[psycho d]

Spiral (2007) Adam Green and Joel Moore from Hatchet team up again to create this awkward psychological thriller which hits all of its marks in a spectacular fashion. But unlike Hatchet, which was written and directed by Adam Green, Joel More has got his sticky fingers deep in this film and not only stars in it but is also its cowriter/director. Sounds scary on paper, but it works splendidly to fashion a movie that rightly gets Hitchcockian nods. Care must be taken in reading much about it, and don't watch the trailer unless you like to have your movies ruined in spectacular fashion. Just take my word that it was great, a completely different genre from the pair's earlier splatter fest comedy.

The story works as a nasty little mystery that needs no tired tricks to keep the viewer guessing. The polarity of its characters help fuel the psychological tension and puts some chewy meat on this story's bones. Spiral also works fabulously to prig your imaginations to do some of the work instead of the cliched tricks of the typical shock thriller trade. Also, the story just happens, and though we know things will get dicey, the potential darkness never smells contrived. But when it does comes, though the signs are there, it still whips your comfy state of being into a discombobulated mind smoothie.

Joel More is awesome as the main character, as awkward and isolated a man as has ever found his way to film, and Joel's portrayal was nigh perfect. Amber Tambly nails her witty and bubbly character to a T. At first almost unbelievably nice, her flaws seeping through, showing us that her facade is also from a freshly scarred gash from the past. And Zachary Levi's portrayal of a dickhead boss that is surprisingly kind to Joel's awkward character also reveals a dark side that fuels this otherwise strangely patronizing behavior.

The direction was incredible. How two directors could work so well together blew me away. The photography was astounding. The way it captures emotional turmoil through its semi-jolting motion could not have been better. It was as close to getting the audience to feel the disturbing soul of our main character, maybe too close. The editing was superb, throwing the audience in the memories and dreams of the characters with a smooth violence.

All in all, this was a superb little flick that exploits all the right buttons and keeps the audience guessing, maybe even a little after the credits have rolled.
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