Spiral was a jolt to the Saw franchise. The ninth instalment in the Saw film series is a departure from its predecessors. Although it was set in the same universe, it has a standalone story that borrows details from the earlier movies, but in general, does its own thing.
Starring Chris Rock, Samuel L. Jackson, Max Minghella and Marisol Nichols, Spiral sees the police, led by Rock, trying to stop a Jigsaw copycat killer. In general, the movie features the franchise’s signature gruesome deaths, but leaves out some familiar aspects, most notably the appearance of Billy the Puppet and the presence of Jigsaw, which were the most prominent components in the Saw series.
However, it retains quite a number of elements from the previous Saw movies, assuring that Saw fans are not disappointed.
Here are the ways that Spiral pay homage to its predecessors.
Call-backs to Previous Movies
One of the most notable features of the Saw movies was its continuity. In all the instalments, there is always a flashback to the previous movies to understand the current plot. Spiral is no different, no doubt, to draw Saw fans in.
The Use of Tapes by the Killer
One of the signatures of Jigsaw was using pre-recorded material to issue the rules of the game. This aspect was followed through the franchise, and made an appearance in Spiral as well. The killer copied Jigsaw’s practice to do the same.
The Villain Being Part of the Games
From the very first Saw movie, we know that Jigsaw himself was right there, “playing” the game with the two protagonists- Cary Elwes and Leigh Whannell all along. This trademark move of being among the players is employed in several Saw sequels and in Spiral too.
Return of the “Hello Zepp” Song
The iconic theme song of the Saw franchise, “Hello Zepp”, has been heard in all of the Saw movies and it makes an appearance in Spiral too. It has been remixed by rapper and songwriter 21 Savage.
The Traps that Tell the Story
If you are a Saw fan, you would know that no trap is random. Each one has a meaning, and this is vital in Saw’s storytelling. This is no different in Spiral. In fact, Spiral embraced this aspect with fervour. The killer planned all the traps for his victims based on the vendetta he has for them. And they are pretty gruesome.
