Given Saw’s massive success, it’s no surprise that Twisted Pictures opted to expand the universe beyond the original movies. Spiral: From the Book of Saw was released in 2021 and stars Chris Rock, Samuel L. Jackson, and Max Minghella. Although it is not officially confirmed onscreen, Spiral likely takes place years after the franchise’s previous installment, Jigsaw, despite the 2017 film’s complex timeline. The spinoff centers around a copycat killer who targets corrupt cops and uses Jigsaw’s work as inspiration. Neither John Kramer nor his protégées are related to the series of grisly murders, as the film introduces a new villain into the universe.
John Kramer may have met his end in Saw III, but his character remains vital to the franchise. He has continued to appear through flashbacks and recordings while his master plans fall into place from beyond the grave. Darren Lynn Bousman served as the director of Saw II, Saw III, and Saw IV, and made his grand return to the Saw universe with Spiral. In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant, Bousman reveals how he originally advocated for Tobin Bell’s character to appear in the movie. Read his quote below:
Darren Lynn Bousman: I was so f*cking angry, for lack of a better word, that I couldn’t put Tobin in Spiral. Tobin and I are very good friends, and one of the early mandates when making Spiral was that they wanted the movie to exist in its own universe. They didn’t want Tobin to be a part of that. I was bummed out, because I was very excited about getting to work with Tobin after all those years of being away from the Saw universe.
Saw X Proves The Franchise Is Better With Tobin Bell
Saw X debuted with the highest rotten tomatoes score of all ten movies and there’s a clear reason why fans and critics have been especially receptive to the latest film. Due to its early placement in the timeline, Saw X allowed filmmakers to bring back the character who launched the franchise and continued to fuel the plot even after his death. The elaborately brutal traps may be a staple of Saw, but John Kramer’s backstory, controversial code of ethics, and understanding of human behavior sets the horror films apart from others within the genre.
With the exception of Spiral, Kramer has been featured in every Saw installment in some capacity. However, Saw X hones in on the man behind the puppet and displays a side of the vigilante that viewers had only received glimpses of. Not only does it offer further insight into his botched cancer treatment, but it paints Kramer as the hero of his story. His fatherly love for Amanda is more palpable than showcased in Saw III, and his determination to protect those who are truly innocent adds layers to an already intricate character.
Leaving Kramer out of Spiral makes sense as a way to detach the storylines and create a similar villain who can exist in the present timeline. Regardless, the success of Saw X is proof that the original Jigsaw remains irreplaceable. Although including Kramer in the Chris Rock-led spinoff would eliminate the separation the studio was hoping to achieve, it would have been worthwhile to bring back the fan-favorite character and elevate Spiral’s central story.
Spiral: From the Book of Saw
The ninth installment and spin-off of the Saw franchise, Spiral: From the Book of Saw stars Chris Rock as Detective Zeke Banks, a police officer investigating what he believes to be a Jigsaw copycat killer. As the case begins to unravel, Banks realizes that the truth might be much closer to home than he would have thought. Max Minghellla stars as Banks’ partner and Samuel L. Jackson appears as his father.
- Release Date
- May 14, 2021
- Director
- darren lynn bousman
- Cast
- Chris Rock , Marisol Nichols , Samuel L. Jackson , Max Minghella
- Rating
- R
- Runtime
- 93 minutes
- Genres
- Horror , Mystery
- Writers
- Josh Stolberg , Peter Goldfinger
- Budget
- $20 Million
- Studio(s)
- Twisted Pictures
- Distributor(s)
- Lionsgate
- prequel(s)
- Saw VI , Saw V , Saw II , Saw 3D , Saw 8
- Franchise(s)
- Saw
