Spawn (M) PRESENTED IN 35MM FILM

Spawn (M, 1997) Presented in 35mm Film by The Revival House Perth

Al Simmons (Michael Jai White) is an elite government assassin betrayed and murdered by his own commanding officer, Jason Wynn (Martin Sheen), who fears Simmons has become a liability. Simmons is sent to Hell, where the demon Malebolgia offers him a devil's bargain: return to Earth with immense power as a hellspawn general, in exchange for eventually leading Hell's army in the apocalypse. Simmons accepts, desperate to reunite with his wife, but returns five years later horrifically scarred and transformed, wielding a living necroplasmic suit granting him supernatural abilities. Guided reluctantly by the cynical Clown (John Leguizamo), a demonic trickster with his own agenda, Simmons must navigate his new existence as Spawn, confronting Wynn's ongoing schemes, the manipulations of Hell itself, and his own rage and grief, all while deciding whether to embrace the darkness he's been given or fight against the fate designed for him.

Director Mark A.Z. Dippé adapts Todd McFarlane's iconic comic book with ambitious visual effects that pushed the boundaries of late-90s CGI, creating a distinctly dark and gothic take on the superhero genre. Michael Jai White brings physical intensity to the title role, portraying Simmons's transformation from soldier to tormented antihero with committed physicality beneath extensive prosthetic makeup. John Leguizamo, unrecognizable under heavy effects makeup, delivers a gleefully unhinged performance as the Clown, injecting dark comedy into the film's otherwise brooding atmosphere. The film's production design renders Hell and its underworld politics with striking visual imagination, while its groundbreaking effects work—despite technical limitations of the era—created some of the most ambitious creature and environment work attempted for a comic book adaptation at the time. Spawn remains a distinctive entry in superhero cinema, embracing genuine horror elements and moral ambiguity rarely seen in the genre.

Original format and audio experience of this film faithfully reproduced by The Revival House. Presented in 35mm film unless noted otherwise.

When: Friday, August 28th at 7:20PM
Where: The Revival House at the Como Theatre
Rating: M (Low level violence)