Rating: 
Summary: Deadly Spawn rises above its low-budget origins...
Review: The Deadly Spawn (1983) is a fine example of low budget horror filmaking that is very consistent with other cult horror films of its era like The Evil Dead. The Deadly Spawn also has the dubious distinction of being one of the only truly good, gory alien films. Similar films like the atrociously dull Nightbeast just don't measure up.
The film opens with two campers witnessing a meteorite crash in the countryside. Unbeknownst to them, the fallen piece of space debris houses a race of incredibly hungry and carnivorous tadpole-like creatures that grow at an alarming rate. The creatures quickly dispatch the campers and find refuge in the basement of an isolated home. A young boy, a huge fan of monster films, runs afoul of the beasts in his basement and their nefarious plan for world domination.
The film features the usual b-movie level performances, no academy award winners here that's for sure!! What this film does have going for it is a tremendous sense of fun and the filmakers' genuine affection for the genre which shines through with every gory murder. Speaking of which, the effects are quite incredible for a film of such budgetary constraints. The monsters are also very nicely done, looking like a cross between the killer plant of Little Shop Of Horrors and the giant worms of Tremors.
Synapse has done an outstanding job on this DVD. The transfer is quite attractive in terms of both audio and video, especially when considering that this film is over twenty years old and relatively obscure. The cover art by Wes Benscoter is breathtaking and effectively captures the spirit of the movie.
Where the DVD really shines is with the wealth of extras provided, this is absolutely the comprehensive package for fans of this rare and overlooked gem: two audio commentaries, still galleries, a comic book style prequel with original music, theatrical trailer, alternate opening sequence, animated menus, outtake reels, cast and crew biographies. It also includes a wonderful behind the scenes look at the special effects.
The Deadly Spawn is an obscure sci-fi/horror gem that benefits from its over the top gore and tongue in cheek sense of style, it should be seen by all genre fans and devotees of low-budget film. Synapse has pulled out all the stops on this DVD and made this a worthwhile and affordable investment.
Rating:
Summary: What a great movie!
Review: Although the low budget occasionally shows, this is a really fun film. The people who made it obviously love monster movies. The aliens arrive and they are hungry! Beheadings, dismemberments, and lots and lots of teeth. This movie may also feature the only cool "kid" character ever to appear in a horror film.
In my opinion this film should be shown in a double feature with the original Evil Dead. Can't wait for the DVD!
Rating: 
Summary: From the Spawns' mouth
Review: As someone who worked as a puppeteer on this film, I can tell y'all it was made on a shoestring, but with lots of heart by a bunch of horror fans who were just doing it for love of the craft. Many of these folks are now professionals, and many of us ... well, aren't :). But we all have affection for our time spent on this project - even if it was spent getting Karo blood dripped on me out of a honey bear while lying under a false floor in John Dodd's basement.DVD is coming soon.
Rating:
Summary: Big Mouths Full Of Big Teeth!
Review: Charles is a young, monster obsessed boy. He's always getting flack from his older, hyper-logical brother, Peter, who thinks he's God's gift to science. Charles is far too imaginative for his brother's taste. Well, luckily for Charles, a meteor has crashed nearby, releasing a hideous creature that lives only to eat human flesh and to reproduce! Charles is unaware that the thing has already devoured his mum and dad, his uncle, and a poor, unwary electrician. Charles has no idea that the beast has set up shop in the basement, sending hundreds of tiny, tadpole-like offspring throughout the whole house! THE DEADLY SPAWN is a good, low-budget, ultra-gory slime fest for the true monster fanatic. I loved every blood-drenched minute! I'm not a gorehound, but I do enjoy decent tales of terror, bloody or not. Check it out, but watch out for the face-ripping scene! Yikes! ...
Rating:
Summary: not bad at all..
Review: I am not sure what it is about this movie that sticks but along with basketcase, it holds a special place in my heart. Lets get a few things out of the way. The acting is weak. This is pretty apparent after the opening scene. The score (ha!) also gets a little annoying after a while. Especially the stuff that gets played every time we see the aliens. As well, the old town getting invaded by aliens theme is rehashed here. Still, the film delivers at times. In particular, there is a grusome looking 'mother' alien who resides in a dark, dungy basement. The effects on this creature are really good. In one scene when a character comes face to face with the creature, you almost feel his terror (if not for that dam music...). The creature belches out its unholy growl and for a fleeting moment, you almost feel like your watching a film far more stylistic than it is. Then of course it moves and somehow starts climbing up the stairs and you wonder how it is accomplishing this with no legs and dam the logistics! a moment lost. Worth a rental.
Rating: 
Summary: The deadly spawn.
Review: I have to agree with what another reviewer wrote about this film that it rises above its low budget origins, the special effects are what made this film even better. When I saw that this film was being rereleased on dvd I just had to order it as soon as posible, it seems that the film makers try their best to make a pretty gory and disgusting horror film which is realy great despite the very low budget. The image quality is realy clear and some dark scenes at the basement are visible and not to dark, the scene where the kid watches his mother's decapitated head being eaten by the small aliens is priceless and is my favorite scene in the film, his reaction is very wierd he realy is a bad actor lol. The older brother doesn't seem to beleive what is going on as the big alien is devouring alot of people that enter the house including his uncle who is spending the weekend there. there are alot of gory scenes in this film including face ripping and very nice decapitations and eyes are ripped out of their sockets and the big alien which is the star of this film seems to be very impresive with its huge jawline and nasty looking teeth and it looks like it might have come out of someones worst nightmare, overall I think the film was great and it would appeal to fans of low budget horror films and I definently think that it beats alot of these modern horror films that are being made today.
Rating:
Summary: okay ,but a little dissapointing
Review: I saw this in fangoria magazine,it was the dvd of the month.so what the hell, i bought it.for me ,it just wasnt campy or flat out scary enough,it feels like one of those bad creature features that play on the t.v. in slightly better flicks.The box art is cool,the extras are amazing and entertained me more than the flick did. only serious "z grade" movie gore hounds should buy.
Rating:
Summary: the spawn
Review: I saw this movie when I was like eight, and it made me laugh so hard that I cried. This is one of the movies that any horror/sci-fi collection would not be complete without. This is the campy fun that gets aired at two in the morning. Fans of the genre really should check this film out, they won't be dissapointed, no Oscar material here but then who cares, it is 100% fun.
Rating:
Summary: Hungry Aliens in the Basement
Review: It is so wonderful that this classic B-film is available in a clear DVD (my old VHS is really showing age). The DVD even comes packed with plenty of extras which include quite a few picture galleries, a comic-book style prequel, audition footage where you not only see people who didn't make it into the film, but you see cast members trying out for different rolls, even an alternate opening. But best of all is the wonderfully clear print of the film.
A meteor crashes near a pair of really bad actors camping in the woods. They investigate and are quickly made into alien chow before the opening credits. The beastie then moves to the basement of a nearby house. Torrential rain may have been a coincidence during filming, but it added nicely. The houses inhabitants include a family of four and a visiting aunt and uncle. The parents try to set out early on a trip. The key people are really the kids. The older science and fact oriented brother, and the younger, monster-obsessed brother. One denies the existence of monsters and aliens even when experienced first hand while the other never believed they could be real but is well equipped for understanding the situation.
But the monster in the basement is not all (and no it doesn't stay down there). The creature is spawning and countless smaller aliens begin to infiltrate the house and the neighborhood looking for treats to eat. Eventually the locals and authorities get involved and work to wipe out the threat (sort of like in the end of Night of the Living Dead). But the ending is one that is unexpected unless you have gone through the extras before watching the film.
Pure grade-B fun with an interesting cast, some fun moments, plenty of obviously-fake gore. All in all it makes for a nicely rewatchable monster film.
Rating:
Summary: GORY, FUN 80's MONSTER MASH!
Review: THE DEADLY SPAWN is one of those films which has not been re-released (in America) on DVD and is quite elusive. It is a fun movie, good Saturday afternoon stuff like when i was a kid, but w/ more gore + blood. The monsters are very cool looking, and the movie is just a blast. nothing mind-blowing, but if you're looking for nothing more than alien monsters mindlessly munching on whatever they can sink their teeth into on a shoe-string budget, then this one's for you! I was very pleased with this after a long search.
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