The Deadly Spawn (1983)
Genre: Scifi / Horror
Duration: 81 minuten
Alternative title: Return of the Aliens: The Deadly Spawn
Country:
United States
Directed by: Douglas McKeown
Stars: Elissa Neil and John Schmerling
IMDb score:
5,9 (5.878)
Releasedate: 22 April 1983
This movie is not available on US streaming services.
The Deadly Spawn plot
"They came to Earth to feed on human flesh!"
A meteorite crashes into Earth, bringing with it a voracious life form. This one is hiding in the dark basement of an unsuspecting family. Slowly but surely the family members are all victims of this wolverine and his hungry offspring. Only ten-year-old Charles seems to know how to defeat the monsters.
Actors and actresses
Charles
Pete
Frankie
Ellen
Kathy
Barb
Aunt Millie
Uncle Herb
Bunny
Reviews & comments
Chainsaw
-
- 8845 messages
- 3576 votes
Sometimes you wonder if there is anything more beautiful in this world than a true, cheesy 80s horror B-movie. Most of the time. But sometimes you come across a movie like The Deadly Spawn. Because what could be more delicious than an oversized three-headed Critter with a row of about four razor-sharp teeth in each mouth, which takes great pleasure in biting into the papier-mâché heads filled with red syrup. The ultimate monster for the ultimate monster movie.
After the typical monster movie opening scene, we end up in a typical monster movie location; a large, old house in the countryside. With such a dark, dirty and damp basement, where our title hero and her offspring wait patiently for lunch to come downstairs. And the rest of The Deadly Spawn also goes according to the usual book, but fortunately the entertainment value remains very high. It is noticeable that the makers take a lot of time for certain scenes, often more than necessary. But the entertaining way in which each scene is played out and our alien friend shows his teeth makes up for a lot. Just take the very fitting and beautifully executed final scene of the film, it is one to be remembered. But the entire film actually deserves a list.
4 stars.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Shadowed
-
- 11421 messages
- 6719 votes
Very dull.
The Deadly Spawn? Previously The Missed Chance. This movie could have been so much fun and then not a single opportunity is taken by the makers. In principle, the design for some camp is completely correct. Nice poster, funny aliens, an extremely simple story and few boundaries. It could easily have been a hit.
It just isn't that. The aliens look nice, but once they come into view they look a lot more ridiculous. Yet it is from these creatures that the film can still carry some form of charm, because how they move is otherwise quite ridiculous. It is mainly the look. It's a shame that we see them half the time in some pitch-black sewer.
The acting is poor and there is always something to complain about in terms of quality. Yet ultimately it is how seriously the film takes itself that completely destroys all the fun. No fun to be found anywhere, because the film just goes on and on. There is hardly any room to actually like it, because by the time the film can really start, the credits are rolling across the screen. Literally then. Once the giant finally floats to the surface, the film cuts to the end credits.
The score could have ended a bit higher, but that opportunity was missed due to a rather boring final with an unsatisfactory match. I actually can't see the wrongness of it, for me it's just another variation on trash that thinks itself all too special. There is hardly any comedy to be found, but the other elements just don't work either. I really don't see why I should rate it higher.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Bobbejaantje
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- 2301 messages
- 2092 votes
A low budget cult horror movie that really entertained me. The production did not run smoothly because there were tensions between director Douglas McKeown on the one hand, and producer Ted A. Bohus and special effects man John Dods on the other. In any case, McKeown did a great job with the resources he had available. John Dods, in turn, has provided an excellent monster (reminiscent of A Little Shop of Horrors) and some visually beautiful scenes, although the pace/time framing is not always right. But fortunately Dods' tinkering after the director's dismissal does not detract from the viewing pleasure. The production is certainly helped by good acting performances, with a truly great performance from the young Charles Hildebrant. It is a film with a nice narrative (sometimes a bit hazy due to the confused production), good dialogues, nice settings, gore and a top monster. The scene with the vegetarian lunch is truly unforgettable and hilarious.
A film that is certainly not perfect, but it does not detract one bit from the viewing pleasure, which for me always weighs heavily in a review.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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