Spiral (2007)

Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

Masterful Movie

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Call center worker by day, sensitive painter by night, Mason (Joel David Moore) is not all there. He has had emotional breakdowns many times in recent years... but now he has met Amber (Amber Tamblyn) and things seem to be looking up. Can he hold himself together? Moore breaks out here. As both director and star, he strays away from the silly, nerdy, dorky guy roles we know him from. Here he is edgier, manic, violent at times... he strays into acting territory that should earn him attention from bigger names, maybe put him on a path towards Oscar.Amber Tamblyn is a beautiful model, and perfect for the artwork featured here. The script is intelligent, with great insight into art, the idea of contrast and the construction of jazz music being harmony from discord. I'm sure there are deeper messages than I was able to pick up, but the writer gave this psychological thriller a smart wit and makes it a cut above the rest.What is Adam Green's role in this film? He is listed as co-director, but this is clearly Moore's baby. I suspect Green was more of a support for Moore, helping him with technical stuff and boosting recognition for this one in the horror community... but I shouldn't assume.As of this review, the film has been out three years with little buzz. Let me make some buzz right now: this is a film that you will love if you like thinking, mindbending films... some parts are deliciously ambiguous.

The best thing about this movie is that despite how much you THINK you've seen this story before, no elements of the tale overstay their welcome.It's like when a band you really like comes out with an EP. You enjoy it for what happens within the boundaries it's length.What works best is the acting, particularly that of Joel David Moore, who simply seems to be enjoying himself while finding depth in this character him & Adam Green more than likely collaborated on. Amber Tamblyn was also not annoying to me in this. Sounds back-handed, I know, she's talented, but just ain't my style most of the time.Also, the choices of music in the film add to it's uniqueness.Please, do enjoy "Spiral."

Troubled childhood...Mom murdered by Dad and you have the set up of a lonely,asthmatic,delusional, young man trying to eek out a living as a telemarketer in Portland Oregon, filled with demons in his head. I felt this film was genius because it truly captured the progression of a serial killer in the making. Basically this was a prequel of Masons life as a serial killer. You had a creative , painter dabbling in imagination of women with delusions seeming oh so real. When the film convinces its viewer that Mason was just delusional, and has harmed no one, the viewer is in for a shock. Despite the fact that, lead actor Joel Moore reminds us of 'Ross' from Friends, the movie still shines , mostly because of the creative material. Amber Tamblyn is so so as Amber. Film could have explored the psyche of her character somewhat, but chose not. Mason had one friend , his boss , though a womanizer, had a heart of gold when it came to Mason , as well as the most patience ever, in dealing with Masons idiosyncracys and blow ups. Truly a gem of a film . One can assume that Mason is on his way to being a serial killer, terrorizing the USA. Very cleverly written and refreshing.

I bought Spiral because I saw Hatchet and loved every minute of it. However, this is nothing like Adam Greens extremely violent horror comedy. Spiral is about Mason(Joel David Moore) a reclusive telemarketer who's only friend is his boss Berkeley. At the beginning of the movie you get the idea Mason is so obsessed with a girl from a diner(who he paints)that he kills her. Then he mets Amber who is a nice girl who befriends Mason and is into the shy, painter type.Amber wants Mason to paint her and Mason starts to like Amber but only spirals into a frightening obsession towards Amber. With a great cast and great storyline there is nothing not to like about Spiral. While the plot thickens you become more and more curious about its secrets that leads you to a twist ending which makes this movie worth every minute of watching it. My vote 10/10