Spiral

A grisly series of murders stumps the police department, with the killer appearing to follow in the footsteps of the infamous Jigsaw. Detective Zeke Banks and his rookie partner, Detective William Schenk, take on the investigation. As they delve deeper, Zeke's father, a respected veteran detective, finds himself in the killer's crosshairs, forcing Zeke to confront a dark secret from his own past.

Spiral received mixed to negative reviews from critics, who found its attempt to revitalize the Saw franchise with a more grounded, crime-thriller approach to be somewhat successful in its premise but ultimately hampered by a predictable plot and uninspired kills. Audience reception was similarly divided, with some appreciating the change of pace and others feeling it lacked the inventive gore and tension of earlier installments.

• Praised for its attempt to inject a more serious crime drama element into the Saw formula.
• Criticized for predictable twists and a lack of genuinely shocking or inventive Jigsaw-style traps.
• Seen by some as a step in a new direction for the franchise, despite its flaws.

Google audience: Google users were split on Spiral, with many appreciating the darker, more grounded tone and the inclusion of Chris Rock. However, a significant portion of viewers felt the film didn't live up to the legacy of the original Saw movies, citing a weak plot and underwhelming horror elements.

Chris Rock conceived the initial idea for the film and pitched it to Lionsgate, wanting to bring a fresh, crime-drama perspective to the long-running horror franchise.