The Bride! (2026)

DIRECTED BY

Maggie Gyllenhaal

STARRING

Jessie Buckley - Ida/Mary Shelley

Christian Bale - Frank

Annette Bening - Dr. Cornelia Euphronious

Peter Sarsgaard - Jake Wiles

Penélope Cruz - Myrna Malloy

Jake Gyllenhaal - Ronnie Reed

Genre - Horror/Crime/Romance/Monsters

Running Time - 126 Minutes

PLOT

A lonely Frankenstein travels to 1930s Chicago to ask groundbreaking scientist Dr. Euphronious to create a companion for him. The two revive a murdered young woman and The Bride is born. But what ensues is beyond what either of them imagined.

REVIEW

A modern interpretation of one of the greatest Universal Monster features of all time, Maggie Gyllenhaal’s version of THE BRIDE! is inspired by 1935’s BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, 1967’s BONNIE AND CLYDE, a few Golden Age of Hollywood gangster movies, as well as a JOKER: FOLIE A DEUX vibe that can’t be ignored. Actress Gyllenhaal really swings for the fences as a director for her first big-budgeted feature, going all out and throwing so many ideas at the wall while working with what sticks. Unfortunately, this becomes troublesome for THE BRIDE! as its narrative feels all over the place throughout its runtime. Is it a monster horror film? Is it a gangster film? Is it a romantic drama? Is it a musical? Is it too message heavy on feminism and misogyny? I think if THE BRIDE! had more of a focus with its screenplay [also written by Gyllenhaal], this film would have been better received by a mainstream audience who aren’t ready or willing to accept anything this experimental. It’s tonally all over the place, which might make it tough for many to connect with.

That being said, the cast is pretty great in THE BRIDE!. Future Oscar Winner Jessie Buckley is phenomenal as the title character, playing a dual role as both the victim “Ida” and author Mary Shelley, who possesses Ida’s body to experience what it would feel like to be the Bride of Frankenstein. Buckley plays both roles quite differently, sometimes at the same time, changing accents and dialects that’s both jarring and awe-inspiring all at once. She’s all in on these characters and you can tell she’s having a lot of fun playing both ladies. No matter what one might think of this film, we can all agree that Buckley is fantastic here.

Same goes to Christian Bale as Frank, who plays the famous monster in a quiet manner until he’s provoked, almost childlike compared to the more adult and confident Bride. Bale gets to sing, dance, have action moments and share romantic chemistry with Buckley. It’s one of his many quirky roles that works well in his favor, as he’s fun to watch.

The rest of the supporting cast is good as well. Maggie Gyllenhaal brings in her husband, Peter Sarsgaard as a detective who may be connected with Ida. She also brings in her brother Jake in a smaller role as an actor Frank is infatuated with. Penelope Cruz holds her own as Sarsgaard’s investigative assistant who seems more capable for the job than he is. And Annette Benning is wonderful as Dr. Cornelia Euphronious, a new mad scientist who brings The Bride to life.

Despite the messy screenplay, Gyllenhaal does visualize a beautiful looking film that feels both retro and modern at the same time. Colors pop, the special effects and make-up are on point, and the action-oriented sequences have energy and tension. I’m not sure if any studio will give her another $90 million to play with as a filmmaker after the commercial disappointment of THE BRIDE!, but Gyllenhaal definitely has a unique voice and a clear vision of the type of movies she probably wants to continue making. So I’m very interested in what she does next.

THE FINAL HOWL

THE BRIDE! isn’t for everyone and I understand why a majority of people seem to dislike it. But this is everything that JOKER: FOLIE A DEUX should have been as Gyllenhaal has the balls to make something outside the mainstream, even if it doesn’t completely work in the end. I would rather see filmmakers think outside the box and make their personal art than directors who want to play it safe for the quick cash. THE BRIDE! is the type of movie that cinema needs more of, even if audiences won’t embrace it right away. But I definitely see this becoming a cult favorite in the future.

SCORE

3 Howls Outta 4

(7 out of 10)

Horror 101 w/ Dr. AC Ep 141 - HAMMER IN 1960: BRIDES OF DRACULA, TWO FACES OF DR. JEKYLL, HELL IS A CITY, AND MORE!!

BRIDES OF DRACULA (1960) d. Terence Fisher (UK)

THE TWO FACES OF DR. JEKYLL (1960) d. Terence Fisher (UK)

NEVER TAKE SWEETS FROM A STRANGER (1960) d. Cyril Frankel (UK)

HELL IS A CITY (1960) d. Val Guest (UK)

Celebrated for its distinctive brand of horror and suspense, Hammer Films has left an indelible mark on British cinema and influencing filmmakers around the world.

The year 1960 was especially significant for Hammer, as it was a time when the studio was solidifying its identity as a horror juggernaut, but also experimenting with genres, and pushing the boundaries of storytelling, atmosphere, and visual style. 

This episode focuses on four films from that year: BRIDES OF DRACULA, THE TWO FACES OF DR. JEKYLL, NEVER TAKE SWEETS FROM A STRANGER, and HELL IS A CITY. Each representing a different facet of Hammer’s evolving approach, from Gothic horror and psychological thrillers to socially conscious drama and gritty crime narratives.

Join AC and his incredible panel of guests (Troy Howarth, Stan Hyde, Barry Kaufman, Lin Morris, and yours truly) as we look back at HAMMER IN 1960!!

Catching Up on 2024 Films [Part 1 of 2]

Even though this blog has been quiet for most of 2024, that doesn’t mean I haven’t been watching 2024 horror films during my absence. I've been mainly posting quick reviews on my Instagram Stories and Letterboxd throughout the year. So I figured I might as well post those thoughts here before the year is over.

I plan on posting future short reviews for movies monthly [unless I feel the film deserves a longer review] on the blog going forward..

LOVE LIES BLEEDING (2024)

Directed by: Rose Glass 

Starring: Kristen Stewart, Katy O’Brian, Ed Harris, Dave Franco, Jena Malone 

Score: 3 Howls Outta 4 (8 out of 10)

Plot: Reclusive gym manager Lou falls hard for Jackie, an ambitious bodybuilder headed through town to Las Vegas in pursuit of her dream. But their love ignites violence, pulling them deep into the web of Lou’s criminal family.

Review: While flawed, LOVE LIES BLEEDING is a fun time. Very good direction by Rose Glass, solid performances [Kristen Stewart, Katy O'Brian and Ed Harris are especially great] and has weird moments that make you wonder where the story is headed. If you enjoy crime-thrillers with a tinge of strange supernatural aspects that come out of nowhere, this might be up your alley. One of the better films of 2024 so far.

IMAGINARY (2024)

Directed by: Jeff Wadlow

Starring: DeWanda Wise, Taegen Burns, Pyper Braun, Betty Buckley, Tom Payne

Score: 1.5 Howls Outta 4 (4 out of 10)

Plot: When Jessica moves back into her childhood home with her family, her youngest stepdaughter Alice develops an eerie attachment to a stuffed bear named Chauncey she finds in the basement. Alice starts playing games with Chauncey that begin playful and become increasingly sinister. As Alice’s behavior becomes more and more concerning, Jessica intervenes only to realize Chauncey is much more than the stuffed toy bear she believed him to be.

Review: Probably one of the more forgettable horror films of 2024, IMAGINARY [another Blumhouse production that has disappointed me this year] is a waste of potential and probably a waste of one’s time. Despite a title that promises more inventive things, IMAGINARY has to be one of the most generic, lackluster and non-scary PG horror films I’ve seen all year. It has no shame in showing its influences on its sleeve, taking elements from better movies such as CHILD’S PLAY, THE SHINING and HELLRAISER II, making you wish you were spending time rewatching those films instead. DeWanda Wise is a very good actress and deserves better material than this, as I’m surprised that her back wasn’t in pain carrying this movie all by herself. I felt so badly for Betty Buckley in this as well, as the script just embarrasses her during the final act. Not much imagination in this one.

IMMACULATE (2024)

Directed by: Michael Mohan

Starring: Sydney Sweeney, Alvaro Morte, Simona Tabasco, Benedetta Porcaroli, Giorgio Colangeli

Score: 3 Howls Outta 4 (8 out of 10)

Plot: An American nun embarks on a new journey when she joins a remote convent in the Italian countryside. However, her warm welcome quickly turns into a living nightmare when she discovers her new home harbors a sinister secret and unspeakable horrors.

Review: When I watched trailers for this and considering I had just watched Sydney Sweeney in MADAME WEB, I wasn’t expecting much out of this movie. But lo and behold, the first of many horror films this year tackling religion that ended up being a gnarly Nunspoloitation flick! In 2024 on the big screen, mind you! Sweeney isn’t the best actress, but she does some quality work here as a young nun who quickly becomes involved in the evil schemes of the convent she’s staying at. Mohan’s imagery is also pretty striking and memorable, with some memorable horror moments I wasn’t expecting in the film’s second half. The ending, in particular, is one of my favorite endings of 2024. I’m sure it’s still being debated about, considering our current social climate over childbirth. Definitely one of my favorite horror films of 2024 and worth a look if you’re a fan of Sydney Sweeney playing against type. 

ARCADIAN (2024)

Directed by: Benjamin Brewer

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Jaeden Martell, Maxwell Jenkins, Sadie Soverall 

Score: 2.5 Howls Outta 4 (6 out of 10)

Plot: In the near future, on a decimated Earth, Paul and his twin sons face terror at night when ferocious creatures awaken. When Paul is nearly killed, the boys come up with a plan for survival, using everything their father taught them to keep him alive.

Review: A pretty okay dystopian flick that’s a mix of A QUIET PLACE, CHILDREN OF MEN and PITCH BLACK. While Nicolas Cage is top billing, he’s hardly in the movie as much as one would think, focusing more on the younger cast and how their characters deal with their bleak reality. While the younger actors do carry the story and emotional beats well enough, ARCADIAN could have used more Cage to really sell the absurdity of the entire situation. The creature designs are interesting enough to look at, even if they don’t always look great. But considering the low budget, I was still pretty impressed. And Benjamin Brewer does provide some tense moments through his visuals. Worth checking out on Shudder if you have time to spare.

ABIGAIL (2024)

Directed by: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett 

Starring: Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens, Alisha Weir, William Catlett, Kathryn Newton, Kevin Durand, Angus Cloud, Giancarlo Esposito, Matthew Goode

Score: 3 Howls Outta 4 (8 out of 10)

Plot: A group of criminals kidnap a teenage ballet dancer, the daughter of a notorious gang leader, in order to obtain a ransom of $50 million, but over time, they discover that she is not just an ordinary girl. After the kidnappers begin to diminish, one by one, they discover, to their increasing horror, that they are locked inside with no normal little girl. 

Review: Radio Silence direct a really fun vampire flick that won’t reinvent the wheel. But with a super solid cast [especially Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens and a dynamic Alisha Weir as the title character], cool gore, nice special effects, and some tense and really funny moments, ABIGAIL is one of the better horror films of 2024. I wish this had done better at the box office to show those SCREAM producers what they messed up, but this will definitely be a cult hit for years to come.

TAROT (2024)

Directed By: Spenser Cohen, Anna Halberg

Starring: Harriet Slater, Adain Bradley, Avantika, Jacob Batalon, Humberly Gonzalez, Wolfgang Novogratz, Larsen Thompson, Olwen Fouere

Score: 1.5 Howls Outta 4 (4 out of 10)

Plot: When a group of friends recklessly violate the sacred rule of Tarot readings, they unknowingly unleash an unspeakable evil trapped within the cursed cards. One by one, they come face to face with fate and end up in a race against death.

Review: I drew the Fool card in my last Tarot reading, which would explain why I watched this soulless, cliched, generic, not-scary horror movie. TAROT does have some visually stylish moments and the actors aren’t terrible, as they’re doing what they can with an awful and boring script. A good horror flick is not in the cards with this one.

THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 1 (2024)

Directed By: Renny Harlin

Starring: Madelaine Petsch, Froy Gutierrez, Gabriel Basso, Emma Horvath, Richard Brake

Score: 0.5 Howls Outta 4 (2 out of 10)

Plot: After their car breaks down in an eerie small town, a young couple are forced to spend the night in a remote cabin. Panic ensues as they are terrorized by three masked strangers who strike with no mercy and seemingly no motives.

Review: I really hope someone tells these killers that Tamara is home so we can end this series. THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 1 gave me nothing. Nada. Zilch. The victims are stupid and have no agency. The killers aren’t scary or threatening in the slightest. There’s a lack of tension that was present in the previous films. If it wasn’t for the okay acting and decent looking picture, this installment would be a total dud. At least MADAME WEB made me laugh at how awful it was. This movie just made me angry, to the point where I wanted to walk out of the theater.

Can’t you tell I’m excited for CHAPTER 2??

THE WATCHERS (2024)

Directed By: Ishana Night Shyamalan

Starring: Dakota Fanning, Georgina Campbell, Olwen Fouere, Oliver Finnegan, Alistair Brammer, John Lynch

Score: 2 Howls Outta 4 (5 out of 10)

Plot: A young artist gets stranded in an extensive, immaculate forest in western Ireland, where, after finding shelter, she becomes trapped alongside three strangers, stalked by mysterious creatures each night. 

Review: Ishana Night Shyamalan’s feature film debut is a mixed bag. Shyamalan’s visuals and presentation are the best things about THE WATCHERS, as it has atmosphere and some decent tension at times. The movie looks really nice too. The actors [in particular Dakota Fanning, Georgina Campbell and Olwen Fouere] do fine with what they’re given. Unfortunately, the narrative starts off interesting and just deflates through too much exposition and predictable twists I figured out right away. Still, I’m willing to see Shyamalan direct another film that has a better script attached.

MAXXXINE (2024)

Directed By: Ti West

Starring: Mia Goth, Elizabeth Debicki, Moses Sumney, Michelle Monaghan, Bobby Cannavale, Halsey, Lily Collins, Giancarlo Esposito, Kevin Bacon, Simon Prast

Score: 3 Howls Outta 4 (7 out of 10)

Plot: In 1980s Hollywood, adult film star and aspiring actress Maxine Minx finally gets her big break. But as a mysterious killer stalks the starlets of Hollywood, a trail of blood threatens to reveal her sinister past.

Review: MAXXXINE is the weakest of Ti West's X trilogy, but it's still a good time. Mia Goth is great as usual [with Kevin Bacon and Giancarlo Esposito behind her]. Loved the 80s aesthetic and soundtrack. Strong Brian de Palma vibes here. Too bad that final act is sloppy and silly as hell. Also, the mystery didn't work for me [figured it out pretty much right away]. Curious to see what Ti West does next though.

Punisher: War Zone (2008) w/ The DTV Connoisseur

Matthew Poirier and I discuss 2008's underrated PUNISHER: WAR ZONE. We look at what works so well, but why the film didn't succeed at the box office. We also get into the current state of comic book movies, from Marvel's rebound with DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE, to DC looking to reboot their universe with the upcoming SUPERMAN film from James Gunn.

*This was recorded before the release of JOKER: FOLIE A DEUX*

Spiral: From the Book of Saw (2021)

DIRECTED BY

Darren Lynn Bousman

STARRING

Chris Rock - Detective Zeke Banks

Max Minghella - Detective William Schenk

Samuel L. Jackson - Marcus Banks

Marisol Nichols - Captain Angie Garza

Daniel Petronijevic - Detective Marv “Boz” Bozwick

Genre - Horror/Mystery/Thriller/Crime

Running Time - 93 Minutes

PLOT

Working in the shadow of an esteemed police veteran, brash Detective Ezekiel “Zeke” Banks and his rookie partner take charge of a grisly investigation into murders that are eerily reminiscent of the city’s gruesome past. Unwittingly entrapped in a deepening mystery, Zeke finds himself at the center of the killer’s morbid game.

REVIEW

With the return of the SAW franchise with SAW X this weekend, I’ve been going back and rewatching the entire franchise from the beginning. If you’ve been following this blog for many years, you know I’m a big fan of the first three films, as well as the surprisingly solid SAW VI [the one dealing with health insurance]. The rest of the installments stem from being a bit above average to just dull or awful, with convoluted storylines and messing with the timeline to repetitive effects. While not many loved it, I thought 2018’s JIGSAW was a step in the right direction after the awful SAW 3D, which wrapped things up in a clumsy, cheap note. But the film didn’t set the box office on fire, so Lionsgate decided to go into a different direction for the series’ ninth installment.

2021’s SPIRAL: FROM THE BOOK OF SAW is the only film in the franchise I hadn’t watched prior to rewatching every single film in the series this month. It’s not like I didn’t have a curiosity about it. After all, getting both Chris Rock and Samuel L. Jackson in a SAW movie will pique anyone’s interest. What amazes me is that SPIRAL was an idea by Rock himself, being a huge SAW fan and wanting to contribute to the franchise by taking things into a different direction while still maintaining elements that make the franchise what it is. Jackson joined because horror wasn’t a genre he was specifically known for and wanted to try things he hadn’t done. Other actors, who were fans of the franchise, won out roles that weren’t meant for them by impressing Lionsgate executives.

With this much level of care and focus, you’d think SPIRAL would kick off a new era for the SAW series with some self-contained stories not involving John Kramer aka “The Jigsaw Killer”. Making SPIRAL more of a police procedural and mystery with “torture porn” elements included should have brought new life into a franchise that was, let’s be honest, long in the tooth by this point and had pretty much milked itself dry. Unfortunately, SPIRAL had a few things going against it.

One, it was released in the summer of 2021. Theaters had just started to really open again after COVID-19 had pretty much shut everything down for over a year. People were still too scared to head inside a theater with other people, feeling a movie was not a good reason to get a life-threatening illness - especially when vaccines had just started to roll out for it.

Two, there probably wasn’t much interest in another SAW film at the time. Despite the stunt casting and a new take on a tired story, fans probably figured they could just wait until the film hit streaming and digital. 

And three, SPIRAL isn’t that good of a movie. Critics were mixed on it. Fans didn’t really have much positive feedback to provide. And after watching it, SPIRAL is a film that has a ton of potential and interesting ideas, but doesn’t really know what to do with any of them.

After two years of hyping myself to finally sit down and watch SPIRAL, I couldn’t believe how disappointed I felt once the film concluded. There was so much potential here to make the film something special within the franchise. Considering the capable cast, a returning director who helmed two of the best entries in the series, and a good idea to reboot a tired franchise, SPIRAL should have been better than it actually is. While I don’t think it’s the worst entry in the series [it’s super close though], even the worst movie [SAW 3D] had a goofy, awful charm about it that makes it sort of rewatchable. I don’t think SPIRAL even has that, despite the film being better made.

Let’s get the good stuff out of the way. I appreciate and respect the fact that SPIRAL wants to be its own thing, while taking what was established into a new direction. It’s definitely the right move to make, considering that the main villain has been long dead and all these apprentices that were never revealed until the story finds it convenient just makes the newer installments lesser than the films that came before it. Having a copycat Jigsaw killer with their own puppet, going after corrupt cops for a believable reason that’s revealed in the final act, is a fascinating idea that could have set up several films. You can kind of understand the villain’s motives, which could have been extended into other movies if SPIRAL had done better. While the script itself isn’t great, the narrative idea is interesting and should have elevated the franchise.

I also thought the traps, while not as elaborate as previous ones in the SAW series, weren’t too bad. Considering this was a copycat who wanted revenge on crooked police officers, there is less focus on morality and trying to help others appreciate their lives. So these traps were definitely intended to really hurt, or even murder, the victims. I thought the first trap with the tongue was good, especially the gory aftermath. I even liked the glass one near the end. The rest were fine, I guess. The wax one was kind of lame, but the trap that stretched out parts of the body was an interesting concept. These were probably the weakest traps in the entire series, but I like the intent for each one.

I also thought some of the cast were good in their roles. Samuel L. Jackson was probably the best, playing a subtle version of the role he usually plays. He’s not in the film a whole lot, but makes the most of every appearance. And his acting in the film’s final act is pretty good. I also liked Riverdale’s Marisol Nichols as the police captain. She had the right mix of toughness and vulnerability that made her believable. And Max Minghella was good as the rookie detective who unfortunately gets caught up in this whole copycat scenario. He carried himself well for the most part.

As for the rest, what the hell happened here? The screenplay is not good at all, with cringey dialogue and the biggest group of unlikable characters I’ve seen in this series yet. Despite Chris Rock’s Zeke supposedly being the protagonist of the film, he comes across as bitter, overly angry and just a person you would never want to know. I understand bad things have happened to him due to his crooked co-workers, but there’s no sympathy for a man who acts like a jerk to pretty much everyone. Even when he’s given choices to be a better person, he still acts like a prick. If Rock had intended his character to be the main hero of a new trilogy or something, then I’m glad SPIRAL didn’t do well at the box office.

Let’s not even talk about his co-workers, who all hate Zeke for snitching on one of their own. For police officers, they only care about themselves and their brotherhood rather than doing the right thing and helping their lead detective solve the mystery of a new serial killer ruining lives. None of them are likable, always acting or looking shifty as hell. In fact, most of the detectives in this franchise seem like the worst people to know in this universe. None of these characters have any depth either, which makes me not care about any of them. The only likable person is the rookie Schenk, because he genuinely cares about solving this mystery and listens to Zeke to make that happen. It makes him stick out from the rest.

It also doesn’t help that you can solve the mystery within the first half hour of the movie. I pretty much called who the new Jigsaw was pretty early on, with only the motive being questioned. For a movie trying to build a mystery and shock its audience with a twist in the final act, it’s very underwhelming when you call it almost at the start. I thought the motivation and reasoning for the copycat was pretty good, but I wish I was more surprised by who it was.

I also thought Darren Lynn Bousman’s direction wasn’t all that good either. I’m really surprised since I enjoyed his previous films in the franchise, as well as REPO! THE GENETIC OPERA. But I wasn’t feeling it here. The editing is really weird, especially the ending of the film that pissed me off so much, I actually lowered the original score I was planning on giving this movie. The most action-oriented scenes don’t feel exciting. The traps aren’t shot in a way that would make you cringe or feel a certain way other than pretty bored. There’s like no tension or suspense at all, which is terrible for a mystery-thriller. I thought the gorier stuff was shot well and the quieter moments were stronger than most. But as a complete movie, it felt very off to me. Maybe that was intentional to make it feel separate from the main SAW films while maintaining its position as part of the series. I just found Bousman’s direction bland, which is alarming because I think he’s one of the better directors to work on this franchise. 

As for Chris Rock, I really wanted to like him in the main role of Detective Zeke. But I think he tried too hard to be this bad ass cop that it made his performance unintentionally amusing for all the wrong reasons. When he tries to act tough, it doesn’t feel real. It’s like he’s doing a skit on Saturday Night Live or something. His attempts at humor feel really dated. A TWILIGHT joke, really? In 2021? Even when he tries to act afraid, something about it just comes across as phony to me. I do think he has good moments with Marisol Nichols, Samuel L. Jackson and Max Minghella, only because he’s acting natural in those quieter one-on-one scenes. While I appreciate Rock for wanting to be part of a series he loved and his attempt to create something fresh to keep the franchise going for a new generation, I think he was severely miscast in the lead role. 

And despite being part of the SAW series, I thought SPIRAL felt pretty tame considering having traps that were more gruesome than the ones in JIGSAW. At least JIGSAW had a constant energy going for it, keeping me engaged the entire time. SPIRAL seems to be figuring out its own identity throughout its runtime, which doesn’t make for a pleasant experience watching it.

THE FINAL HOWL

Despite a capable cast, a director who helmed two of the better installments, and a story idea that could have been the focus of future entries if it had succeeded commercially, SPIRAL: FROM THE BOOK OF SAW just comes across as a massive disappointment. I respect Chris Rock and Lionsgate for wanting to take the series into a new, fresher direction while maintaining what makes the franchise what it is. I appreciate the producers for wanting to build a new mystery that builds on The Jigsaw Killer. While probably the weakest traps in the franchise, I still like most of the concepts and thought the aftermath of each were pretty memorable. And some of the actors [Samuel L. Jackson, Marisol Nichols and Max Minghella] were quite good in their respective roles.

But man, SPIRAL has a disappointing mystery you can solve within a half hour of the movie. Ninety-five percent of the characters are so unlikable, including the film’s really frustrating main character, that you don’t care about any of them. Darren Lynn Bousman’s direction isn’t the greatest either. With odd editing, no suspense or tension [this is a thriller, right?], and an ending that made me so angry that it caused me to lower my original score, this is surprisingly not Bousman’s best turn as a filmmaker. And Chris Rock, despite him trying to play things as serious and tough as possible, just doesn’t come across as believable as a detective who is trying to solve a crime without much help from his crooked co-workers. This is one of the biggest miscasts for a lead actor I’ve seen in quite a while.

Thankfully the hype and positive reception to SAW X has kept my appreciation for this franchise intact, because SPIRAL almost destroyed that once those end credits rolled. Close to the worst film in the series, as far as I’m concerned. The epitome of wasted potential.

SCORE

1.5 Howls Outta 4

(4 out of 10)