Spawn *** (1997, Michael Jai White, Martin Sheen, John Leguizamo, Theresa Randle, Nicol Williamson) – Classic Movie Review 4583

Director Mark A Z Dippé’s 1997 comic book movie stars Michael Jai White as CIA agent Al Simmons, who is betrayed and incinerated in a chemical inferno by his evil megalomaniacal boss Jason Wynn (Martin Sheen). However, he comes back from hell to wreak vengeance as a doomed, comic-book anti-hero called Spawn, a creature with supernatural defence, attack and escape powers.

The forces of darkness in the shape of a demon clown called Violator (John Leguizamo) and good in the form of a dark knight named Cogliostro (Nicol Williamson) in the manner of Obi-Wan Kenobi vie for control of his soul. Cogliostro turns Spawn from evil to fight the powers of darkness.

The story, character and film owe everything to Spawn’s more illustrious predecessors: Batman, The Shadow and especially Darkman, but Spawn still manages to carve an intriguing niche of its own. After a muddled start, with its tone and intentions wobbling all over the place, this Gothic, gruesome film settles down to become oddly compelling.

The virtually non-stop special effects by Industrial Light and Magic are thrilling, including Spawn’s cloak that seems to have a life of its own and the incredible Dante-esque vision of hell. An unrecognizable Leguizamo steals the show in an incredible tour-de-force.

Special Edition: The Director’s Cut, available on DVD/video, with extra minutes of action featuring dazzling special effects, new scenes, and containing stronger language and more violence, effectively changes the tone and tightens the narrative.

Alas, though it cost only $40 million and took $50 million in the US, plus $30 million on DVD, it did not spawn a hoped-for sequel.

Also in the cast are Theresa Randle, D B Sweeney, Melinda Clarke, Miko Hughes, Sydni Beaudoin and Michael Papajohn.

It is based on the comic book by Todd McFarlane, with a story by Alan B McElroy and Mark A Z Dippé, and its screenplay is by McFarlane and McElroy, with McFarlane co-producing the film with Clint Goldman.

Guillermo Navarro’s dark-hued cinematography makes it look good.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 4583

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