Spawn trailer (dir: Mark A. Z. Dippé, 1997) Video

The premise of the movie is similar to the initial storyline of the original comics. Al Simmons, a military soldier/assassin, has been betrayed by a covert government agency head named Jason Wynn. Wynn orders his top assassin, Jessica Priest, to assassinate him. After Simmons dies, he is immediately transported to Hell, where Malebolgia, The Devil of the various realms, offers him a Faustian deal. If Simmons becomes his eternal servant and leader of his army in Armageddon, he will be able to return to Gazer to see his beloved fiancee, Wanda Blake. Simmons accepts the offer and is transformed into a Hellspawn, which is a servant of Malebolgia in a necroplasm suit that is not only a living, breathing creature, but is also his only protection in the world.

Once he returns to the land of the living, Simmons learns that five years had passed. Wanda is now remarried to his best friend Terry and living the life he had always longed for, including the daughter he never knew, Cyan. Along his journey in this new life, he encounters a strange clown-like demon called Violator, who acts as a guide to put "Crispy" (as Violator calls Spawn) on the path to evil, and a mysterious old man named Cogliostro, who, as a fellow Hellspawn, teaches Al how to control his energy, which is very sparse. Jason Wynn is now a high-class weapons dealer rather than a government bureaucrat. He is also the ultimate target of the Spawn.

After Spawn killed Jessica Priest, Clown told Jason Wynn to go under a surgery where a device that will be attached to Wynn's heart will trigger the worldwide release of a deadly virus, should his heart stop beating. Spawn confronts Clown (who turns into Violator) and ends up battling him where he loses. Cogliostro manages to help him recover. Spawn learns that Clown and Jason are heading over to Terry's house.

Meanwhile, Terry has just finished an online communication with a fellow newsman that he has sent evidence that will expose Jason Wynn. After the transmission, Cyan enters the room with Jason right behind her. He destroys his computer and holds the family hostage as Clown arrives. When Spawn arrives, he ends up in a fight with Jason Wynn. Spawn doesn't realize that by killing Jason, he will activate the signal that will launch Armageddon. After not killing Wynn and extracting the device, a final battle ensues between Spawn and a transformed Violator, ending with the villain going back to Hell and his reputation is ruined. Spawn's identity is now known to Terry, Wanda, and Cyan. Jason Wynn ends up arrested, and Spawn dedicates himself to justice rather than vengeance. (Wikipedia)