Last December I spotted some cheap themed DVD sets in a local shop, three for a fiver, you know the sort of thing. Among the dross were a couple of packs that could loosely be described as Science Fiction [one of my favourite genres] so I picked up two different packs, split them down, wrapped them up and passed them onto the other half to give to the children to give me as Christmas presents as they are still too young to buy presents on their own. This is the third one I've watched and it is considerably better than the others; it has a story of sorts and the special effects are awful but the acting is considerably better. The music is quite ethereal and, overall, it has quite the feel of a 1950s 'B' Movie which, I have to say, would be a lot more endearing had it been made in the 1950s instead of the 1990... The star, Brad Dourif, has one of those faces that you just KNOW you know but can't quite remember from where. I popped over to imbd.com [a good friend of mine for over 12 years now] to discover he was in, among other things, 'One Flew Over The Cukockoo's Nest' and 'Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones' [Both Great Films]. John Cypher (of 'Hill Street Blues' fame) is another familiar face who turns in a credible performance. Anyway Sam [who we later learn was born David] was the unexpected child of a young couple who were themselves two unknowing pawns in a secret Miitary plot to use the radioactive power of the bomb to create the ultimate killing machine. All his life Sam / David has been guided by his creepy invalid 'grandfather' a wheelchair bound terminally ill cripple never more than a few inches away from oxygen cylinders, plasma drips, surgical tubing and face masks. David / Sam who grew up completely unaware of his sinister past and his equally dangerous present becomes aware of the unique circumstances of his conception and birth. Realising his life has been controlled from day one [by the 'grandfather', his doctors and the military who lurk, silently, in the background] he decides to use his terrible powers to, to, to... Well I was going to say 'to put things right' or 'to settle old scores' but, to be honest 'because he can' seems a far more accurate description of what happens in the final 20 minutes. Mini bolts of lightning spark off in all directions, streams of blood spurt out of limbs like a bad episode of 'Monty Python' and there are more burning bodies than an International Gathering of the Klu Klan Klan in Darkest Brixton. Oh, and there is a tiny little twist in the end when we discover the shockimg truth about his girlfriend, his former girlfriend and his grandfather who all... Nope! If you want to find out what happens you will have to watch it for yourself! So, that was 'Spontaneous Combustion'. Not a Great film. Not an Excellent film. Not even a Good film. But just, as I have rated it, an Average film. And I think I might even have been a little bit generous there. To be honest, I think the audience for this film is most likely to be young males aged somewhere between 12 and 20 who are looking to have a 'lads' night in' and want a simple source of entertainment where the brain can be checked at the door. Is it worth watching? Yes [at a pinch]. Is it worth GOING to watch? No [unless you were going there anyway]. Enjoy! Or not, as the case may be... Regards tbodRead full review
I decided to buy this DVD because i have been trying to buy it for years but none of the shops where i live stock this film. I searched for it on Ebay and was amazed that i could now buy it after all thease years, and i am very pleased with it on DVD as last time i watched it was when VHS were top of the range.
I feel that I had seen this film before. it had been many years ago. I felt that the film was sad about a grown up son who had lost his parents due to spontaneous combustion, only to find that he had the same deadly curse. It's a good film.
Well worth the 99p i paid for it ! Not a bad story line or movie but effects are very low budget and the cast.....nope, can't even remember whos in it, some D list actors i think. Get it, watch it but don't pay more than a couple of quid for it
Very good
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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