There are horror movies and then there are horror movies. Some frighten the daylights out of you, some are gory and bloody, some are funny like 1948's laugh riot Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein, and some are a mixture of science fiction and fright. The new Spiral movie is another in a series of 9 films in the Spiral: Book of Saw horror shows. To confess, I have never seen any of those original 8 films and must have been asleep or was in recovery from a recent lobotomy when they were unleashed or escaped from the studio.

Everything in Hollywood seems to be re-made, re-constituted or regurgitated sooner or later. However, the usually funny Chris Rock decided to try something new and got interested in the horror genre for his latest film. The man is certainly talented, so in Spiral he tried to do a little remodeling of the franchise. He is quoted as saying,” I’ve been a fan of Saw since the first film in 2004. I am excited by the opportunity to take this to a really intense and twisted new place.” He wished to add some comedic elements to the film to freshen it up.

Writers Josh Stolberg and Pete Goldfinger were put to work to cough up a new story and script. They came up with the following, as stated by Lionsgate: “Working in the shadow of his esteemed police-veteran father Marcus Banks (Samuel L. Jackson), brash Detective Zeke Banks (Chris Rock) and his rookie partner Detective William Schenk (Max 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.” That’s the studio’s analysis of the compelling events that propel the film. And that’s when the fun—or horror—begins!

Samuel Jackson, an alleged graduate of the Shout School of Acting, doesn’t disappoint. Every line is bellowed and never modulated. But that’s why we love him. He’s totally consistent. It doesn’t matter which picture he’s in---all his characterizations are the same. You can count on the masterful Mr. Jackson. No relation to the late singer. Alas, no singing or dancing.

Chris Rock has decided to go dramatic in his role of the detective out to find a vicious killer. Instead of being his usual funny, he is grumpy and growly and yells most of his lines at everybody in sight. Although he came up with the story for this film, he did not write it. Perhaps that’s why there are only a few semi-giggles for the normally comic actor. To say the least, his part is not at all funny, but it is something to laugh at.

The killer everybody is in a dither to catch has devised some of the most diabolical, horrific, mean, and bloody torture devises since the Spanish Inquisition. The scenes involving those unfortunate to be gripped in the killer’s devises are double cringe-worthy. The movie can’t be categorized as a “horror” movie per se, but it certainly can be called horrible. But fans who love the “Saw” series and dote on gushing blood will love it.

(Released by Lionsgate and rated for sequences of bloody violence and torture, pervasive language, some sexual references and brief drug use )