Disc Reviews
Spawn 4K Review
Span was one of many comic book movie adaptations that flowed into the 90s. Some came to us via longevity of life (Batman), some tried to reintroduce forgotten material (The Rocketeer, The Shadow), and then there were more modern adaptations (Tank Girl), which includes this very film. Spawn dared, tried, delivered, and ultimately failed at the box office, and yet down the years garnered that holy crown that all low to mid-budget films crave after the limelight has faded: Cultdome.
Michael Jai White never quite made it to the mainstream as a lead actor, but has attained a cult of his own. He has managed to gain leads in oddities like Spawn and also blaxploitation spoof Black Dynamite. He has also gained a respectable reputation as a bad ass martial arts star to date, and even at the age he is at now, he is still breaking bones on camera and looking the part. He’s done this as the good and the bad guy and can carry the weight of either with a serious look or with a wink in his eye. White today has an indelible charisma about him, which he also seems to carry off camera when being interviewed. He has much to say about the work he has put in and about the people he has worked wit,h and he does it with extreme dignity (unlike so many others who spoil their reputations). But Spawn is very much in White’s early trajectory and he has a lot of make-up to act through, so Spawn isn’t the best example of his work as an actor, but it’s still a staple of cultdom that White has helped bring to life.
The film today still has some strong aspects to it/ There is a game cast, the most notable (yet unrecognisable) is John Leguizamo’s Clown. The action is overboard, the soundtrack kicks ass and it doesn’t outstay its welcome.
The extras speak loud –
There are some archival carry-overs from previous releases, including filmmaker commentary. Arrow have added a critic commentary to fatten it up. Michael Jai White shows up for a new interview, as do Melinda Clarke and D.B. Sweeney. Also of note is a new interview with Howard Berger and Greg Nicotero to talk about the FX word done on the film.
Spawn was one of the select few films in the ’90s that promoted song soundtracks that turned out to be popular, so it’s also nice to have the music supervisor show up for a new chat. There is also an interview with the film’s editor.
The first disc hosts all of these extras along with the director’s cut of the film. Disc 2 hosts the theatrical cut of the film. Both have been given the 4K treatment and DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround sound.
The question then remains: Why haven’t we had Spawn back on the big screen yet.
Only a matter of time.
Steven Hurst
4K ULTRA HD LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS
• 4K restorations of both the Director’s Cut and Theatrical Cut of the film from the original camera negatives by Arrow Films
• Reversible sleeve featuring two original artwork options
• Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by John Torrani
• Double-sided foldout poster featuring two original artwork options
DISC 1 – DIRECTOR’S CUT
• 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Original DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround audio and lossless stereo audio options
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Brand new audio commentary with comic book expert and podcast host Dave Baxter
• Audio commentary with Todd McFarlane, Mark A.Z. Dippé, Clint Goldman, and Steve Williams (1998)
• Hell’s Perfect Son, a brand new interview with actor Michael Jai White
• Spawn Support, a brand new interview with actors Melinda Clarke and D.B. Sweeney
• The Devil’s in the Details, a brand new interview with animatronic creature and special makeup effects artists Howard Berger and Greg Nicotero
• The Devil’s Music, a brand new interview with music supervisor Happy Walters
• Order Out of Chaos, a brand new interview with editor Michael Knue
• Todd McFarlane: Chapter & Verse, an archival featurette from 1998 in which Spawn creator Todd McFarlane reflects on how the film adaptation stacks up against his original comic book vision
• The Making of Spawn, archival behind-the-scenes featurette
• Preview: Todd McFarlane’s Spawn – The Animated Movie
• Theatrical trailer
• Scene-to-storyboard comparisons
• Original Todd McFarlane sketches
• Spawn concept and sketch gallery
DISC 2 – THEATRICAL CUT
• 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Original DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround audio and lossless stereo audio options
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
Spawn is out on 4K Blu-Ray on October 6th.