Downward Spiral

"Spiral" sees famed comedian Chris Rock testing his mettle against a brutal serial killer in an earnest, if unremarkable spin-off set within the twisted "Saw" universe

Once upon a time, "Saw" was one of the most prolific horror franchises of the 21st century. Every Halloween, a new entry would lure gorehounds to cinemas with its insidious traps and labyrinthine twists. Naturally, fatigue began to set in and box office receipts for "Saw VI" dropped nearly 50% when compared to the average grosses of its predecessors. After a rather abysmal seventh film, aptly subtitled "The Final Chapter", the series was laid to rest in 2010 until it was resurrected seven years later with "Jigsaw". The lackluster revival was financially successful, as all the films have been, but creatively bankrupt. Queue "Saw" superfan Chris Rock. Citing his enjoyment of the series and wanting to branch out into horror, Rock pitched an idea to Lionsgate and thus, "Spiral" was born. With series veteran Darren Lynn Bousman (director of "Saw II"-"Saw IV") and Samuel L. Jackson in tow, Rock looks to inject new life into the franchise. Did it work or is this just a bloody waste of time?

Rock stars as Det. Ezekiel "Zeke" Banks, a good, but rebellious cop who isn't particularly well-liked in his department. After one of their fellow officers is viciously murdered, Banks and his new partner, William (Max Minghella), find themselves trailing a copycat of the infamous Jigsaw Killer. The film was written by Josh Stolberg and Peter Goldfinger, who also wrote "Jigsaw" and it features Marisol Nichols as Capt. Angie Garza and Jackson as Marcus Banks, Zeke's father. Series mainstay Charlie Clouser also returns to provide the score.

In terms of overall quality, "Spiral" nestles itself somewhere in the middle of the franchise, with the slick production design and acting alone placing it above the worst sequels. However, the film's thrills don't quite match the heights of the best films in the series, resulting in the movie feeling like a middling filler episode at times. Make no mistake, there are still a number of bewildered victims who meet appropriately gruesome ends, but the film makes a concerted effort to focus on the characters and mystery in lieu of the traps (which had admittedly become the main draw). The problem is the characters are forgettable and the storytelling is too sloppy for the suspense elements to be truly gripping. Rock's character is the most engaging and he's a serviceable protagonist, but pairing a grizzled detective's persona with his stand-up shtick isn't an ideal fit. Aside from Samuel L. Jackson providing his usual bravado, they're really the only characters with semblances of personality. This is the best a "Saw" film has ever looked and the attempt to reinvigorate the series with new energy is admirable, but it's difficult to do when you hire the man who's directed more "Saw" movies than anyone else and retain the same writers from the previous installment. It's a fresh coat of paint that begins to feel familiar and formulaic the more it chips away. It's still better than half of the franchise's other offerings and will undoubtedly have viewers squirming in their seats, but it doesn't quite make the cut as an impactful reintroduction. C+