Spawn

New Line Cinema | Release Date: August 1, 1997

8.1	USER SCORE Universal acclaim based on 334 Ratings

USER RATING DISTRIBUTION

Watch Now

Stream On

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Review this movie

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Please sign in or create an account before writing a review.

Check box if your review contains spoilers

0 characters (5000 max)

User Reviews

User score By date Most helpful

Rox22Jan 28, 2013

Overall an OK movie and decently made for the time. Effects were astounding (for the 90s) and Leguizamo is fantastic as Violator (perhaps a bit too over the top.) The rest of the cast were clearly not as interested in their roles. A reallyOverall an OK movie and decently made for the time. Effects were astounding (for the 90s) and Leguizamo is fantastic as Violator (perhaps a bit too over the top.) The rest of the cast were clearly not as interested in their roles. A really hammy performance from Martin Sheen, a bit shocked that he was capable of this. The story does cover modern Spawn's origin story, but in the most bland and rushed way possible. Like most comic book movies of the age, it clearly suffers from trying to do too much in a limited time and ending up with a disjointed mess that makes little sense. Too many references that only fans would understand with little to no exposition to explain them to anyone else. Overall: Spawn was fun to watch, but really a bit of a let down to most hardcore fans as it barely scratches the surface on the potential it could have been. Average, in every sense of the word.… Expand

1 of 10 users found this helpful19

All this user's reviews

TheQuietGamerOct 2, 2017

With corny dialog and an unnecessarily convoluted plot, this comic book movie is all style and little substance. It's biggest sin however is the tonal inconsistency. The childish humor on display clashes gaudily with the moody visuals andWith corny dialog and an unnecessarily convoluted plot, this comic book movie is all style and little substance. It's biggest sin however is the tonal inconsistency. The childish humor on display clashes gaudily with the moody visuals and brooding style. Had this superhero, horror movie mashup leaned more on the latter of it's combination of genres, instead of having John Leguizamo get all irritating as the film's disappointing main villain, this could have been something to write home about. As annoying as Leguizamo is here I have to give the main credit for seemingly being the only person to really take his role seriously. The rest of the cast seems bored and resort to either under of over-acting. One could argue that these just aren't talented individuals, but when the likes of Martin Sheen are in your cast and you can't get a single human character to act believable, then you've got a serious problem going on somewhere.

Spawn really needed to lean more on it's horror elements. This tale of hell and demons is surprisingly lacking in darkness. It certainly had a heaping dose of visual panache for the time. The director really could have created some freaky crap had there been a better script that allowed for it. The CGI hasn't aged well at all though. Some of these visuals past the dated mark years ago and are just flat out embarrassing now. This mostly applies to the scenes that take place in hell. The final battle that takes place there is almost incomprehensible to the eyes at times because of how bad everything looks.

There was certainly a lot of potential here. A superhero horror movie would have been a breath of fresh air in the then still growing superhero movie scene. It would have even helped the movie stay relevant today, a time where superhero fatigue is starting to creep into moviegoers lives. Unfortunately, instead of frights we got fart jokes. Once you consider that along with the poor acting and writing, and it's not hard to see why this movie might be for only the most forgiving of Spawn fans.… Expand

0 of 11 users found this helpful011

All this user's reviews

IAmTechJun 18, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Ah Spawn, we all know and love this McFarlane creation don't we. The ex-assassin back from the dead as a demonic hellspawn (from hell) armed to the teeth with weapons and with a living suit that is able to metamorphosis into virtually anything that is required at any given moment...handy. His world is dangerous, dark, grimy, violent, savage, chaotic, vicious and bloodthirsty. He has battled thugs, drug dealers, pedophiles, murderers, the KKK and various creatures from the bowels of hell.

If there is any comicbook character that is definitely not for young kids then this is it. Could this comicbook character be anymore badass? the material screams out for a solid ultra violent adult movie adaptation. How could anyone even consider the notion of making a PG-13 out of this graphic splatter fest! ahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!..bahaha!..haha...hehe...ahem...oh.

I quite liked this despite many problems with the movie. Unfortunately this characters outing has aged badly showing some horrendous early CGI effects which will shock you. The visuals are generally decent at times, like the comic its very dark, Gothic and grim, but its also very obviously filmed on sets and looks a bit fake. Sure the cold night rain comes down in sheets whilst the mist swirls as Spawn leaps around in his fantastic looking living suit...but you need more than that. The other fantasy based creatures are also well created, Clown especially...very dark, humorous and quite chilling. Leguizamo played him brilliantly swinging from reasonably placid too nasty, vicious and perverted in the bat of an eyelid. Best thing about the film easily, kudos.

The Violator is also pretty cool looking in a life size model form yet like a lot of the film the CGI version is pretty lame and ruins it. CGI is a problem with this film as its drenched in it, almost everything is CGI and frankly not much is any good. Jesus Christ even the opening credits are rendered in hokey-ass looking CGI! you can tell back in 97 CGI was the new toy.

On the whole the CGI ranges from excellent on Spawns cape, to poor video game type visuals on most other things. Hell being the worst with a terrible looking Malebolgia and very plain unexciting looking backdrops, it looks like a student created it at home. The whole thing is very amateurish looking these days it really is, heck even back in the day it didn't come across that well. What's laughable if you look closely is all the legions of Hellspawns are clearly on some kind of animated loop as they all do the same action in the background! Its so obviously the same actor replicated a gazillion times, seriously poor.

The best CGI is probably the work done on Spawn's mask, apart from his cape that is. The small sequences where we see his living suit/mask slide and form over his burnt face is still pretty slick even to this day. Sure his eyes look a bit too big and green but on the whole his mask does look the business. The fact its wet really gives it a living vibe, as though its pulsating, its one of things that does work in this movie.

The acting is hammy with a slight serious edge, but in general its very cheesy. Sheen chews up the scenery and seems to enjoy himself whilst Jai White seems to be going for broke possibly after more comicbook roles. Clearly not expecting much here but this is suppose to be a dark violent franchise, lets try and be somewhat realistic and less camp huh. This film yearns to be harder and more violent (like the comic, what a waste), it is dark brooding and Crow-like for sure but its so watered down its quite painful.

Despite that there is this uneasy feeling throughout where you're not too sure which way the film wants to go. Is it really for a wider audience? is it maybe more for adults? certain scenes seem quite risky and close to the bone but then at the same time its all so docile with no real visible violence or blood, realistic or otherwise. It gives the film an unbalanced feel because its lost somewhere in the middle which will leave both sides of the equation not enjoying the film. Like other similar comicbook franchises they must decide which way they wanna take it, its gotta be for kids or not, simple as that.

Despite that it does have a certain charm which appeals to me, its dark Batman-esque world with hellish creatures and brooding anti heroes still manages to be enjoyable. Spawn being a very likable character, Wynn is also suitably creepy and Bishop is changed to a female for some reason but pretty hot with some nice gun/blade action. Add some relatively decent action sequences which are kinda fun in a tame kinda way and you can almost get some enjoyment outta this. At least there's a solid thumping soundtrack to be had.

I still wonder what could of been, what it could of achieved had it been made for adults as it should of been. Visually its pleasing if you like this kind of thing (in general), there is just enough comicbook sleaze here to get your teeth into and it still beats 'Ghost Rider' any day of the week.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

All this user's reviews

CoreGamer1408Apr 21, 2023

Low budget and CGI was no where near as developed for this type of presentation. A bad combo for a movie of this type, but I did like all the actors performances. Considering what they had to work with.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

All this user's reviews

SamOct 15, 2005

Is it a terrible movie? No. Is it an ok movie? Sure. Does it deserve the 3 and a half out of for stars that Roger Ebert gave it? Not even close.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

BleedingJesterAug 15, 2023

Spawn as a character is very 90s edgelord in design and character which could be a good thing or a bad thing depending on your preference but it does date the character the CGI is awful buts this is also from 97 so its not surprising and theSpawn as a character is very 90s edgelord in design and character which could be a good thing or a bad thing depending on your preference but it does date the character the CGI is awful buts this is also from 97 so its not surprising and the story was meh imo I watched it an hour ago and cant remember much from it

I can only suggest this movie if you really like Spawn or if you like edgy things in general but if you don't know the character or don't enjoy Edgy things don't watch this you wont have a good time and if you want to get into the character just watch the Animated Series… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

All this user's reviews