• Director: Darren Lynn Bousman
• With: Chris Rock, Samuel L. Jackson, Max Minghella, Marisol Nichols, Richard Zeppieri, Dan Petronijevic, Ali Johnson, Zoie Palmer, Patrick McManus, K.C. Collins, Dylan Roberts, Edie Inksetter
• Music by: Charlie Clouser
• Duration: 1h33
• Studio: Lionsgate & Twisted Pictures
• Rating: 8/10

Synopsis:

Working in the shadow of his father, an esteemed police veteran (Samuel L. Jackson), brash Detective Ezekiel “Zeke” Banks (Chris Rock) and his rookie partner (Max Minghella) take charge of a grisly investigation into murders that are eerily reminiscent of the city’s gruesome past. Unwittingly entrapped in a deepening mystery, Zeke finds himself at the center of the killer’s morbid game.

Review:

Who would have ever thought Samuel L. Jackson would ever be part of the Saw franchise? Not me… until Spiral was released! Well, it appears he loves a good death!

And then there’s Chris Rock who is a big fan of the series and pitched an idea to the studio and lo and behold here is Spiral, aka Saw IX!

Speaking of fans… I am not a huge Chris Rock fan. So at first I was a bit weary about him playing a cop on the lookout for a serial killer, a cop killer! But he manages to play a decent part in this movie and I actually sympathised a little bit with him… but I sympathised more with Jigsaw this time! Because I do not want to spoil anything I will not say more on that topic!

Jackson and Minghella are great actors so they are worth mentioning of course.

This movie feels and looks different from the previous Saw instalments. But is refreshing to have a different take after eight movies with people in traps or trying to save people caught in traps. Not that there aren’t any vicious traps in this one, and they are gory, but the take on them is quite different from the other movies.

I think they should move forward in time with the Spiral franchise now, however they do it. But there’s more to explore here, especially with this new Jigsaw killer!