Spiral (I) (2007)

A reclusive telemarketer has only one semblance of a friend: His telecommuter boss. But the telemarketer's social circle seems to improve greatly when a whimsical co-worker enters his life.... See full summary »

Directors:

Adam Green, Joel David Moore

Writers:

Jeremy Danial Boreing, Joel David Moore

Stars:

Annie Neal, Joel David Moore, Zachary Levi

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Annie Neal	...	Diana - The Waitress
Joel David Moore	...	Mason
Zachary Levi	...	Berkeley
Lori Yohe	...	Valerie
Amber Tamblyn	...	Amber
Ryan Chase	...	Chad
Nick Sowell	...	Record Shop Employee
David Muller	...	Will
Rose Weiker	...	Street Musician
Patrick Semmes	...	Ticket Taker
Jenson Segui	...	Boy in Cemetery
Mary Benson	...	Grandmother in Cemetery
Tricia Helfer	...	Sasha
Rileah Vanderbilt	...	Girl on Bus
Sean Bailey	...	Phone Bank Employee

Storyline

A reclusive telemarketer has only one semblance of a friend: His telecommuter boss. But the telemarketer's social circle seems to improve greatly when a whimsical co-worker enters his life. Only, as he begins to sketch his new friend's portrait, disturbing "voices" from the phone man's past threaten to lead him into a network of destruction.

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Plot Keywords:

portrait | co worker | friendship | painter | painting | 

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for disturbing behavior, violence, some partial nudity and language

Details

Official Sites:

MySpace Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 January 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Spiral - Tödliches Geheimnis

Filming Locations:

136 NW 9th Avenue, Portland, Oregon, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

ArieScope Pictures, Coattails Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Russ Tamblyn appears in this film as an extra.

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Quotes

Amber: So, are we gonna talk about it?
Mason: What? No, I just can't figure out what color to use for the shadow of your arm.
Amber: So, we're not gonna talk about it. Okay... So, why didn't you use the blue?
Mason: Because it'll pull focus from your eyes.
Amber: What about the orange?
Mason: Too close to the tan in your slip.
Amber: Does it matter?
Mason: Yes. It's all about contrast. To accentuate some parts, you have to hide others.
Amber: So they can't be noticed?
Mason: So they won't... draw attention.

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Connections

Referenced in The Rotten Tomatoes Show: From Paris with Love/Dear John/Frozen (2010)

User Reviews

Stay until the end

Mason is very shy. He isn't very comfortable with approaching others, though you can tell(from Moore's spot-on performance, that emphasizes that he doesn't know how to be around people, he isn't intentionally messing up; the nervousness and loneliness really come through... his talent was wasted in Avatar) that he does want to get into contact with others. His only real friend is Berkeley, who he's known since high school, who got him a job telemarketing, and who, while not a saint(no one is), does what he can to help him. Then one day, a girl sits next to our lead. Amber. She realizes that he paints(only people), and it isn't long before she begins posing for him, and a relationship develops between them. Not all is well, though. Are those nightmares he keeps having... or memories? This isn't for everyone. It's an indie flick, and when I say that it's a psychological thriller, I really mean that... don't expect chases, fights, or a fast pace. This is about the portrait(pun intended) of a recluse(not to be confused with "someone's idea of what everyone who doesn't have an active social life is like"), the gripping story, and the people within it. There is such humanity to our three main characters(and frankly everyone else in this). Not everyone will like or love them... however, you can't help but respond to them. They're as close as they come to being as real as if they actually were. Tamblyn has you falling head over heels in love with her, and not in that "wow, why isn't my girlfriend this perfect" kind of way, no, she has personality, and she really shines through as a real human being; she's very sweet, chatty and just plain fun, and in spite of the fact that you might not always get along with her, you have this feeling that she'll never be boring. Around the middle point, she cries, and I very nearly did the same(and I am extremely reserved, especially in that regard), out of sympathy for her. She is very underrated. All of the acting in this ranges from good to great. The humor is fitting, and comes off as natural. This takes a low-key, smart concept and goes for an appropriate execution, not throwing big-budget tricks in our faces to keep our attention. The editing and cinematography are amazing, and the lighting is excellent. They build the mood well. Subtlety is the name of the game here. Early on, the dreams do feel like they're rudely interrupting a drama, and the marriage of the genres isn't entirely without, shall we say, gentle nagging. With that said, this is well worth your time(if this appeals to you), and I implore you, make sure you catch the conclusion. It's impeccable. This is open-ended, providing food for thought and asking vital questions instead of providing answers. The music is well-chosen. I haven't watched Hatchet, also by Adam Green... I think I will, if I find it(not that I expect it to be like this). There is a bit of disturbing content, some partial female nudity and a little violence and moderate to strong language in this. The DVD comes with a trailer for this(that contains spoilers, save it until after) and a couple of other movies. I recommend this to anyone who likes the sound of what I describe here. 7/10