Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Saw spin-off is a decent police story with TONS of gore.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 18+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Spiral
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 4 parent reviews
Based on 32 kid reviews
Kids say this movie is extremely violent and not suitable for younger audiences, with graphic scenes involving torture and excessive gore. While some viewers appreciate the storyline and performances, particularly by its leads, the overwhelming presence of profanity and gruesomeness raises concerns about its appropriateness for children under 16.
- extreme violence
- graphic content
- strong language
- not for kids
- mixed reviews
- solid performances
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In SPIRAL, police detective Zeke Banks (Chris Rock) -- son of the legendary Captain Marcus Banks (Samuel L. Jackson) -- has endured years of hate and harassment in his New York precinct for turning in a dirty cop. After an undercover job goes wrong, the current captain (Marisol Nichols) assigns Banks a rookie partner, William Schenk (Max Minghella). Their first assignment is to check out the decimated body of a man who was hit by a train. They discover that the body belongs to one of their colleagues, a friend of Zeke's. Before long, another cop dies, the victim of a brutal torture machine. Soon they start getting messages and packages filled with body parts, which is reminiscent of the Jigsaw killer. Can Zeke solve the puzzle before more cops die?
Is It Any Good?
The expected gimmicky torture/gore scenes in this Saw spin-off seem a little out of place in what's otherwise a decently moody, intense police story. The ninth movie in a series that left off in 2017 with Jigsaw, Spiral is, like the original 2004 Saw, a gore/horror film on the surface and a murder mystery at heart. It's more than just another sequel that copies the formula. It actually evokes David Fincher's Seven or Zodiac more than it does any of the previous Saw movies, with its hardened, veteran detective, fresh-faced rookie, and brutal crimes.
The movie creates a potent big-city vibe, dense and heightened, but not without moments of familiarity and comfort. In his role, Rock offers an impressive, modulated performance, finding ways to slip his persona into the character with a few funny jabs here and there. But he remains rooted in Zeke's real pain and moral dilemma. It's too bad that director Darren Lynn Bousman -- who also helmed Saw II, Saw III, and Saw IV -- misses a chance to connect Black characters with police corruption in a meaningful way, and the movie's torture sequences almost seem like asides; they could be cut down (or out altogether) and the story wouldn't suffer. They also create a flaw that provides an early clue to the final reveal. But thanks to Rock and the movie's atmosphere, Spiral actually works in a roundabout way.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Spiral's violence. How did the intensely gory sequences affect you? Do you think they really need to be included? Why, or why not?
What's the appeal of horror movies? Why do people sometimes like being scared?
Did you notice any positive representation in Spiral? What about characters who could be considered role models?
Have you ever tried to do the right thing but faced some sort of repercussion for it?
How does this movie compare to the others in the Saw franchise? Is it more of the same? Does it go in a fresh direction?
Movie Details
- In theaters : May 14, 2021
- On DVD or streaming : July 20, 2021
- Cast : Chris Rock , Samuel L. Jackson , Marisol Nichols , Max Minghella
- Director : Darren Lynn Bousman
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s) , Asian Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Lionsgate
- Genre : Horror
- Run time : 93 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : sequences of grisly bloody violence and torture, pervasive language, some sexual references and brief drug use
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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