Spawn (1997) / Action-Horror

MPAA Rated: PG-13 for thematic elements involving the demonic underworld, violence, intense fantasy action and crude humor
Running Time: 96 min.

Cast: Michael Jai White, John Leguizamo, Martin Sheen, Theresa Randle, D.B. Sweeney
Director: Mark A.Z. Dippe
Screenplay: Alan B. McElroy
Review published February 1, 1998

The country's best mercenary, Al Simmons, gets double-crossed in what was to be his final mission, and ends up killed by his supervisor, Jason Wynn. The mercenary is then offered a deal by the devil by which he may return to Earth but must kill his supervisor, and help Hell in the war with Heaven, or some such nonsense.

Based on the popular Todd McFarlane comic book, it captures the essence of the comic in that it is more concerned with looks than characters, and cool costumes than story. Neither the comic nor the film make much sense, as it is so confusing in understanding why the devil would hire both Wynn and Simmons and then make one kill the other, only to have the other kill the one. There are a lot of special effects, most of which are ugly and phony looking, and far too much overall noise . The characters are idiotic, the plot confusing, the outfits laughable, the acting horrible, and the directing ham-handed. It's nothing but an ugly, noisy, boring and disgusting waste of money only existing to be eaten up by fanboys of the ridiculously overwrought and under plotted comic of the same name.

Qwipster's rating:

©1998 Vince Leo