Spawn

Based on the best-selling comic book series from artist Todd McFarlane, “Spawn” lives up to the expectations praising the special effects. They were both cartoonish, yet incredible! The movie maintains the interest of non-male teenagers via humor from a demonic clown. Male teenagers will especially like “Spawn” albeit at matinée admission prices. Its humor does get even the most critical viewer laughing.

Be warned, however, that this movie is spiritually dangerous!

Spawn is a murder victim back from hell. He has two ambitions: to seek revenge on his murderers, but more importantly to seek his wife and to be re-united with her. His journey to accomplish this feat takes him to both strange and familiar places, all of which deliver the promised special effects extravaganza.

As Spawn seeks a way to see his wife Wanda on Earth, he makes a deal with the devil to lead Hell’s Army in the destruction of mankind. With his Earthly experience as a one-man army, and his devilishly-awarded new powers as commander of an extraterrestrial army and the ability to change his shape, he is the ultimate warrior. Naturally, two opposing forces of good and evil are out to convince him to follow them. The moral Count Cogliostro (Nicol Williamson) attempts to convince Spawn to turn his powers against the devil and deliver humanity from him, while dark-humored Clown (John Leguizamo) encourages Spawn to lead the Armageddon.

Spawn is not aware, at first, that he is dead. When he realizes he is, his attitude slowly changes. Unfortunately, is does not change to that of a clear-cut “good guy.” Throughout the story, Spawn must make many decisions regarding good vs. evil. He must decide if he is to take revenge into his own hands, or allow revenge to be administered the “right” way etc., thus leading to the climax of the movie.

There are good points and much humor (crude at times), but overall the movie is average cinematography-speaking. Spiritually, it is atrocious and bizarrely incorrect. It implies that one has at least two chances to avoid hell. Once you die, you can come back and fight on one side or the other, giving the delusion that one could “make it right” even after being sent to hell! As you can see, this is very dangerous false “doctrine.” It should send chills up many spines.

There also is the possibility that unstable teens could actually think hell was cool with the portrayal of incredible sound effects, wisecracking clowns, and somewhat endearing (yet bizarre) remarks. One has to enjoy the Clowns' zinging one liners. They are fast and funny and the best part of the script—the only dialog that required any creativity.

Bad language is mild. Immodest dress is present. There was no sexual innuendos or much that is offensive in that way (excepting the few crude jokes by the clown), yet there is an abundance of violence and extremely dangerous ideas regarding the afterlife. Spawn is rated PG-13 for thematic elements involving the dark demonic underworld, intense violence, fantasy action and crude humor.

“Spawn” should be avoided. It has no redeeming value, with the only possible exception that a lie-exposing discussion on the truth of the afterlife can rightly follow the viewing of this flick.