Movie Review: Spiral
May 9th, 2008 by admin
- Director: Adam Green, Joel Moore
- Genre: Drama/Thriller
- Year: 2007
Somebody made the mistake of calling this a horror when they introduced it to me. Unfair because when you go in with a certain mindset for a specific genre and you do not get it, you tend to get somewhat irked. Thankfully, this movie is a good enough thriller to make up for the lack of horror that it never even had to begin with.
Limited with its set and cast, this movie is relatively simplistic and certainly runs along the independent film vein, and at some points, particularly in the writing and directing the relative inexperience seems to poke its curious little head out. In the grand scheme of things, however, that is not so much of a problem.
At the heart of this story we have a complete social reject named Mason, which is surprisingly much more likable than his ‘normal’ counterparts who work at an insurance company. One gets the sense that the only reason Mason has a job is the fact that his best and really only friend is the boss and has taken him under his protective wing. At the same time, there is a new hire that seems to have an eye for the unique and takes a liking to Mason. Amber, as she is called, becomes another staple in Mason’s often incoherent and oddly obsessed life, which heavily revolves around a series of paitings which he seems to cycle over and over and over. Soon enough, however, Amber begins to realize that dealing with Mason is something she walked into blindly and entirely unprepared for.
A good thriller, even if the acting does not always deliver. In the end it is still an enjoyable and intriguing film with a good effort in cinematography. All in all a solid movie worth the watch.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Notes: Brief nudity, language and some adult situations.
Quote: Amber: So anyway. Now that I have conquered my current job, what should I do next? I am thinking feminist or astronaut. Probably go with feminist, I’m afraid of heights.
Mason: Ah, what does a feminist do?
Amber: Mostly just bitches about stuff.