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Spiral – From the Book of Saw: ACAB in the Saw-verse, apparently

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Director: Darren Lynn Bousman

Studio: Lionsgate

MPAA Rating: R

The legacy of the Jigsaw killer returns as a new protégé emerges from the shadows to begin taking on corrupt cops!

Okay, so. Samuel L. Jackson and Chris Rock as father and son in a cop flick together? Awesome! It’s a Horror movie you say? Even better! But … The Saw films? Really? I have, wait for it, grave misgivings. But into the madness, we dive!

Meet Detective Zeke Banks (Rock). Living in the shadow of his rather notorious policeman father Marcus (Jackson), Zeke struggles with the cop corruption that seems to have invaded all corners of the police station he works at. To add to his already overloaded plate, Zeke just got a new partner, Detective William Schenk (Max Minghella), a justice-determined man who seems to still be a bit too starry-eyed about being a cop. And then of course a series of Jigsaw-like murders begin happening, and even though they were tainted beyond belief, all cops are brothers (siblings?), and Zeke and Schenk must do their duty and get to the bottom of it!

Let’s be real here, honestly, the Saw traps haven’t been anywhere near as meaningful or at least fun, with Kramer gone and Hoffman a dubious replacement, or other would-be successors. While it might indeed be at least amusing to watch very bad cops get their comeuppance via a Jigsaw-like trap, the traps for this Saw film especially are devoid of any joy, lessons learned or imparted, or even any shred of potential hope for escape. The original Jigsaw’s legacy was just that – he wanted to teach the evil and vile of the world how to claw, sometimes literally, their way back to an appreciation for life, their own, and perhaps someday, others as well. Like Hoffman before him, this new Jigsaw cop killer seems to delight in the irony of the death traps he builds for killing policemen, gleefully aware the entire time that there is no possible escape from any of them. Which makes it not a game at all, but an exercise in, le sigh, torture porn. And while it might make sense, after The Year That Wasn’t 2020, to kinda want to watch some bastard ass cops get tormented to death by a seriously sick mind, that’s a terrible twist to the legacy of the entire Saw franchise. I guess no one really can replace Tobin Bell as John Kramer; his cop deaths at least had style.

So many missed opportunities, like discarded traps plans sitting on a shelf gathering dust, blanket this installation of the Saw films. A chance for Rock to show off acting chops in something other than a comedic role devolves into an opening scene with an uncontrollable crack addict-like joke of an undercover role which could’ve been plucked right out of Rocks’ SNL days. Inevitably Jackson spouts his infamous “m-f-er” catch-phrase, but it’s always tongue-in-cheek and almost cringe-y like we fully expect Jackson to roll his eyes when he thinks the camera isn’t filming him. Another potential missed opportunity is ignoring the fact that Zeke and Marcus are the only main black Detectives in their entire nameless-city precinct apparently, Spiral instead focuses intently on proving the adage that, yes indeed, all cops are bastards. Even the video messages from this new copycat with the familiar, “I want to play a game” refrain, are almost laughable in their attempts to threaten because can’t nobody hold a candle to Tobin Bell’s unforgettable voice, especially not a standard computer deadpan voice-over. It’s just not happening.

A good deal of the film is done in Saw-style explanatory flashbacks and of course, there’s the inevitable cluex4 sum-up at the end of the movie, the reveal of the mastermind and their reasoning behind the execution of all these bad-apple cops. And while we the audience were being spoon-fed the idea that it was Marcus, bitter, foul-mouthed, maverick Detective Marcus Banks as this new Jigsaw copycat if you’re enough of a Saw fan to watch all 8 freaking previous films to get to this point, then you know damn well it’s not Marcus, motherf*cker.

They say Chris Rock is a huge fan of the Saw films, and broached Lionsgate and director Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II, III, IV) himself about doing another Saw movie, and even co-wrote some of the story, script, and produced plenty of this newest Saw installation, too.

If the legacy of the original Jigsaw is going to live on in these copycat killers, we could do a lot worse than an hour and a half of some Spiral – Saw torture-porn-revenge murders on some corrupt cops!

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A Riveting Rural Whodunit Rooted in Tradition Movie

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Genre: Crime Thriller / Mystery

Run Time: Approximately 123 minutes

Studio: SRT Entertainments

Where to Watch: Streaming now on Aha (Telugu OTT platform)

Director: Ashok Teja

Writer: Sampath Nandi

Lead Cast: Hebah Patel, Vasishta N. Simha, Sai Ronak, Poojitha Ponnada, and George Maryan

Odela is a gripping Telugu-language crime thriller that weaves the mysticism of rural India with the suspense of a murder mystery. Based on true events, the film is set in the culturally rich village of Odela, where a series of brutal murders shakes the community. When fear takes over, the villagers believe the killings are the work of a supernatural force, but a determined young trainee IPS officer decides to uncover the truth.

Ashok Teja makes a confident directorial debut, and with the support of seasoned writer Sampath Nandi, the film blends folklore and investigative elements seamlessly. The narrative doesn’t rely on jump scares or gore but rather on tension, cultural realism, and atmosphere, making it stand apart from typical crime thrillers.

Vasishta N. Simha delivers a strong and brooding performance as the local suspect whose silence hides secrets. Hebah Patel brings depth and credibility to her role as the determined officer, breaking stereotypes of female leads in regional thrillers. Sai Ronak and George Maryan round out the cast with solid support, while Poojitha Ponnada adds emotional texture to the story.

The cinematography captures the beauty and eeriness of the village setting, while the score subtly enhances the suspense. What truly stands out is the film’s effort to incorporate the Odela temple culture and beliefs into its storyline, making the mystery feel both grounded and unique.

Unique Setting: Odela village and its spiritual legacy are treated with respect, giving the film a haunting authenticity.

Strong Female Lead: Hebah Patel’s character is refreshingly written and well-acted.

Tight Storytelling: No unnecessary detours or filler content; the movie maintains its pace and tension throughout.

Cultural Depth: Balances folklore and realism without leaning too heavily on superstition.

Rating: 8/10

Odela is a tightly woven, atmospheric thriller that doesn’t rely on spectacle but rather storytelling and culture. It’s a solid step forward for Telugu cinema in the crime-thriller space and worth a watch for fans of mystery films that respect both narrative and regional authenticity.

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VidaayMuyarchi

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“Vidaamuyarchi,” now streaming on Netflix, is a 2025 Indian Tamil-language action thriller directed and written by Magizh Thirumeni. Produced by Subaskaran Allirajah under Lyca Productions, the film boasts a runtime of 150 minutes. The narrative follows Arjun (Ajith Kumar) on a relentless quest to rescue his wife Kayal (Trisha Krishnan) after she is abducted by a mysterious group in Azerbaijan. The ensemble cast includes Arjun Sarja, Regina Cassandra, and Arav in pivotal roles.

Drawing inspiration from the 1997 American film “Breakdown,” “Vidaamuyarchi” offers a familiar storyline but is elevated by compelling performances. Ajith Kumar delivers a commendable portrayal of a husband battling against time and adversities, while Trisha Krishnan effectively captures the emotional depth of her character. The film’s cinematography by Om Prakash enhances the tension and atmosphere, and Anirudh Ravichander’s music complements the narrative’s intensity.

However, the film’s predictability and pacing issues may deter some viewers. Despite these shortcomings, “Vidaamuyarchi” provides an engaging experience for fans of the action thriller genre.

Rating: 6.5/10

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Justice has a new Daddy. Watch the new trailer for NakedGun,

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Only one man has the particular set of skills… to lead Police Squad and save the world! Lt. Frank Drebin Jr. (Liam Neeson) follows in his father’s footsteps in THE NAKED GUN, directed by Akiva Schaffer (Saturday Night Live, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping) and from producer Seth MacFarlane (Ted, Family Guy). Joining the cast are Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, CCH Pounder, Kevin Durand, Cody Rhodes, Liza Koshy, Eddie Yu, with Danny Huston.
only in theatres August 1st.

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