The Deadly Spawn

I'll keep it short and sweet. If you like your horror with a big fat daddy budget, this ain't for you. there's no CGI, There's no a-grade actors, there's no intense orchestral score by Danny Elfman. So, now, for the rest of you that are left - this movie is great. It has the same elements that made Peter Jacksons "Braindead" and "Bad Taste" so good, heart. the people who made this film obviously loved what they where doing and managed to pull off some great special effects and gore whilst doing so. i wish this film had another equally low-budget follow-up because the creatures are really great and after watching it you can almost smell all those 80's creature features looming round the corner. I would be very shocked if the people who made critters hadn't watched this first. So i recommend this anyone who likes mad little flesh eating beasties and lots and lots (and i do mean lots) of gore.

This low-budget indie flick shows its roots with production values that seem about 10 years or so out of date, including a muddled sound design and fuzzy image quality. Despite bursting out of the gate at the start, the plot often struggles with pacing; the direction often comes off as weak and lethargic. In fairness, this seems to be the first of only two credits in any regard for filmmaker Douglas McKeown - and for that matter, most everyone in the cast or crew have few if any other credits to their name. It shouldn't be too surprising, then, that the dialogue tends to be gauche; that acting is at many times stilted, unnatural, and less than completely believable; that the picture has problems with internal consistency (a character is covered in blood in one moment, and in the next, they're barely touched). Funnily enough, it's effects supervisor John Dods who seems to have the most experience of anyone involved, and it should be said that the contributions of Dods and his collaborators are without question the most outwardly successful aspect of 'The deadly spawn.' The creatures and all the blood and gore are unmistakably fake, yes, but at that, all the nastiness looks fantastic (in accordance with suspension of disbelief), and should scratch the itch of any fan of monster movies.

Of course the film pales in comparison to most any other horror sci-fi flick one could name, that rather goes without saying. Yet if one recognizes the nature of the production - the lack of major financial backing, the inexperience of those involved, the earnest desire nonetheless to craft a violent romp of a genre flick - then this isn't half bad, and it even becomes kind of fascinating. There's no denying that it still has problems, but a great deal of sincerity and hard work went into making this, and for all the indelicacies and inelegance, the result is much better than not. Why, it's definitely far better than many genre flicks, even major studio projects, that have followed in the years since. Again, Dods' effects absolutely stand out, not least at the climax. Apart from the dialogue, McKeown's screenplay is reasonably solid; the scene writing and narrative are straightforward, but completely, compelling, and fun. (Ah, that ending!) While a little heavy-handed and club-footed, McKeown's direction is decent enough, and the cast put in fine effort. It's clear everyone on hand just wanted to have a good time, and they quite succeed in passing that on to the audience; what more could one want?

Even with faltering audio, the sound effects are executed well; the original score teeters on the fine line between "enjoyable and lending atmosphere" and "blunt and over the top," but like so many other aspects here comes across as more capable than not. At no point could one make any mistake about what they're watching; at its worst and at its best, it shines through what level 'The deadly spawn' is operating on. Faults and all, however, this is ultimately entertaining, and its deficiencies just become part of the tapestry. I'd hardly say this is essential, but if you have the chance to watch it, 'The deadly spawn' is a good way to pass 80 minutes. Recommendable particularly for fans of creature features.

Thank god for DVD, I was waiting for a chance to see this film since I was but a wee pubescent gore fiend way back in the mid '80's when I saw a clip of it when I rented "Terror on Tape" (which was and still IS a much better compilation of horror films then the much better known "Terror in the Aisles, but I digress), while sleeping over my Aunt's house. This film's plot is just alien eats and eats and eats some more people. So was it worth the decades long wait?? Well for the most part a resounding YES. I knew it was going to be low budget and I knew it would have bad acting. But it was still a really fun movie for gore lovers. And i wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to fellow low-budget horror film fans.

Synapse DVD Extras: 2 commentary tracks (the first with the director and a few cast members and the second with the Producer); alternate opening; audition tapes; stills gallery; outtakes; a 15 page comic book style prequel; and theatrical trailer

My Grade: B

For some it's probably criminally easy to dismiss a movie like this just because of it's low budget, but "The Deadly Spawn" was somewhat of a cult-hit in it's day and it's easy to see why. The make-up-effects are quite good for a movie this cheap (reportedly it cost just $ 20,000 and ended up making millions), and writer/director Douglas McKeown actually takes time building characters before he lets them die gory deaths (moahahaha).

The monsters are quite effective, at least those small eel-like buggers reminiscent of the chest-burster that ruined everyone's breakfast in "Alien" (1979). It also deserves kudos for - in the end - painting a realistic picture of the traumatizing effects something like this would have on those who survive.

If you like alien-invasion-movies in general, or just love the charm of horror on a shoestring-budget, this might be your cup of tea.

This is one of the best alien/monster slaughtering and splattering movies I've ever seen! It is so funny and creative as the monsters are something I hadn't seen before. They are ugly, disgusting, hungry and have about 7000 teeth! They can also move, but pretty slowly. How they did those monsters with the low budget? They look so fantastic and scary as they actually have nothing but huge mouths and hundreds of sharp teeth in them.

Some alien stone comes from the space and crushes into the Earth with these nasty visitors. Soon they find a new home in a cellar of one apartment, and then the "fun" begins. There is one slow sequence in the middle of the film and it is boring to sit through, but fortunately for most of the time, there is always something going on.

The effects and overall look of the film is so 80's and low budgeted and nostalgic and it really makes to miss those golden days when these were made. Nasty slashers, stupid Conan rip offs, alien clones etc. Those were the legendary days that produced us these gems, that we can now track down and enjoy. The Deadly Spawn is recommended HIGHLY for all fans of marginal cinema and especially monster cinema, because these babies are something new! They bite in a way that no other monster has ever bitten before! They appear also in a form of slithery worms, and it only raises the puke-o-meter and fun-o-meter, but only for those who understand these rare pieces of gold. Others will only feel sick watching these!

This film earns at least 7 ultra gory stars out of ten, and these films will NEVER die, no matter how many stupid mainstream efforts or "modern horror films" are made!