Spawn (1997)

A mercenary is killed, but comes back from Hell as a reluctant soldier of the Devil.

Director:

Mark A.Z. Dippé

Writers:

Todd McFarlane (comic book), Alan B. McElroy (screen story),

Stars:

Michael Jai White, John Leguizamo, Martin Sheen

1 win & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Jai White	...	Al Simmons / Spawn
John Leguizamo	...	Clown / Violator
Martin Sheen	...	Jason Wynn
Theresa Randle	...	Wanda Blake
Nicol Williamson	...	Cogliostro
D.B. Sweeney	...	Terry Fitzgerald
Melinda Clarke	...	Jessica Priest
Miko Hughes	...	Zack
Sydni Beaudoin	...	Cyan
Michael Papajohn	...	Glen, Zack's Dad
Frank Welker	...	The Devil Malebolgia (voice)
Robia LaMorte	...	XNN Reporter (as Robia La Morte)
John Cothran Jr.	...	African Liaison
Caroline Gibson	...	News Anchor
Marc Robinson	...	Punk #1

Storyline

An assassin named Al Simmons is double-crossed and murdered by his evil boss Jason Wynn. Al makes a deal with the devil and returns to earth as Spawn to see his wife. He is ordered by the devil's minion, The Clown, to kill Wynn. Wynn has made a deal with the clown too and is suppose to destroy the world with a deadly virus that will help start Armageddon and allow Hell to attack Heaven. Spawn must choose between Good & Evil.

---

Plot Keywords:

devil | hell | clown | deal with the devil | revenge | 

---

Taglines:

From flesh to steel. From blood to blade. From man...to Spawn.

---

Genres:

Action | Fantasy | Horror | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements involving the demonic underworld, violence, intense fantasy action and crude humor

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 August 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

O Justiceiro das Trevas

Filming Locations:

Hollywood Center Studios - 1040 N. Las Palmas Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$7,300,000 (Non-US) (31 October 1997)

Gross:

$54,967,359 (USA) (28 November 1997)

Company Credits

Production Co:

New Line Cinema, Pull Down Your Pants Pictures, Todd McFarlane Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min 98 min (director's cut)

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Cagliostro appears in this movie as Spawn's mentor. In real life, he was an occultist in the 1700s who traveled Europe and Egypt and would eventually found Occult Freemasonry. He was also a noted charlatan who would eventually be imprisoned in the Bastille and banished from France, then tried in Rome for heresy, magic, conjury, and Freemasonry. He died in solitary confinement in the castle of San Leo in 1795.

---

Goofs

After Clown kills Zack's Dad the paramedics that arrive at the scene put a cloth over his head indicating that he is dead but before they drop the cloth he twitches his eye.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Cogliostro: The battle between Heaven and Hell has waged eternal, their armies fueled by souls harvested on Earth. The devil, Malebolgia, has sent a lieutenant to Earth to recruit men who will turn the world into a place of death in exchange for wealth and power, a place that will provide enough souls to complete his army and allow Armageddon to begin. All the Dark Lord needs now is a great soldier, someone who can lead his hordes to the gates of Heaven and burn them down.

---

Crazy Credits

Credits shake, are being scratched over and turn left-side and right-side up and down.

---

Connections

Referenced in The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show: Episode dated 7 August 1997 (1997)

---

Soundtracks

"Satan"
Written by Paul Hartnoll (as P) and Phil Hartnoll (as P Hartnoll)
Performed by Orbital with Kirk Hammett
Produced by Paul Hartnoll (as P) and Phil Hartnoll (as P Hartnoll)
Orbital appears courtesy of London Records
Kirk Hammett appears courtesy of E/M Ventures

User Reviews

A few good scenes don't save this wreck of a story.

There are moments in Spawn that stand out with exceptional creativity, but what truly stands out about the movie is just how much of a mess it is.

The screenplay is a wreck, the acting is stiff and unconvincing, and the whole thing seems to fly by so fast, that we don't get a chance to experience much other than a look at some nifty visuals. In fairness, I suppose it is easy enough to argue that Spawn delivers its share of action sequences for a ninety minute movie, but perhaps it needs to back down a bit. It needs more story. In the end, Spawn feels like nothing more or less than an exercise in CGI and make-up effects.

It is pretty difficult to get involved with the story, in part because it makes no sense, but mostly because we simply do not care. The character of Al Simmons is about as cheap and plastic as the armour he suits up in during the second half of the feature. Quite frankly I don't find him all that likable. He is cold and nasty, even as a superhero. I really hate it when the good guys talk like the bad guys; when they cackle or make snarly remarks, like Dr. Westlake in the Darkman series.

Some of the special effects work, some don't. Our hero has a blood red cape which can expand to the size of Texas (don't ask me how). I liked that effect. The thing sort of has a computer generated life of its own, and its elegance clashes with the plastic of Spawn's armour. the primary villain is a clown from hell, who can turn into a ten foot armour plated beast which looks a bit like a cousin of the Queen from Aliens. That is another good effect. The climax takes us deep into the fiery pit of hell, which unfortunately does NOT so convincing. My screen saver is a more intimidating computer generated image. I was reminded a bit of the Brinstar level from Super Smash Brothers.

Like so many films do, Spawn ends on a note that just cries out for a sequel. Needless to say, there isn't one and there never will be. Spawn is entertaining in parts, but definitely not as a whole. In more competent hands, this could have worked....but it doesn't