Spiral DVD: Review By Bryan Yentz

Cutting off portions of the body, consuming dead fetus's, pissing on a cross... Yep... Some people are willing to go to quite the degree to deem something "artistic"... And while I'd never consider any of the above as "art", it nonetheless rings clear that many artists (or psychos deeming themselves purveyors of the act) are... Well... Crazy. And here we have a movie that reinforces that little ditty just a little bit more...

Taking a brief break from the straight-up slasher-horror of his last outing (the very disappointing "Hatchet"), Adam Green sets his sights on creating a dramatic thriller revolving around a lonely artist and a kind-hearted girl that crosses his path... And you know what? It's not half bad.

Right from the get-go, we learn that not everything is alright. Mason (played an co-written by Joel Moore) is a paranoid, asthmatic with something to hide, and Amber (played by Amber Tamblyn) is a na&#239ve, small-town girl in desperate need of companionship... And as the simple seeds of kindness are planted, a relationship begins to form between the two lonely hearts. But like I said, Mason is hiding something and not even a seemingly "match made in heaven" can keep it at bay.

Now while the movie does feel a little slow to start, I couldn't help but feel a constant interest in what was going on. From Moore's creepy yet sympathetic performance to the interaction between him and the people around him (namely his one lady's man of a friend played by Zachary Levi); it honestly made me want to discover the secret personified through the bright-lit bathroom. And while it does lack any real thrills or chills, the final fifteen minutes do make up for it with an intense relationship resolution and a twisty ending... I especially applaud the director for not showing us a little integral horror piece near the end-but instead letting our minds do the work for us-which for me; added all the more to the overall intensity of the scene.

Aside from some minor pacing issues and some iffy acting from Amber Tamblyn, Spiral remains a solid thriller that tries to paint a different picture of terror through a gradually building strand of tension.

Screener copy means no extras.

The film looks just fine. It's presented in a color format.

This checks out too. Good music and vocal delivery from most of the cast. It's presented in an English stereo format.

Cool cover showcasing Moore with the eyes torn away--thus revealing Tamblyn in a red hue--which goes great against the black background.

It might takes its time, but Spiral remains a compelling watch.