Spawn (1997)

User Review

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  TheMovieDiorama

  2 / 10

  Spawn should've stayed in hell. Sony's PlayStation was released in 1994. The Nintendo 64 was released in 1996. Spawn was theatrically released in 1997. If you've seen the film, you know exactly where I'm going with this! An "innovative visual experience" some have said to describe this overbearing superhero flick. All I have to say is, did you see the polygons on Malebogia's head? Did your eyes bleed when Violator revealed his true form? Did the visual effects studio use Windows 95 and utilise an unreleased version of Movie Maker!? Holy flaming hell! Critics were right, it truly is unforgettable. You cannot wipe these visual effects away. They will be engraved in your mind forever. But despite its tragically hellish style, Spawn is exposition heavy and has as much personality as an extinguished flame. A Black Ops colonel is double crossed and condemned to hell. He is then offered a deal to return to Earth if he accepts leadership during the incoming Armageddon. There's also an evil businessman manufacturing a weapons system and oh look, no one cares. Sheen gives a half-decent performance and some of the action sequences were filmed well (and not plagued by unrealistic textures one would find in that "maze" screensaver (you know the one...)). But the intended dark, gothic and horror aesthetic appeal was missing. It wasn't even close. The screenplay simply consisted of dialogue that described the plot. Whether it be characters talking to themselves and unveiling their plans, enter exhibit A: Leguizamo's infuriating Clown/Violator who simply wouldn't shut the heck up, or Spawn himself selfishly throwing a hissy fit because the script required him to be "edgy". The "dark humour" was literally just toilet humour. Spawn himself had no personality, no backstory and towards the end was so overpowered that you felt no fear for him. We're supposed to sympathise with him but in actual fact we're all thinking "whip that cape out again!". Characters conveniently appear when the story requires them, and rapidly disappear without a trace when they've done their job. Essentially, one of the worst superhero films.

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