What to Watch This Weekend: Trollhunters, Old, Last Letter From Your Lover, Sexy Beasts, Sword Art Online, Quiet Place Part II, Spiral, Initiation

For The Timeless Romantic: The Last Letter From Your Lover (Netflix)
The Last Letter From Your Love has two intriguing storylines, some amazing fashion and style, and some wonderful views of the French Riviera to fall in love with.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Ridiculous Reality Show: Sexy Beasts (Netflix)

Sexy Beasts is the most fun and ridiculous reality dating show you can watch, with a silly premise that makes for some interesting dates and lets these individual's personalities shine through!  For more information, check out the review!

For The Trollhunters Fans: Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans (Netflix)

Trollhunters: Rise of Titans continues the Tales of Arcadia trilogy with some beautiful animation and larger than life encounters that will determine the fate of the Trollhunters world.  For more information, check out the review! 

For The Disappointed Trollhunters Fans: Sword Art Online (Netflix)

I have heard lots of mixed results with the Trollhunters ending, but for those looking for something else to watch after Trollhunters, check out Sword Art Online, an animated series that features a fantasy setting with some technology.  

For A Twisted Aging Story: Old (Theaters)

Old has a mysterious story, some very nice performances and small touches, and a trademark M. Night Shyamalan twist ending, but the quirks and odd dialogue might cast some shadows on this beach vacation.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Tense, Quiet Evening: A Quiet Place Part II (Paramount+)

A Quiet Place Part II continues the Abbott's story with the same amazing sound effects and trademark muffled horror that made the first movie such an auditory treat.  For more information, check out the review!

For The Next Chapter in the Book of Saw: Spiral (Redbox)
Spiral's star power, brutal challenges and effects, and police procedural story will draw you down into this next chapter from the Book of Saw.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Crazy, Murderous Horror Party: Initiation (Redbox)

Initiation's college slasher party is amplified with great practical effects, brutal deaths, a good amount of tension, and a social media message.  For more information, check out our review!

Giveaway: Enter to win a Blu-Ray Copy of Spiral, From The Book of Saw!

Thanks to our friends at Lionsgate, we are offering our readers the chance to win Spiral, from the Book of Saw, a tense thriller that takes place in the world of Saw.  We are giving away some Blu-Ray copies of the film to celebrate the physical release on July 20, 2021!  The film stars Chris Rock, Max Minghella, Marisol Nichols, and Samuel L. Jackson (Written Review, YouTube Review).  Enter below for your chance to win.  

Contest goes until Saturday, July 24 so enter now and secure your chance to win!  Please note that this contest is only open to our readers in the United States due to shipping issues.  Please enter below and use an email address that you check regularly.  The winner will be contacted on early Sunday to request a shipping address.

Spiral Info

Release date: May 14, 2021
Running time: 93 minutes
Starring: Chris Rock, Max Minghella, Marisol Nichols, and Samuel L. Jackson
Directed by: Darren Lynn Bousman
Written by: Josh Stolberg & Pete Goldfinger

A criminal mastermind unleashes a twisted form of justice in Spiral, the terrifying new chapter from the book of Saw. 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. 

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Spiral Review: A Twisted Police Procedural In The Book of Saw

Release date: May 14, 2021
Running time: 93 minutes
Starring: Chris Rock, Max Minghella, Marisol Nichols, and Samuel L. Jackson
Directed by: Darren Lynn Bousman
Written by: Josh Stolberg & Pete Goldfinger

A criminal mastermind unleashes a twisted form of justice in Spiral, the terrifying new chapter from the book of Saw. 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. 

Spiral has a lot of aspects of the Saw series, with twisted challenges that require the individuals to make a choice, an overarching message, and a brutal sense of justice with dire consequences.  The twisted challenges are what set the Saw series apart originally, and they make a return with gusto in Spiral.  The film has some imaginative ways to test people's resolve, with brutal effects as these individuals choose whether to live or die.  These effects are a hallmark of the series and a great addition to any gore film.  They are very well done in Spiral and you will be gritting your teeth as you watch to see what happens to the players in the killers game.

Spiral has a fantastic opening that gets you back in the Saw mindset.  It then transitions into more of a police procedural film, which is actually a lot of fun to experience.  I loved Chris Rock's character and his interactions with the rest of the force.  He plays a rebellious, hard-nosed detective who plays by his own rules and is not in favor with many of his coworkers.  It was fun to see him in a more serious role and getting to watch how he fought with the other cops while trying to solve this case.  His partner (Minghella) is the polar opposite of him, and seeing him try to break in the rookie cop also provided plenty of humor.  And having Samuel L. Jackson as his father just put a cherry on top of this cast.  It was vintage Samuel L. Jackson and seeing the banter between Rock and Jackson made for a very good time. The two are a lot of fun on screen and seeing them bicker like family was a highlight of the film.  In fact, the whole first half was very good, with grisly deaths and plenty of mystery.  And the cinematography in Spiral is worth mentioning, with some very long one takes that help keep you focused on the characters and their investigation.

But where Spiral starts to wind down is with the ending.  The film also starts to get a little overly dramatic with some cliched ideas and lines towards the back half.  And the ending of Spiral itself is pretty predictable; it was not a huge surprise when the big reveal happened.  It hurt what was a very good setup.   And the ending itself just didn't really click with me.  It felt like it tried to go for a big, crazy set piece rather than something to really wrap up the story.  And the fact that this was from the "Book of Saw" rather than its own independent film hurt it.  Although there aren't a lot of specific Saw references, the ones that were in there felt bolted on.  There were a few lines to try and tie the movies together that just felt out of place and the fact that they tried to relate back to the previous movies with a snippet here or there hurt the overall immersion.  And the killer itself has a similar MO to Jigsaw, but is much less terrifying.  Overall, I wish Spiral had kept going deeper with the police procedural side rather than spinning out of control.  This could have been its own setup, similar to Seven, rather than trying to be pushed into the Spiral universe.

Spiral's star power, brutal challenges and effects, and police procedural story will draw you down into this next chapter from the Book of Saw.

Rent it.

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What to Watch This Weekend - The Racer, Political Dramas and Documentaries, Antebellum, Spiral, The Social Dilemma

For the Sports Enthusiast - The Racer (Digital)

The Racer tells an honest sports story, with inspirational moments, plenty of interesting insights into conflicted athletes, and a story that paces itself nicely before a photo finish.  For more information, check out our review!

For the Political Scientist - All In: the Fight for Democracy (Amazon)

All In; The Fight for Democracy is an important film about modern voter suppression techniques, with poignant examples and valuable advice to ensure that all Americans are able to exercise their rights to vote.  For more information, check out our review!

For the Political Historian - The Way I See It (Theaters)

The Way I See It highlights the power of photography and the unprecedented access that Souza was given during the Obama presidency, and visually shows the stark differences between Reagan, Obama, and Trump.  For more information, check out our review!

For the Political Drama Fan - Les Sauvages (Topic)

Les Sauvages has an interesting cast of characters, complicated story, and plenty of drama in this French political thriller with parallels to events happening in America and on a global stage.  For more information, check out our review!

 

For the Fan of Stylized History - Antebellum (Theaters)

Antebellum is an imaginative mind game that explores the sins of the past and present through strong performances, a mysterious story, and some fantastic, dread-inducing music.  For more information, check out our review!

For the 90s Horror Fan - Spiral (Shudder)

Spiral's attention to 90s detail and refreshingly diverse main characters help you lose yourself on this descent into madness and dread.  For more information, check out our review!

For the Drama Fan - I'm Thinking of Ending Things (Netflix)

Strong performances from Jessie Buckley and Jesse Plemons and good writing from Charlie Kaufman highlight this movie that has wide critical appeal but mixed audience reactions.  

For the Social Media Addict - The Social Dilemma (Netflix)

The Social Dilemma has universal praise and presents a sobering, clear look into our datamined world in a dramatic form that should appeal to all.  

For the Thriller Fan - The Invisible Man (HBO)

The Invisible Man is a new take on the classic film, with great, minimalist effects, wonderful tension, and an amazing performance by Elisabeth Moss.  For more information, check out our review! 

Spiral Review: An Authentic 90s Descent Into Madness And Dread

Release date: September 17, 2020
Running time: 87 minutes
Starring:  Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman, Ari Cohen, Jennifer Laporte

Malik (Bowyer-Chapman) and Aaron (Cohen), move to a small town in search of a better environment for them and their 16-year-old daughter (Laporte). But nothing is as it seems as something sinister lies behind the picturesque homes and welcoming faces of their new neighbors.  And the more Malik delves into the weird occurrences and strange neighbors, the more he realizes that this is not the first time this has happened.   

This film is set in the 1990s and I was really impressed with the attention to detail that it had.  It featured plenty of authentic 90s touches including the technology, the decor, and the general overall setting. Great care was taken to make the town feel like a real small town, with the right balance of caring and nosy neighbors.  And there were some amazing details including tube TVs, older video game systems, old computers, and a disc that was burned with Nero burning rom, a program I haven't thought about in two decades.  And setting it in the 90s was more than just a stylistic choice, it is critical to the overall story.  

I really liked all the characters, but Malik (Bowyer-Chapman) was amazing as a proud, outspoken gay man in the 90s.  His character was one that instantly stands out for all the right reasons and I really liked seeing his portrayal.  It is especially fun to see his back and forth with Laporte as the two spar for their place in the overall family structure.  And having a nontraditional family and diverse gay couple as the main characters in a horror movie was a refreshingly different premise than what I am used to.  Although horror films are as progressive as most movies, it was still great to see a different protagonist than what I am normally used to.  However, the Spiral is not just trying to be progressive for progressive sake (although that is a notable goal and one that should be applauded), but it also uses the couple's identity as a key aspect of the overall story.

And the story of Spiral builds slowly and features plenty of psychological terror.  The movie doesn't feature gore, but rather slowly draws you into its strange setting with mind games and an ever present sense of dread.  As Malik explores further and further into the goings on of the family's new town, he realizes just how much danger is lurking around him.  Spiral does a great job of starting with a lot of unknown information that is gradually revealed as you work your way down this dark vortex.  You watch without a sense of what is going on, but happy to experience it nonetheless.  And when aspects of the story are revealed, they clear up previous questions nicely.  And at the center of this spiral is a reveal that ties a lot together, while still leaving you with questions as any good horror film should.

Spiral's attention to 90s detail and refreshingly diverse main characters help you lose yourself on this descent into madness and dread.   

Watch it.

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following us on our various social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube. Spiral debuts on September 17, 2020 exclusively on Shudder.