The Deadly Spawn (1983)

Alien creatures invade a small town and a group of four teenagers, plus one little boy, try to escape from them.

Director:

Douglas McKeown

Writers:

Douglas McKeown (screenplay), Ted A. Bohus (story),

Stars:

Charles George Hildebrandt, Tom DeFranco, Richard Lee Porter

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Charles George Hildebrandt	...	Charles
Tom DeFranco	...	Pete
Richard Lee Porter	...	Frankie
Jean Tafler	...	Ellen
Karen Tighe	...	Kathy
James L. Brewster	...	Sam (as James Brewster)
Elissa Neil	...	Barb
Ethel Michelson	...	Aunt Millie
John Schmerling	...	Uncle Herb
Judith Mayes	...	Bunny
Andrew Michaels	...	Camper #1
John Arndt	...	Camper #2
Diane Stevens	...	Nibbs
Darlene Kenley	...	Hilde
Madeline Charanis	...	Ju Ju

Storyline

Two campers in the New Jersey woods have their outdoor fun interrupted by the arrival of a meteorite crashing nearby. They go to investigate the crater, but are suddenly attacked and devoured by alien parasites who have hitched a ride to Earth. After finishing off the campers, the hungry space monsters head for a nearby town, where they make their domain in the basement of an old house soon begin polishing off one hapless inhabitant after another. Four young teenagers, plus one pre-teen boy, try to find a way to stop the angry space monsters before they reproduce and literally eat humanity.

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Plot Keywords:

monster | alien | alien creature | basement | creature | 

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Taglines:

They Fell From Space And They Were Hungry!

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Genres:

Sci-Fi | Horror

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 April 1983 (USA)

Also Known As:

Return of the Alien's Deadly Spawn

Filming Locations:

Gladstone, New Jersey, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Filmline

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The mother spawn was constructed in the basement of effects artist John Dods. However, no one took the creature's size into consideration, so when they had to have it on set, they had to cut off one of the creature's heads to get it through a doorway, and reassemble it on set.

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Goofs

After the camper who went back for the camera is attacked in the tent, his bloody arm comes through the flaps and his hand grabs a sapling. Right after the hand closes, the shirt changes from light faded denim to a very dark color, and the hand appears to be somewhat larger.

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Quotes

[Pete picks up a ringing phone]
Pete: Hello? Oh, hi Frankie. Oh yeah... I woke up because the phone was so loud. Oh, that was my aunt. Yeah, my aunt and uncle are visiting. What?
[pause]
Pete: What are you getting so worried about? Look, look... biology isn't exactly my strongest point either.
[pause]
Pete: What about tonight? We can still go. No, I told you... I said my folks have the car today. Not tonight. What about your car?
[pause]
Pete: Oh? Look, if you want to get here by six... six-thirty p.m. as soon as my folks...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

As soon as the end credits finish, the words "Don't try it, Gary" appear.

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Connections

References Earth vs. the Spider (1958)

User Reviews

"Brains ain't everything"

I guess I expected too much from this low-rent independent cult Sci-Fi horror favourite, as it delivered on the cheesy gore and monster effects (an infestation of outer-space slug parasites with imposing pearly whites) that was like something of a old-school 1950s monster throwback, but when that wasn't the case the characters that the story concentrated on were awkwardly dull (outside the young lad) and the dialogues just as mundane. Sometimes you can look over that fact, but the main problem lied in some slow stretches with nothing but trivial exchanges which added nothing new than to prolong the outrageously tacky, but icky action with annoying stoppages. In that aspect the film didn't outstay its welcome at only 80 mins long. Some inventive flourishes (dramatic camera angles springing up) and nasty shocks (a surprise or two in the carnage filled deaths), in somewhat a familiar plot structure. Kids trapped inside their home with hideous, unfriendly monsters. The material kind of finds inside in both camps; serious but not without a touch of humour. Leading the way is a resourceful young boy (a fan of horror films) with a wild imagination, but who might just be the only one who can rid earth of this threat. His first encounter in the dank, darkly lit basement is a surreal treat. The creature effects start off nothing more than POV shots, shadows and silhouettes… but that's not for too long. They are impressively effective and also goes for it boldly inspired closing shot. Director Douglas McKeown's mechanical handling shows up some patchy traits but for its low-scale production, he creates some crafty atmospheric stages and the accompanying music score packs an eerily spacey touch. Trashy, but mildly fun.