Many have been curious about the Chris Rock's Saw 9 movie, which has now released its full title: Spiral: From the Book of Saw. The new trailer, which released Feb 5 from Lionsgate Films, revealed hints about what could very well be a new killer on the loose, as well as numerous connections and nods to the original franchise.
The film stars Chris Rock, Max Minghella, Marisol Nichols, and Samuel L. Jackson. Spiral was directed by Darren Lynn Bousman with a script by Josh Stolberg and Pete Goldfinger. The story for Spiral was recently revealing its title to eager audiences; prior to that, the film was being addressed by its working title, "The Organ Donor".
While some plot details were released prior to the teaser trailer being dropped, more has been revealed, shedding light on the characters of Rock, Minghella, and Jackson in particular. The ties to the police - as has been done in the past within the franchise - seem to be even more intense for this new killer, who uses a strange spiral design as their sigil.
Chris Rock Brings Buddy Cop Comedy
The first sequence in the trailer is Zeke Banks (Rock) and William Schenk (Minghella) riding along in an unmarked vehicle, discussing Schenk's family, specifically his wife and new son. Banks makes a snide comment about "enjoying it while it lasts", making reference to Schenk's recent promotion to Detective. Banks states, "nothing happier than the wife of a new detective", which could imply two things: the demands of the job, and the dangers of the job in equal measure. From their exchange, Banks is likely a more seasoned detective, someone who has been through a number of cases and understands the sacrifices that must, sometimes, be made. Rock has said that, while the film will have comedy - as referenced by the 'buddy cop' nature of this opening exchange - the film will be undoubtedly a horror movie, full of terror, blood, and gore that the franchise has utilized as its hallmark throughout the years.
"All Available Units, Officer Down"
The light-hearted exchange between Schenk and Banks is cut short when they receive an alarming call over the radio: "all available units, officer down". Immediately, they respond to action. This reflects the police procedural elements of many of the Saw films in the franchise's history, and immediately sets what will surely be the movie's pace; moments of levity interspersed with dark, gritty, disturbing sequences. This has been utilized before by other filmmakers, such as Jordan Peele, who contributed his comedic talents to the Comedy Central series, Key & Peele, with Keegan Michael-Key before he started making horror movies like Get Out and Us. While it was questioned how well a comedian could shift gears into horror, genre fans soon learned that the answer was that they can do so very well.
A Grisly Crime Scene With A Clue
The Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures logos flash, the music changes, and suddenly, it's back to business as usual when Banks and Schenk arrive at a grisly crime scene, full of forensic technicians who appear to be analyzing something very gruesome at an underground subway station. A brief flash of what appears to be a metal contraption - similar to the traps being used by the new killer, as well as Jigsaw in the past - is coupled with the sound of buzzing flies. This signifies that whatever they've found is likely part of the new "game" by Spiral's killer, who could be a copycat killer or a disciple of Jigsaw.
The Killer Has Another Motive: Targeting Cops
Banks character says it very clearly: "whoever did this has another motive". Soon, the trailer reveals that the killer is targeting cops. But why? Banks opens a rusty truck that has been painted with a bright red Spiral symbol, and the scene cuts. In the previous films, Tobin Bell) always gave people an escape from his elaborate traps because, for him, it was a game that could be won, though sometimes at a very high cost. The new killer could be targeting police for numerous reasons, as it's unknown whether they are following the same methodology as Jigsaw did.
What's In The Box?
A disciple of Jigsaw's would, undoubtedly, be very intelligent, and obviously seeks attention. Jigsaw was all about playing games, testing people, and part of this stemmed from the way he dropped hints and left just enough evidence to keep police interested in chasing him. Perhaps the killer in Spiral has decided to keep Banks on the hook and him directly; one sequence in the trailer shows Banks looking at a mysterious blue box, neatly wrapped, that has shown up at the police station. Though the trailer doesn't reveal what's inside, the implication is clear: it's likely another clue from the killer.
Is There A Different Puppet (Not Billy)?
Marcus Banks (Jackson), Zeke's father, has a voice-over in the trailer that implies that what they've seen is only the beginning. One particular scene in the trailer shows Jackson's character heading down a hallway with a gun, which could imply that he's either current or former police, and he stumbles upon what appears to be a puppet. But, from what is briefly shown by the trailer, it doesn't appear to be Billy. This could make sense, as it's a new killer who is likely connected to Jigsaw somehow. The film's title even implies that someone is learning from or developing their own style from what has already been established. Stolberg confirmed that Spiral does exist in the same canon as all the previous Saw movies, and has said it's neither a reboot or a direct sequel.
The Spiral Symbol Likely Holds A Big Clue
Like Jigsaw did in the previous Saw films, the Spiral symbol could hold a big clue. Jigsaw used to cut a piece of flesh from all his victims (a puzzle piece shape) to essentially mark them as his own. Spiral's killer could be doing something similar, noting that they want police to know which crimes belong to them. Another clue is the symbol itself; it's eerily similar to the red markings on Billy the puppet's cheeks and could or could not be a direct connection to the original franchise.
"You Wanna Play Games?"
Samuel L. Jackson's line, "You wanna play games, motherf**ker?" pays direct homage to the "I want to play a game" line that has become iconic in the franchise. However, more than just a hat tip, this could be another clue. If Jackson's character is a veteran cop - which seems to be very possible - it's likely that he could have either worked on one of the Jigsaw cases in the past, or knows someone who did. If he made connections based on the murders, traps, and the sigil, then perhaps he's suspecting that this person - like Jigsaw - also wants to play a game with them.
A Return To The First Saw Movie
The very end of the teaser trailer shows Zeke trapped and handcuffed to a pipe, with only a hacksaw, just like the events of the first movie where Adam (Leigh Whannell) and Lawrence Gordon (Cary Elwes) are trapped in a bathroom together, and Gordon must saw off his own foot to escape. While this doesn't clarify whether Zeke will meet the same, grisly fate, it implies that someone is clearly trying to recreate at least some of Jigsaw's traps and trials. Whether a disciple or copycat killer - or maybe even multiple killers - the Spiral killer in Saw 9 seems to be fully dedicated to keeping Jigsaw's legacy alive and well.
