We're doomed, we're all doomed I tell you…DOOMED! A familiar “calling card from outer space” crashes into a hillside in a sleepy town in this fun [cartoonish] return to the sci-fi horror glory days of the 50’s with a smattering of the 80’s; meaning we have gore baby with tongue planted firmly in cheek. Sadly this is the one and only film written and directed by Douglas McKeown, with friends for [one time] actors, “The Deadly Spawn” is very much along the lines of low budget delights like “The Evil Dead” minus the camera tricks of Sam Raimi.

Excuse the micro budget, bust out the popcorn and enjoy as a multi-headed mega-toothed alien quickly takes up residence in the moist basement of a promising young horror fan named Sam on a stormy day. Then faster than you can say “it’s a matter of splatter” our ridiculous but lovable big multi-headed mega-toothed alien begins unleashing gore drenched havoc by hungrily chomping on everyone that makes there way down to the cellar. [Whoa! Gnarly dude, it ate her face off.] But that’s not all, oh no-no-no, hundreds of little rapidly growing slug like spawn are hatching and doing their fare share of latex gore guzzling as well.

Shot on 16 mm, my guess is all the budget went to the creature f/x and juicy gore. Who needs proper acting when you have a bare bones script and this kind of cheap right to the point 80’s splatter fun? So watch in terror and laugh with horror as an electrician is chewed to chunks, a ladies pot luck luncheon is turned into a bloody buffet, [spawn salad anyone?], and 3 teenagers afternoon study plans are turned into a lesson of survival. All hope looks to be lost unless the promising young horror fan named Sam, the only thinking one in the bunch, can save the day; and all of mankind. Yes my fellow horror hounds, this one’s a hoot, make that a very bloody hoot. Pair this one with “Slugs: The Movie” ’87 and you’ll be having one hell of a splatter-rific time.

My first encounter with this one was on Continental Video as “The Return of the Aliens: The Deadly Spawn” and being a long time fan I was elated when Synapse gave this a much deserved rebirth on DVD.
Synapse put a lot of love into this one. Presented 1.33:1 [full frame] the print is expectedly bit grainy but otherwise a clean looking transfer. Colors are bold and bright, I can find nothing to complain about here.

The fine folks at Synapse put a lot of love into this one with an invasion of Xtras:
Theatrical Trailer with the video title “Return of the Aliens: The Deadly Spawn”;
A Blooper & Outtake Reel with no audio;
Photo Gallery that includes Advertising & Promo, Behind the Scenes, Cast Photos, Original Concept Art, Publicity Photos;
15 Page on screen Comic Prequel;
Extensive Filmmaker’s Biographies;
Alternate Opening Sequence;
A visit with The Deadly Spawn 1982 video;
And final Audition Tapes;

All well worth the price of admission. Now if you’ll excuse me I’m on the hunt for the 1 sheet.