elizabeth Mitchell) stands a chance to win the Presidential election and end the purge once and for all. The New Founding Fathers are aware of this and eliminate the rule that government officials are immune from the purge and send a group of mercenaries to kidnap the Senator. Leading the Senator’s security detail is Leo Barnes (Grillo) who is a brilliant character. Barnes proves his resourceful abilities and intellect to protect the Senator from harm. The Senator and Sergeant soon meet a group who are trying to protect a deli from troublesome teenagers. One of the best performances to come out of this franchise is the fantastic Mykelti Williamson as deli owner, Bob. Williamson delves into his character and is able to make his supporting turn a three-dimensional experience with motivations and realism.

The First Purge (2018)

The latest installment to be released comes in the form of this prequel into the first ever purge. Originating as an experiment on Staten Island, residents are offered a financial incentive if they stay and more if they partake and survive. Following two warring drug dealers, a mysterious purger called Skeletor who wants to kill and a group of young people struggling to survive, it becomes clear that the NFFA will do anything to make sure the murder count is high, even if it means sending in mercenaries to kill citizens. The corruption in the purge is evident as it is a plan to cut costs of social programs and housing expenses for those who are poor. When they discover that there are more parties than killings, the NFFA see this as a failure and manipulate the night to ensure that it is a success in their eyes.

Well that’s it for my reviews. As a big fan of the series, there are aspects of each film that I appreciate making it a challenge to rank but here we go!

Here’s my final ranking:

1) The Purge: Anarchy (2014)

2) The Purge: Election Year (2016)

3) The First Purge (2018)

4) The Purge (2013)

Which installment of The Purge is your favourite? Let me know in the comments below!