Spiral

I don't think 2 or 3 stars is fair, and I tend to dislike new movies easily. Yes it's slow at first and could've had more "filling" in the beginning/middle but still it delivers by the end. The cinematography is really good, and although some conversations between the couple are ridiculous (long time relationships don't get into simple break up fights) and you expect the main character to react to certain situations that are insane yet he brushes them off (don't wanna spoil here) but overall ends up entertaining as it should.

Not to be confused with the 2021 'Saw' spin-off movie also called 'Spiral', as I did.

Not only is Malik and Aaron a same-sex couple, but also an interracial couple, moving to a conservative small town back in 1995. With them is Aaron's daughter, Kayla. Soon after settling into their new home, they start noticing the townsfolk reacting weirdly. 'Spiral' is mysterious, creepy and foreboding.

'Spiral' is a psychological horror which becomes increasingly nerve-wrecking as the film develops, and one never really knows what to expect. Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman is very good as Malik, a black gay guy who soon feels out of place in their new home. Kayla also meets a young boy, Tyler, who seem to have a secret or two.

I really enjoyed the mystery, but the film falls apart during the finale. Without doing spoilers, all I can say is that there's way too much left unexplained. Who are these people? What are they? Why are they doing it? Why every ten years? I also couldn't help but wonder whether this might be homophobic propaganda. The film also does not have the ending I had hoped for. Pity. It started off so interesting...

Would I watch it again? No.

The moment any movie is compared to Hereditary or Vvitch, i try to avoid cos of the bore effect. The acting is good but the movie is very slow with a good twist.

In short, it tried hard to be like Get Out n felt more like Adam Green's Spiral but ended up more like Hereditary.

What happens when stereotypes, cliches and terrible writing take a road trip? They crash; slowly, predictably and painfully.

The acting is ok. The cinematography, and sound are fine. Just a dumb story.

There is no horror. Maybe some suspense. The plot just grinds on with very little happening of interest until the end.

The character development is sparse. The motivations of the family and the neighbors is difficult to surmise. We learn very little about their pasts. Pretty hard to relate to or care much about any of them.

If they'd ended the film after the birthday party, I suppose it may have left a more interesting impression....But they junked up the ending with the same old same old.. Not a good watch. But... It does have a gay multi racial couple as leads. That's different. That's about the only thing interesting about it.