Read Positive User Reviews for Spiral: From the Book of Saw

8

Josephgamers65Nov 21, 2021

Spiral: From the Book of Saw is one of the most hyped movies of this year and OMG it lived up to everything I wanted I was really worried it was just another Saw Movie nope this is my fav because of the impactful character that is Zeke ISpiral: From the Book of Saw is one of the most hyped movies of this year and OMG it lived up to everything I wanted I was really worried it was just another Saw Movie nope this is my fav because of the impactful character that is Zeke I loved his character played by Chris Rock I am so glad he was part of this movie an and producer on the movie I feel like this is what this franchise needed was something fresh and this movie brings that and all the characters were enjoyable on screen more like the other movies in this franchise which are not at all and all this hate on this movie I am so confused about to me this is one of the best movies of the year one of the best saw movies made and they said the ending you could see a mile away i did not see it at all actually I thought it was one of the cops but one of them got killed so i got confused who it was and this movie had an idea of an story that hit me and that's why i am glad Chris Rock got involved with this movie thank you Chris Rock of what you did to put together a Saw Movie what has an acutally purpose so This was an Big suprise on how good this movie was too me and now is my fav Saw Movie so I give Spiral: From the Book of Saw an A… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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7

JayCriticMay 15, 2021

Pros:
- Interesting new concept for the franchise
- Traps are ACTUALLY terrifying and make sense
- Chris Rock gives a (mostly) solid performance, along with Samuel L. Jackson Cons:
- The story feels rushed/predictable - Wonky editing
- Bad execution

5 of 11 users found this helpful56

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7

garethvkMay 14, 2021

Detective Zeke Banks (Chris Rock); is a man under stress. His decision to report a corrupt cop has made him enemies within his precinct and set him at odds with his father Marcus (Samuel L. Jackson); who also happens to be the former Chief ofDetective Zeke Banks (Chris Rock); is a man under stress. His decision to report a corrupt cop has made him enemies within his precinct and set him at odds with his father Marcus (Samuel L. Jackson); who also happens to be the former Chief of Police.

This tension has caused Zeke to be shot in the line of duty when fellow officers refused to respond to his calls for backup which even further inflamed a tense situation and made Zeke a Lone Wolf who is hesitant to work with others and has cost him his marriage.

Unfortunately for Zeke; a grisly murder happens and he is assigned a new partner named William Schenk (Max Minghella); to investigate what appears to be a copycat of the long-dead Jigsaw.

The fact that the victim is a fellow cop inflames the office and when Zeke is sent a package from the killer which promises more killings to follow as the corruption within his department needs to be stopped.

As the victims begin to mount; Zeke and William find themselves in a race against time to discover the identity of the killer and stop the killings.

“Spiral: From The Book Of SAW”; is an interesting new entry into the franchise and in keeping with “Jigsaw:’ was more engaging than several of the last films in the main franchise as it gives audiences deeper characters and scenarios than normally shown in the series.

While the traps are as clever and gruesome as fans of the series would expect; the decision to target cops is an interesting choice and in many ways reflects the growing cries for reforming the Police but does it in an extreme way and balances out that there are good cops in the mix who serve and protect.

Chris Rock also served as a Producer was good in the role and it was refreshing to see him play a darker and more dramatic character. While he still has moments of clever riffs; they are appropriately placed within the film and do not take away from the fact that Zeke is a troubled and driven individual.

The supporting cast is solid and while I was able to identify the individual behind the killings fairly early; there were enough Red Herrings along the way that may keep audiences guessing.

Director Darren Lynn Bousman who directed the second to the fourth film in the series has made a solid return to the franchise and keeps the dark and dirty look of the film’s trap sequences and while they are gory; there is a cleverness to them that should delight fans of the series.

In the end “Spiral” has enough of what fans of the franchise expect and infuses some interesting new characters and scenarios to make one of the more complete and enjoyable entries in the series.

3.5 stars out of 5
Skewed and Reviewed… Expand

3 of 8 users found this helpful35

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7

stormplayzMay 15, 2021

Surprisingly one of the better Saw movies. The acting is very good and the opening scene is actually very well directed. Sadly this movie is very predictable, the final plot twist will probably not surprise you.

3 of 8 users found this helpful35

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9

JadenZeeMay 17, 2021

The feeling is very much Saw. You know it's a definite Saw movie, and though not hard to top, it is better than 3-6 combined. The concept of Spiral was great, new, and kept me thinking for a long while after the fact. It had a fresh feelingThe feeling is very much Saw. You know it's a definite Saw movie, and though not hard to top, it is better than 3-6 combined. The concept of Spiral was great, new, and kept me thinking for a long while after the fact. It had a fresh feeling that kept me connected to the characters I was watching. For the first time in a long time, the gore in this Saw film wasn't the plot of the movie. It was used as a part of the plot while the main plot felt like something the Saw movies back then could have learned a thing or two from.… Expand

2 of 6 users found this helpful24

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8

TheQuietGamerJul 29, 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 deathAs 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.… Expand