(1983)
Reviewed by David Zuzelo Directed by Douglas McKeown Starring: Some People From New Jersey and a BIG Rubber Monster Synapse Films DVD Region 1 (2004)
At last one of the great backyard (or basement to be more exact) films comes crashing to DVD in a blaze of glory…The Deadly Spawn is here! Sure, with the exception of the creature design the film is hardly a stunning artistic achievement-but it’s blissed out monsterific bliss on a shiny silver disc that satisfies.
After a little honking meteorite makes a big noise in the woods and alerts two nearby campers who quickly get chomped by something monstrous sounding, hell comes to New Jersey. Well, if it isn’t hell it’s a three-headed monster and it’s tadpoles of doom at least. After seeking the warmth that only a Jersey basement can provide (??????) the monster sends out it’s legion of spermatazoic killers to munch on elderly vegetarians, devour those who cross paths with them and to chase the people who live over the holy basement of Deadly Spawn’s kingdom. Cue the apocalypse!
It sure helps that we have a good cast of characters with interesting little lives to occupy the talking and gesturing section of the film. The science guy who wants to get the girl, the doofy non-scholastically inclined buddy, the psychologist who is babysitting…and a boy who just loves horror movies all meet a toothy monster who speaks the silent language of FEED ME!
Alright, ya got me guys… I love movies with kids who love horror films. Be sure to smile along as the shrink tries to get him to feel bizarre with a series of questions that show the horror fan of the house to perhaps be the most balanced and smartest of the bunch.
YEAH MOM…SUCK ON THAT SQUAREHEAD!
Chomp Chomp fizz fizz and OH…what a relief it is. The groovy spawnlets chomp just fine, but once the big honking monster makes it’s way and starts biting and tearing-we have crossed over into some of the best conceived and executed microbudget monster sequences of all time. And that ending… I’m still waiting for Apocalypse! Spawn… a real sequel for the ages!
Again, this isn’t arthouse fare, but it’s obvious that we have here a horror fans film for horror fans from frame one. Violent and gory with a touch of nudity, a smattering of in-jokes for the horrifically inclined and a splattering of old ladies shrieking as little creatures mutilate them in the name of good old fashioned spookshow shenanigans-it’s breezy easy fun. I love it, and though I’m preaching to the choir, if you have NOT seen this one you really should. Now is the time brothers and sisters…Spawn up!
The highlight of the film as well as it’s deserved reputation builders are the actual monsters of the film which are brilliantly brought to toothsome life by puppeteer / FX supervisor John Dods. A fine reminder of why low-tech works so well in some cases, the little ones are fun, but the sight of the thing in the basement conjures up Lovecraft at a Five and Dime Store blowout. The scenes of the Master Spawn chasing our heroes through a small hallway are always going to make me smile.
Add in some groovy ghoulie tunes from Perilstein, Cornell and Walker and this is the kind of Saturday matinee material that will revitalize a horror fan’s joy of the cinematic monster mash… and perhaps inspire future fans for generations to come.
And that brings us to the DVD. Synapse has had a very strong year, and this release may be the top of the class. The transfer of the film is simply stunning. Now that term gets thrown around a lot (along with "edge enhancement" and other nonsense that many people don’t truly understand)…but it’s true. I dropped my Fruit Loops when I noticed there was rain (or a small hose) behind the first puppet, setting up the rain that would continue on and drive the monsters indoors! Wild.
Fans of the film better get ready to be happy-and first timers will be treated to something I never believed could exist. It looks better than it was probably ever projected before. Windowboxed to avoid any matting issues I have to extend my thanks… there is nothing worse than mutilating movies for anamorphic playback if the film wasn’t meant to be that way in my mind. Every splat looks great and hey… I could even see a few little manipulating sticks poking out of the spawnlets. Sure that isn’t "good" but it’s great fun.
Extras? Oh yeah, plenty to go around. Two commentary tracks, the first group one being very rowdy and fun to listen too and the second with producer Ted Bohus is a bit more informative at times, but doesn’t have the same manic energy as the first. Both provide a good vantage point on the film and are worth enjoying. Tons of behind the scenes stuff include a camcorder shot visit to the effects set of the film (with some fun goofing off along the way), an alternate opening sequence with some new effects, outtakes and a cool comic bookish prologue as well.
A solid package from top to bottom and priced right, this is a must for monster movie fans worldwide. MunchaBuncha Spawn for your next Deadly Matinee of Delight!
Story: 2 Slurping Spawnlets Picture/Audio: 4 Slurping Spawnlets Extras: 4 Slurping Spawnlets Overall Spawnlet Score: 4 HUGE SLURPS
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