Interview: Darren Lynn Bousman (Spiral: From the Book of Saw)

Director/writer/producer, Darren Lynn Bousman talked with Horrornews.net about Spiral: From the Book of Saw. I could ask Darren a million questions but there is a time limit. Darren talks about working with the LEGENDS, Chris Rock and Samuel L. Jackson, a possible sequel to Spiral, and much more.

Spiral: From the Book of Saw arrives on Digital July 13 and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD, and On Demand July 20 from Lionsgate.

Hi Darren, how are you?

D.L.B.- Good, how are you doing?

I’m good. Thanks.

D.L.B.- Awesome.

Oh, my gosh, I was so excited that I was able to see Spiral in the theater. You did an awesome job.

D.L.B.- Thank you.

The subway scene is awesome. I think it’s one of my favorite scenes. What was it like making this film and working with this incredible cast?

D.L.B.- It felt surreal, and to come back fourteen years later, and then to work with Chris Rock, Samuel L. Jackson, Max Minghella, and Marisol Nichols. It was a cast that I never thought I’d get to work with, let alone on a SAW movie. You mentioned the subway trap, that was one of my first really big set builds in a long time. It was so exciting, I remember walking in the sound stage and watching this tunnel get constructed, and there was this overwhelming feeling of, we’re back. It was amazing. To be working with a lot of the same crew that helped me make the original SAW films, and to be back in Toronto fourteen years later doing it again on a much bigger scale was a dream come true.

What was it like for you preparing to direct SPIRAL?

D.L.B.- Overwhelmed, just constant stage fright. I don’t think it struck me until the first day of production when Samuel L. Jackson walked on set. I was like, I’m literally directing one of my idols. Chris Rock is by far one of my favorite living comedians. It felt like a fever dream to me.

I loved Chris Rock in SPIRAL. His performance was next level in this movie. What was it like actually working with Chris and Samuel L. Jackson? I mean they are LEGENDS!

D.L.B.- It was just crazy. To be able to work with Chris doing a serious role. He did have moments of levity and comedy; the movie was not played for jokes. I think for starters, that was amazing. It was exciting because I was doing this before FARGO came out so, to be one of his first dramatic directors like that was just awesome. Samuel L. Jackson, I grew up on this guy’s movies, I remember sneaking out during school to go watch Pulp Fiction again and again. So, to have him standing onset saying the words that I helped construct and doing the shots that I wanted, it never felt real. My parents were actually onset the day that Samuel L. Jackson was there. It was the first time I saw my dad get giddy and excited. He just kind of finds the whole thing boring but he loves Samuel L. Jackson as well. So, just looking over at my dad and just realizing he was excited, it was a great experience.

I think all of us love Samuel L. Jackson.

D.L.B.- Oh yeah, he’s a great guy.

I wanted to tell you that I love the Saw movies and Saw II. I think you did this movie justice. You feel this new story, and you get where you are going. I don’t want to say I wouldn’t trust someone else with it.

D.L.B.- Yeah

I felt you did a great job. Will there be another one?

D.L.B.- I hope so. I mean, I really do. It was a weird process for me because of so much of it with the SAW fans.  There was a lot of hate when the movie came out. I think because people came in and expected to see SAW 9. They wanted to see Tobin Bell, Logan, Billy the Puppet, and that was not the story that we wanted to tell. We wanted to do something completely different. There was an immediate backlash about, where’s Tobin Bell? This is not Saw 9, this is SPIRAL, its own storyline. So, time will tell and I think we will see a Saw 9, and my hope is that you’ll see a Spiral II.

I thought it was refreshing. I did notice the homages, the memories and how this story came about. I was actually thrilled and excited for this new story. I loved that you worked with Josh Stolberg.

D.L.B.- I became close friends and fast friends with Josh Stolberg. I requested that he come onset and hang out with me because we saw eye to eye on almost everything. He was there for two-thirds of the shoot. We are good friends, and we host a Podcast together called, Weird Mad World. He’s fantastic.

What do you want to say to the fans?

D.L.B.- Go in knowing this is different. It’s not the same movie. This is not Saw 9. You have to go in with a fresh mind that this is not Saw 9. It’s its own unique story taking place in the SAW universe.

What are you working on next?

D.L.B.- I’m actually in Egypt right now. I can’t tell you what it is yet but I’m literally talking to you from Cairo right now.

That’s crazy. I saw the pictures on Instagram. It looks amazing.

D.L.B.- That’s crazy. It’s very cool.

Do you have a favorite scene from SPIRAL or a favorite moment that happen onset for you?

D.L.B.- I think for me, the last scene in the movie where everything comes together. We see the mastermind’s reason for the execution of his plan with the Charlie Clouser music, and that building intensity. I think for me, that was the best.

I never expected that but I had a feeling. It was mind-blowing.

D.L.B.- Thank you so much.

Thank you so much Darren. This movie was awesome. It was so much fun to see it in the theater with friends and everybody just gasping and cheering.

D.L.B.- Thank you, Janel. It was great speaking with you.

Thanks Darren.