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    • BLU-RAY REVIEW

    Spiral: From The Book Of Saw 4K Ultra HD

    Featured In Issue 256, July/August 2021

    Picture5
    Sound5
    Immersive3.5
    WSR Score4
    Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
    (Studio/Distributor):
    Lionsgate Home Entertainment
    (Catalog Number):
    (MPAA Rating):
    R
    (Rating Reason):
    Sequences of grisly bloody violence and torture, pervasive language, some sexual references and brief drug use
    (Retail Price):
    $42.99
    (Disc Type):
    Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-66)
    (Widescreen Edition):
    Yes
    (Full Screen Edition):
    (Running Time In Minutes):
    93
    (Color Type):
    Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access):
    Yes
    (Closed Captioned):
    Yes
    (Regional Coding):
    A
    (Theatrical Year):
    (Theatrical Release):
    Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release):
    No
    (Disc Release Date):
    7/20/2021
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):
    (Director):
    Darren Lynn Bousman
    (Screenplay/Written By):
    (Story):
    (Music):
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer):
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor):
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers):
    (Co-Producers):
    (Producers):
    (Academy Awards):
    (Principal Photography):
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
    (Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
    (Disc Soundtrack):
    Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD 7.1
    (Theatrical Sound):
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (DTS Bit Rate):
    (Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
    (Additional Languages):
    (Subtitles):

    The terrifying new chapter in "The Book Of Saw, Spiral". A criminal mastermind unleashes a twisted form of justice. Working in the shadow of his father, an esteemed police veteran (Jackson), brash Detective Ezekiel "Zeke" Banks (Rock) and his rookie partner (Minghella) 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. (Gary Reber)

    Special features include commentary with Director Darren Lynn Bousman, Co-Screenwriter Josh Stolberg and Composer Charlie Clouser; commentary with Producers Oren Koules and Mark Burg; the featurettes "The Consequences Of Your Actions: Creating Spiral" (HD 59:05), "Drawing Inspiration: Illustrated Trap Breakdowns" (HD 08:45) and "Decoding The Marketing Spiral" (HD 06:12); a theatrical teaser trailer; and the theatrical trailer.

    The 2.39:1 2160p HEVC/H.265 Ultra HD Dolby Vision/HDR10 picture, reviewed on a Sony Bravia Z9D 4K Ultra HD HDR display, was photographed digitally using the Sony CineAlta Venice camera systems and sourced from a 4K master Digital Intermediate format. The picture exhibits a natural color palette with nicely nuanced hues. The stylized colors are predominant especially in vivid purples, greens, chartreuse and blues. Flashback material generally has a quasi-sepia-toned look. Fleshtones are generally rendered to appear natural but there are some inconsistencies. HDR contrast delivers creative, stylized lighting effects within the various settings, along with deep blacks and revealing shadow delineation. Resolution is excellent with satisfying detail exhibited throughout, even in the darkest scenes. This is a well-crated visual experience that delivers visual excitement. (Gary Reber)

    The Dolby Atmos/Dolby TrueHD 7.1-channel soundtrack is very dynamic sounding. Surround aggressiveness is effectively dimensional. Deep bass extension is in the sub-25 Hz range in the .1 LFE channel. The bass enhances the compelling, though, gory atmospherics and intense sound effects. Charlie Clouser's score occupies a wide soundstage and extends aggressively to the the surround and back channels. The music provides an effective intensity to the action scenes. Dialogue is often ADR and poorly integrated spatially.

    The Immersive Sound element, in addition to the extremely limited synthesizer score extension and other music, is comprised of atmospheric sound effects throughout, such as crowd noise, fireworks, Spiral's voice, subway sounds, police sirens, machine sounds, broken glass, chains, "Lower your weapon", and din. While fairly effective at times, much potential was not realized.

    This is a very exciting and dynamic-sounding holosinic® spherical surround soundtrack that will please fans of the "Saw" franchise.

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