Spiral (2019 film) explained

Spiral
Director:Kurtis David Harder
Producer:Chris Ball
Kurtis David Harder
Colin Minihan
John Poliquin
Starring:Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman
Ari Cohen
Lochlyn Munro
Chandra West
Ty Wood
Cinematography:Bradley Stuckel
Music:Avery Kentis
Studio:Digital Interference Productions
Hadron Films
Runtime:90 minutes
Country:Canada
Language:English

Spiral is a 2019 Canadian horror thriller film, directed by Kurtis David Harder.[1] It stars Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman and Ari Cohen as Malik and Aaron, respectively, a same-sex couple who move to a small town with their daughter Kayla (June Laporte), only to suspect that their initial welcome from their neighbors Marshall (Lochlyn Munro) and Tiffany (Chandra West) may conceal something sinister.[2]

It premiered August 25, 2019 at Arrow Video Frightfest[3] and was screened at other horror and LGBTQ film festivals through late 2019 and early 2020.[1] It premiered on Shudder in September 2020.[4]

Production

Spiral was filmed during a 21-day period in 2018, in one of Alberta's small towns (Irricana), on a relatively low budget.[5]

Critical reception

The movie received generally positive reviews. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, it has an approval rating of based on reviews, with an average rating of . The website's critical consensus reads: "Spiral explores the tension between otherness and conformity with a well-acted horror story that chills even if it doesn't outright terrify."[6] Phil Wheat of Nerdly called it "an interesting look into the pressure of being minority" and believed that Bowyer-Chapman's performance was "the very epitome of tour-de-force."[7] His Name is Death editor Albert Nowicki praised the movie for its undertones and subtextual plot and applauded Harder for "finally giving gay characters the right to speak and tell their stories." He also stated the movie is "brave" and has "a lot of empathy."[8]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.
2020Leo AwardsBest Cinematography in a Motion PictureBradley Stuckel[9]
2019Other Worlds Austin SciFi Film FestivalDan O'Bannon Under Worlds Best FeatureKurtis David Harder[10]
2021HNiD AwardsBest ScreenplayColin Minihan, John Poliquin[11]
Best ActorJeffrey Bowyer-ChapmanWrite-in
Most Underappreciated Movie of a Year
Best Movie on Demand (VOD release)

External links

Notes and References

  1. Clark Collis, "The neighbors are scary as hell in clip from horror film Spiral". Entertainment Weekly, October 18, 2019.
  2. Patrick Kelleher, "Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman faces off against terrifying, homophobic neighbours in spine-tingling new horror". Pink News, September 13, 2020.
  3. Phil Wheat, "Frightfest 2019: ‘Spiral’ Review". Nerdly, August 27, 2019.
  4. https://metrosource.com/dont-trust-the-neighbors-in-the-shudder-original-spiral-starring-jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/ "Don't trust the neighbors in the Shudder Original SPIRAL, starring Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman"
  5. Web site: 'Spiral' and Horror's Inclusion Moment. The Hollywood Reporter. MRC. Richard. Newby. September 3, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200916174459/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/spiral-and-horrors-inclusion-moment. September 30, 2020. 2020-09-16.
  6. Web site: Spiral (2019). Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. .
  7. Web site: Frightfest 2019: 'Spiral' Review. Nerdly. Nerdly Ltd. Phil. Wheat. August 27, 2019. September 30, 2020.
  8. Web site: Kręci się spirala nienawiści. ('Spiral', 2019). His Name is Death. Albert. Nowicki. Polish. October 1, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201001173321/https://www.facebook.com/hisnameisdeath/photos/a.637013743111560/2272426059570312/. October 1, 2020. 2020-10-01.
  9. Web site: 2020 Leo Awards, Nominees & Winners by Name. https://archive.today/20201007093825/https://secure.leoawards.com/2020/nominees_and_winners/nominees_and_winners_by_name_2020.php. dead. 2020-10-07. Leo Awards. May 26, 2020. October 7, 2020.
  10. Web site: Congratulations to the 2019 Other Worlds Film Festival Dan O'Bannon Audience Award winners!. https://archive.today/20201007095037/https://www.instagram.com/p/B53RNtglsbm/. dead. 2020-10-07. December 9, 2019. Instagram. October 7, 2020.
  11. Web site: Druga edycja nagród HNiD. https://archive.today/20210111133157/https://hisnameisdeath.wordpress.com/2021/01/11/druga-edycja-nagrod-his-name-is-death/. dead. 2021-01-11. His Name is Death. Albert. Nowicki. Polish. January 11, 2021. January 11, 2021.