Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		2.5

Spiral Blu-ray Movie Review

For once, unoriginality isn't a death sentence for a movie.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman February 4, 2010

To accentuate some parts you have to hide others.

Not every good film sees a wide release and earns millions of hard-earned entertainment dollars for weeks on end at the local multiplex. Some of cinema's better pictures are the little independent gems that for whatever reason see only a limited release and gross but a pittance in sales. It's not always about artistic vision and capability; shiny and glossy are in and bigger and faster sell tickets, while low-key and slow-to-develop pictures are left to flounder in the nether regions of cinematic irrelevance. A small 2007 independent production, Spiral, almost defines the latter. A film that's in no way original but is nevertheless engaging and alluring, Spiral's recycled themes and stale plot twists nevertheless trounce more obnoxious multi-millions dollar fare by a country mile thanks to not only restraint in the filmmaking process but care for and appreciation towards little things like pacing, scripting, and acting. In the grand scheme of things, Spiral is fairly irrelevant little movie, but it's well-done for what it is, and pound-for-pound, it easily surpasses supposedly "better" pictures both in its class and in cinema-at-large.

Mason and Amber admire a door.

Mason (Joel David Moore) is a lonely and confused auto insurance salesman at JZD&J who works through the daily grind for no reward and with no sense of purpose. His sole escape from the doldrums of life comes through his art; a gifted painter of the human form, Mason seeks to perfect his talents by depicting the grace of the female body on canvas. When he meets a new girl at work, Amber (Amber Tamblyn), he initially rejects her subtle advances but soon finds himself in an amicable friendship that slowly builds into a burgeoning romantic relationship. Amber becomes the subject of Mason's latest series of drawings, and while he continues to exist from inside the confines of his shell, he slowly emerges and allows Amber to show to him some of life's little pleasures, whether the magic of cinema or a trip to the park. Nevertheless, Mason finds himself struggling with his newfound love, confiding his concerns to his longtime friend and boss Berkeley (Zachary Levi), an outgoing, womanizing individual who is everything Mason is not. When Amber discovers the truth behind Mason's disturbing past, she and Mason both become privy to a secret that could shatter their lives.

Spiral is an awkward sort of film whereby it's both predictable but not necessarily lazy, enjoyable but not necessarily all that original. Every major element in the film -- the oddball lead character shrouded in mystery, the spunky wannabe girlfriend that tries to understand him, and the final plot twist that comes as no surprise and lacks any ingenuity -- plays out with a "been there, done that" feel, but there's also a sense of immersion into the story that allows the film to overcome a myriad of problems and yields, ultimately, a fairly routine but nevertheless immersive picture. Its structure is key; Spiral intermixes elements of horror and mystery into the story, but blends them so well with the burgeoning relationship between Mason and Amber that it's often hard to remember that there's more to the movie than an awkward, but at times touching, love story. Like the best Mysteries, Spiral slowly introduces elements of and very subtly hints at its final revelation throughout, though most elements and hints will only resonate with the audience once the picture's finished. Despite the unimaginative finale, Spiral maintains a solid pacing and a well-constructed façade that allows the ending to come as just a bit of a surprise, though there's bound to be some resentment over its generic feel.

Still, and within convention, there are really only two viable options with which to conclude this sort of story, and Spiral simply seems to choose one of them; either would have nicely rounded out and solidified the lead character's frame of mind, physically disheveled appearance, and fragile psyche. Considering, then, that the film could have gone in a different direction and maintained its plausibility within the confines of its lead character's arc, it would follow that the film's performances need be sufficient to carry the picture and allow for the range of possible outcomes to all work within the film's structure, and each lead delivers a solid effort that all make Spiral a complete experience that works within its scripted realm. Joel David Moore, in his role as the film's lead character, offers a haunting, resonating performance, and he sells the audience on both possible outcomes to the story with ease and without any hint as to how or why he does what he does, whether it be a known physical action or statement or something merely alluded to at some point in the story. Moore wonderfully captures a topsy-turvy feel to his character, portraying him as something of a social outcast and potential psychopath, but with a charm and ease that makes Amber's burgeoning relationship with him plausible and even welcome. Moore makes it easy for the audience to root for his character, despite his quirks and potentially deadly secrets, for his portrayal of a wounded soul makes Mason surprisingly sympathetic despite a shroud of darkness about his person. The charming Amber Tamblyn, in turn, delivers a cheery but slightly cautious effort, but again it's Moore's performance that makes her attraction to his character a believable one.

Spiral Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Spiral twists onto Blu-ray with a presentable but rough-around-the-edges 1080p, 1.78:1-framed transfer. For the most part, details are sharp, whether the fine lines on Amber's denim jacket, the rough texturing of the bricks that line the interior of Mason's apartment, or even the bumpy artist's canvas that's seen in several close-up shots. However, some shots appear far too soft, while some backgrounds can run together and lack superior definition. Color reproduction fluctuates between stable and messy. In the better scenes -- for instance the cold and sterile office environment where the image is dominated by flat grays and whites; or some of the brighter outdoor scenes -- the results are suitable, but the transfer can and does yield messy or poorly rendered colors that seem to run together. Black levels are slightly mushy and noisier than most other segments of the film, and there's a slightly harsh, processed look to many scenes. Additionally, compression artifacts are visible in select shots, while flesh tones can appear ghastly and flat. Spiral is one of those Blu-ray discs that generally look fine at-a-glance, but further inspection reveals some unfortunate -- but not fatal -- flaws.

Spiral Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Despite the absence of a lossless or uncompressed soundtrack, Spiral delivers a fairly crisp, clean soundtrack via a Dolby Digital 5.1 offering. This is a predominantly dialogue-driven film, but there's also an ample supporting structure that makes this a fairly engaging listen. Light atmospherics are found throughout. Heavily falling rain pours into the soundstage throughout the picture; gently rolling thunder sometimes echoes through the listening area; and the general din of a bustling insurance company office where busybodies scamper about, chat on phones, and gossip with one another amidst the beeping of machinery and the ringing of phones all do well to create a palpable and realistic environment. Surround speakers are nicely integrated into the experience to further assist in the realization of the track's varied environments and sound effects. The picture's music -- particularly its Jazz pieces -- flow well about the soundstage with a fair amount of clarity and strength and with an inviting tone. Though not a particularly bass-happy picture, low-end extension is solid when called upon, lending to the track a good rumbling sensation that accentuates several scenes. Finally, dialogue reproduction is distortion-free. Though by no means a memorable or all that engaging soundtrack, Spiral delivers a suitably clean and trouble-free listen that's a good companion to the film.

Spiral Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Spiral contains no special features.

Spiral Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Despite a generic and semi-predictable ending, Spiral maintains an aura of mystery that almost cancels out the film's series of recycled plot lines and characterizations. Directors Adam Green and Joel Moore handle the material with a reserved approach and prove themselves engaging storytellers, both factors keeping Spiral from circling the drain, the film never succumbing to its barrage of clichés that would have otherwise ruined a picture with as much unoriginality as seen here. Spiral is bound to frustrate some viewers for its insistence on delivering a fairly trite twist ending, but there's enough good leading up to the unimaginative finale to make this one worth a watch. This Starz/Anchor Bay Blu-ray release delivers a decent 1080p picture quality; a good, albeit lossy, audio soundtrack; and no special features. Spiral is best enjoyed as a rental.