Starring Michael Jai White, John Leguizamo, Theresa Randle, D.B. Sweeney and Martin Sheen. Directed by Mark A.Z. Dippe. Written by Alan McElroy. Produced by Clint Goldman. A New Line release. SF/action. Rated PG-13 for thematic elements involving the demonic underworld, violence, intense fantasy action and crude humor. Running time: 95 min.

The movie tells the story of Spawn's origins. He starts as a hire assassin named Al Simmons (Michael Jai White) who is working for an evil government agent (Martin Sheen), who in turn is secretly plotting to take over the planet through terrorism, just like all such insane villains. The twist here is that his own assassin, once he is deep fried into a crispy critter in a double cross, comes back to haunt Sheen five years later as the agent of the Devil, now named Spawn. The double twist is that Spawn is still in love with his wife (Theresa Randle) and seeks revenge over losing her. The triple twist is that he careens from being Satan's soldier to fighting for the forces of good, all the while trying to navigate a moral high ground for his uneasy future.