Spawn (1997)

User Rating:

4.8/10   

Director:

Mark A.Z. Dippé

Writers (WGA):

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

Release Date:

1 August 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Thriller | Action | Fantasy | Horror

Tagline:

Born in darkness. Sworn to justice.

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Devil | Hell | Clown | Deal With The Devil | Revenge

Awards:

1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

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
Tony Haney	...	African Liaison

MPAA:

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

Runtime:

96 min | USA:98 min (director's cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Germany:18 (director's cut) | Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | South Korea:12 | Ireland:12 | Ireland:18 (director's cut) | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:14A | Canada:PA (Manitoba) (director's cut) | Canada:18A (director's cut) | Finland:K-16 (video premiere) (director's cut) | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | UK:12 | UK:15 (director's cut) | USA:PG-13 | USA:R (director's cut) | Mexico:B

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

The intro song played during the opening credits is called "Satan" by Orbital. A remix is featured on the official soundtrack, but it may be hard to distinguish because of a lot of added electric guitars.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: After Priest shoots Spawn at the party, he runs down a corridor and into the kitchen, stumbling onto the ground as his wounds healed. When he lands on the ground, sneaker bottoms can be seen sticking a good two inches out of the bottom of Spawn's feet

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.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Eddie Izzard: Dress to Kill (1999) (V)

Soundtrack:

Long Hard Road Out of Hell

What the hell? (no pun intended)

I watched this film when it was released on VHS, I can't remember maybe '98 so i was 14. To be honest I was a bit of a dim viewer then and would like anything with big explosions, violence anything a teenage boy would like in a movie. But something didn't quite add up with me on this film.

Then, years later, watching the film again I realised... this film sucks! Really blows.

Now, I own a few Spawn related comics and this sweet natured PC version of the dark demonic anti-hero we know as Spawn makes for bad viewing, even if you've never read the comic book (like me then) it's a movie that leaves you wondering, what the hell did I just watch!? Cardboard characters, stupid story, mind numbingly bad script. And what is Nicol Williamson, such a celebrated actor, doing in it? Todd McFarlane, this film must be your own personal hell, that someone would do this to your baby is unthinkable! Really needs a reboot (hint, hint!)