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Messengers 2

 

Directors: Adam Green & Joel David Moore. Stars: Joel David Moore, Amber Tamblyn, Zachary Levi. 2007. USA. Horror/Thriller. 87mins.

DVD release date 24th May 2010.

Mason is a lonely and reclusive telemarketer with a hobby for painting. A new girl is hired to work at his office and the two meet over lunch. So begins a tale of their relationship as they become closer and Mason uses her as a model for his portraits. But is Mason all he seems to be? As the relationship intensifies, so does Masons seemingly unfit state of mind.

This film is the very definition of the term ‘slow burning’, yet it seems to fly by at a very fast rate. From the opening scene we get the impression that we are watching something that is going to be extremely subtle and teasing. A film that is going to pose questions and not answer them until the end, if at all. The type of film which is a whole world away from director Adam Green’s first movie, the perfect homage to 80s slasher movies ‘Hatchet’, yet a film that defines him as a master film maker who isn’t afraid to make original and unusual films.

‘Spiral’ can be seen as a very straightforward film. It doesn’t attempt to wow us with effects or gore or an overcomplicated narrative structure. It doesn’t need to. It’s so fresh to see a film like this and the simplicity of it all actually pushes the film high above many others. There are three key elements that Green has used to construct such an impressive film, the acting, the camera and the music. The three work so well together that we become highly involved in what is going on and become so lost in it that it effects us deeply where it needs to. This is cunning, finding a way to lull the audience into a false sense of security and then attack them when they least expect it. Genius.

The film is a character study. We are so drawn in that we forget we are watching a horror film. Joel David Moore is amazing in the role of Mason, he acts with such subtle intensity that we can immediately relate to the character. He manages to hold himself as an individual who is just not quite right. The way he moves his body and uses his facial expressions and of course his dialogue all proves that he knows how to create what is needed for the role. It is amazing to watch him unfold on screen. You really begin to care about him and also the character of Amber, played perfectly by Amber Tamblyn. They both bring such a reality to the screen and I found that I really ended up caring so much about Amber and also about them both as a couple. We are handed a really sweet love story that is so enjoyable to follow. There is great balance here though as every so often something really creepy will happen and we just don’t expect it as our interest lies in the relationship side of things. This becomes increasingly disturbing the more we get into the film. Zachary Levi is also impressive here as Masons boss/friend. He is our link to reality and does the job well. This just goes to show that getting the right cast is so important, especially on a low budget film.

The film looks beautiful. Sharp, crisp and colourful. There is a lot of emphasis on colour, especially red, due to the art scenes of the film. The colours are bold and every shot looks like it has been really lovingly created. Time and care has been taken to craft this into something special. There are beautiful tracking shots and fantastic camera angles. They all add to the story as well, they are not just there to look pretty; they set the mood and tone of the piece. It feels like we are watching a film from a master of the genre, it is very reminiscent of early Polanski, DePalma and maybe even a little bit of Hooper thrown in for good measure. The camera, combined with the acting creates a great sense of claustrophobia and confusion.

‘Spiral’ has a fabulous soundtrack. Most of the audio that we hear is classic jazz. It creates a very noir-ish and old-fashioned feel for the film. A jazz soundtrack may feel a little out of place in your typical film but as we have established there is nothing typical about this work. The jazz ties in nicely with the story and the main character and even helps to divulge more about Mason’s past. Above that it serves as a tool to create very subtle and interesting mood changes during the film. It’s also great to listen to! It kinda reminded me of watching ‘Angel Heart’ a long time ago. The sound design is extremely well thought out and executed and really pushes the film further. Sounds and dialogue all stand out boldly and draw us further in.

Let’s face it, when ‘Spiral’ is released in April hopefully it’s going to fly straight back off the store shelves. The fans (me being one of them) have waited far too long to finally get to see the second film from director Adam Green. It will be nearly three years since it had its first screening at FrightFest back in 2007.

I can’t point out how much you really need to go out and get a copy of ‘Spiral’. It’s just one of those films that you have to see whether you like it or not. I also feel like it’s a film that will stand up to multiple viewings. I am sure the fans will enjoy it and for those interested, cool cameo spot at 3 mins 27 seconds!

The DVD seems to be shamefully bare. Just a trailer. What happened to the commentary and making of from the Region 1 DVD? Still, at least we get to see the film, and it was well worth the wait.

By Russell Gomm

 

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