Movie Review

Torture horror cycle gets a second spin with star-heavy Spiral

The horror genre tends to run in cycles. The slasher movies of the ‘80s gave way to psychological thrillers in the ‘90s, which in turn led to multiple films utilizing “found footage” and then torture porn. That last one was especially prolific in the late 2000s, with six films in as many years coming from the Saw series.

Even though 2010’s entry was named Saw: The Final Chapter (aka Saw 3D), we all know that nothing stays dead in the horror genre. The series returned with Jigsaw in 2017, and now it’s back in another form with Spiral, subtitled From the Book of Saw. This time around, it’s police who are being hunted by a possible copycat killer of Jigsaw, with Detective Zeke Banks (Chris Rock) leading the way trying to track the killer down.

Zeke, however, has a lot of baggage attached to him. As a younger beat cop, he turned in his partner for killing a man without provocation, getting Zeke shunned by most of his fellow officers. He’s also the son of former police chief Marcus Banks (Samuel L. Jackson), and is now being paired with a detective-in-training, William Schenk (Max Minghella). Zeke’s history comes back to haunt him as it becomes clear that he and the killer are using vastly different methods to accomplish the same goal: Get rid of dirty cops.

Directed by Saw veteran Darren Lynn Bousman and written by Jigsaw writers Josh Stolberg and Pete Goldfinger, the film treads familiar ground while offering a little something new. While the specter of Jigsaw’s legacy looms over the entire film, it’s the first film in the series not to deal with him directly. Instead, the killer uses his tricks – the tape recordings, the pig head mask, and the diabolical torture devices – to emulate him in almost every way.

The whole point of a Saw film is to make the audience as uncomfortable as possible, and the kill scenes certainly do the trick, with victims faced with impossible choices that lead to gruesome results. Ideally, those scenes would be the culmination of suspenseful sequences set in motion by solid storytelling. However, as has been the case throughout the series, the writers have no skill in setting their story up, forcing their actors to bumble their way through clunky, often laughable dialogue.

The best they come to being clever is an early scene where Rock delivers a diatribe about Forrest Gump that calls to mind the pop culture riffs of Quentin Tarantino in the ’90s. They also have Rock throw out a New Jack City reference at one point, which is somewhat funny since Rock was in that 1991 movie. However, having a character talk about 30-year-old movies only shows how the writers have failed to move forward in their storytelling abilities.

Rock makes for a decent lead, but the emotional range of the character is a bit beyond his talents. Every time he’s called upon to be extra angry or upset, his believability factor goes down. Marcus’ coworkers are mostly one-note characters, so none of the actors stand out in any way. Minghella, known mostly for his roles in The Mindy Project or The Handmaid’s Tale, has a nice turn, though. And Jackson is typical Jackson, sprinkling in expletives like he invented them.

Saw movies have always been for a certain kind of moviegoer and their willingness to endure the sight of torture for their entertainment. Spiral, like all the other films in the series, is not a pleasant experience, but if it succeeds at the box office, it could be the start of another cycle for the always-popular horror genre.

---

Spiral opens in theaters on May 14.

Chris Rock and Max Minghella in Spiral.

Chris Rock and Max Minghella in Spiral

Photo by Brooke Palmer

Chris Rock and Max Minghella in Spiral.

weekend event planner

Here are the top 15 things to do in Houston this weekend

Weezer

Courtesy of Weezer

undefined

Saturday is the 16th International Independent Home Video Day, and local video store Lost & Found Media (located inside Misfit Toys) will be celebrating with some sweet home-video deals. If you spend $10, you can get a free DVD or VHS tape. They’ll also have a limited run of mystery DVD blind boxes.

As always, it’ll be a fun, fascinating weekend full of art, film, music, and – yes – monster trucks. Enjoy yourself, and try not to come undone.

Thursday, October 15

Cactus Music presents Sama’an Ashrawi – Author Meet & Greet
Palestinian-American storyteller/film director Sama’an Ashrawi is celebrating the release of his debut book, 𝘉𝘢𝘣𝘢 𝘞𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘙𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦, with a stop at Cactus Music. It tells the stories of his father’s place within the nascent Palestinian rock & roll scene of the ‘60s, as well as the author’s own odyssey through the living history of American music and culture. The event will feature readings from the book, with a discussion moderated by Aris Kian (Houston Poet Laureate, 2023-2025). 5:30 pm.

Spectrum Fusion presents Illuminate: Creating Brighter Futures for Autistic Adults
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and with Illuminate, Spectrum Fusion is shining a light on the talents, abilities, and bright futures of the autistic adults it serves. The gala is Spectrum Fusion’s most important fundraising event of the year, helping to fund meaningful employment opportunities, creative programming, and community connections for autistic adults throughout Houston and beyond. 6 pm.

Affordable Art Fair
The Affordable Art Fair will open its doors for the first time in Houston. The four-day event brings together over 55 local, national, and international galleries, all displaying works by emerging and established living artists — with prices starting at $100. Visitors will find expert gallerists ready to demystify the art world through one-on-one conversations, panel discussions, guided tours, and hands-on workshops. The fair partners with several local galleries, including Koelsch Gallery, ELLIO Fine Art, and Off The Wall Gallery. 6 pm (Noon Friday; 11 am Saturday and Sunday).

Friday, October 16

Weezer in concert
It’s the 20th anniversary of Pinkerton, Weezer’s notoriously divisive 1996 follow-up to their career-launching, self-titled 1994 debut (aka the Blue Album). Expect a few of its tracks from Rivers Cuomo and the boys when they play Toyota Center this weekend, as part of their Weezer: The Gathering tour, which celebrates the band's 30th anniversary. Of course, they’ll also play the hits (“Buddy Holly,” “Beverly Hills”) along with new tunes from their recently-released, self-titled latest (aka the Gold Album). 7 pm.

Knives in Water presents Afro-Punk
Local pop-up kitchen Knives in Water will be bringing James Spooner, author, filmmaker, and co-founder of the Afropunk Festival, to Wonky Power this weekend. He’ll be here to screen his famed 2003 documentary Afro-Punk, where he traveled around the country and talked to BlPOC punk enthusiasts, as well as take part in a post-screening discussion/Q&A. He’ll also sell/sign copies of his recently-released memoir It Starts with Anger: A Punk Beginning, An AFROPUNK Ending. Local punkers B L A C K I E and Lagrimas will also provide live music. 7:30 pm.

Miller Outdoor Theatre presents Neon Nostalgic
Neon Nostalgic has toured across North America and around the globe, earning a reputation as one of the world’s premier nostalgia acts. They’re the only live band that syncs every moment of their performance in real time with the original music videos — transporting people straight back to the golden age of music television. Hosts/original MTV VJs Mark Goodman and Alan Hunter will share inside stories and memories, making this night a truly unforgettable rewind back to the decade that shaped us all. 7:30 pm.

The Music Box Theater presents Legends of the Hall
The Music Box Theater cast pays tribute to Rock & Roll Hall of Fame icons in an all-new production, Legends of the Hall. Songs will honor the music from the 1950s onward that defined multiple generations, from Elvis to Bowie. In addition to rock tunes, the show will feature soul, pop, blues, rhythm and blues, and more genres in a high energy, laugh-filled celebration of the inductees and their music. Through Saturday, November 21. 7:30 pm.

Montrose Grocer presents Wine Rave
The bottle shop and wine bar on Lower Westheimer will celebrate its upcoming one-year anniversary with special merch and pours from Italian natural wine favorite Radikon. Four DJs — Disko Cowboy, Yung Hiram, Grrrl Parts, and Dayta — will perform sets that keep the party going late, so dancing shoes are highly recommended. 8 pm.

Weezer

Photo courtesy of Weezer

Weezer performs at the Toyota Center on Friday.

Saturday, October 17

Houston Arboretum & Nature Center presents ArBOOretum
At ArBOOretum, the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center's fall festival, the popular Trick-or-Treat Nature Trail will lead kids on an adventure of discovery where they’ll learn about creatures that live at the Arboretum, while collecting candy along the way. Other ArBOOretum activities throughout the day include carnival swings, a Halloween market, live animal encounters, pumpkin decorating, and train rides. All proceeds benefit the Arboretum’s mission of nature education and conservation. 10 am.

Houston Celebrity Comic Con
The two-day Houston Celebrity Comic Con will feature cosplay, video gaming, card gaming, workshops, panels, and autographs with a variety of celebrities. Scheduled guests include Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis (Thelma and Louise), Jamie Campbell Bower and Grace Van Dien (Stranger Things), Lena Headey (Game of Thrones), Ron Perlman (Hellboy), Lou Diamond Phillips, Brian Austin Green, Kristy Swanson, and more. 11 am.

Monster Jam
Monster Jam is an ultimate day of family fun where visitors can cheer, scream, and be amazed as massive Monster Jam trucks and world champion drivers take over for a weekend packed with high-flying action and jaw-dropping stunts. Trucks scheduled to perform include Grave Digger, El Toro Loco, Megalodon, Sparkle Smash, and more. Making its Texas debut will be The Amazing Spider-Man Monster Jam truck, in classic red and blue, complete with a larger-than-life spider icon. 7 pm.

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents Movies Houstonians Love: The Thing
A research team in Antarctica is hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims. John Carpenter’s 1982 masterpiece of paranoid sci-fi horror, The Thing’s cultural significance lies in groundbreaking, grotesque practical effects, subverting the heroic tropes of its predecessors. The film succeeds as an allegory for profound existential distrust, body horror, McCarthyism, and invisible, infectious threats, while also tackling transformation and identity. Former SNL writer T. Sean Shannon introduces the film. 7 pm.

Sunday, October 18

Inprint Cool Brains! Series presents Elizabeth Acevedo
The 2026/2027 Inprint Cool Brains! Series will present National Book Award winner and renowned poet Elizabeth Acevedo, who will share her new YA novel, Anger Is Only a Shadow. Acevedo is the New York Times-bestselling author of The Poet X, which won several awards including the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. Apart from writing such acclaimed books as With the Fire on High and Clap When You Land, Acevedo is a National Poetry Slam Champion and served as the 2022 Young People’s Poet Laureate. 2 pm.

The Menil Collection presents Sounds to Live By
Enjoy an afternoon of outdoor music on the Menil's main building lawn. This annual outdoor listening event is organized by Peter Lucas and features music selections from a variety of Houston visual artists, musicians, DJs, and cultural organizers. Participants Jamire Williams, Corey De'Juan Sherrard Jr., Tierney Malone, Gracie Chavez, Alex la Rotta, and Jason Woods will be spinning vinyl records from their personal collections, selected especially for this relaxed, outdoor autumn experience. 3 pm.

Undertale: The Determination Symphony
Undertale: The Determination Symphony is a concert experience featuring the most memorable themes (composed by indie-game developer/composer Toby Fox) from the hit indie game, newly arranged and performed live by a 25-piece orchestra. With gameplay footage displayed on a screen above the stage, audiences will be fully immersed in the world of Undertale, experiencing its story and music like never before. 8 pm.

things to do home video weezer

Loading...