Sparks

2014

Sparks

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

Sparks Photos

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Movie Info

SPARKS is based on the independently released graphic novel series and has been adapted for the big screen by the series creator, Christopher Folino. The feature film version brings together two of Hollywood's rising stars Chase Williamson (John Dies At The End) and Ashley Bell (The Last Exorcism) who are supported by award winning actors Clancy Brown (Highlander, The Shawshank Redemption), Clint Howard (How the Grinch Stole Christmas), Jake Busey (Starship Troopers) and William Katt (Carrie, The Greatest American Hero). High Action Excitement -- Washington Times Outstanding Super Hero Thriller ***** - Examiner.com The city faces a deadly killer. He goes by many names, has many faces... all of them deadly. Is he Kevin Sherwood? Is He Ring Master Jesus. Is he The Matanza Killer? Ian Sparks will learn. Fighting crime became a mission for Sparks when he lost his parents in a fireball car crash. Burning with desire for revenge, he finds himself in the belly of the beast, where havoc is wreaked for profit and life is cheap. Joining a handful of super heroes operating in the shadows, what they have in common is greater than Sparks can imagine; but the cost of finding the killer and uncovering the truth may be more than he can afford. (C) Official Site

Rating:

NR
Genre:

Action & Adventure, Drama, Mystery & Suspense
Directed By:

Todd Burrows, Christopher Folino
Written By:

Christopher Folino
In Theaters:

Mar 1, 2014 limited
On Disc/Streaming:

Mar 17, 2014
Runtime:

90 minutes

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Cast

Chase Williamson
as Ian Sparks

Ashley Bell
as Lady Heavenly

Clancy Brown
as Archer

Jake Busey
as Sledge

William Katt
as Matanza

Clint Howard

Critic Reviews for Sparks

All Critics (6) | Top Critics (2)

Busks its 1940s saga of dark redemption with considerable visual energy, if not always coherence or competence.

Mar 13, 2014 | Full Review…

Robert Abele
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic
Here's a hearty keep-at-it award for Christopher Folino and Todd Burrows, directors of this restless, reckless superhero crime curio ...

Mar 11, 2014 | Full Review…

Alan Scherstuhl
Village Voice
Top Critic
With a well-delivered, intriguing story combined with multi-layered characters and a tone that makes Gotham City's gargoyles look like singing angels, Sparks is the superhero genre's dirty little secret.

Apr 12, 2018 | Rating: 8/10 | Full Review…

Andrew Pollard
Starburst
This film is far better than it has any right to be.

Jul 18, 2014 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Doug Brunell
Film Threat
Sparks shows plenty of cinematic muscle. It deserves a place among the legion of superhero movies.

Mar 13, 2014 | Rating: B | Full Review…

Rick Bentley
Fresno Bee
A very original and unique indie and spin on the superhero film...

Feb 20, 2014 | Full Review…

Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed

View All Critic Reviews (6)

Audience Reviews for Sparks

Apr 11, 2014

Awful! A dreadful pile of rubbish. The people responsible for this have been doing all they can to publish false good reviews on sites such as IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes.

Stuart B Super Reviewer
Apr 10, 2014

This old fashioned classic pulp action super hero movie was directed by Todd Burrows and Christopher Folino and they leave no stone unturned in their ode to classic forties comic books. We have characters that smoke big time, masked heroes that used their fists and fell for dames while fighting crime, hard boiled cops, and the like! Well, it was entertaining but flawed as well. The cast is the strongest part of the movie, especially Chase Williamson who gives a very strong performance as Ian Sparks, a young boy who lost his parents to a car wreck that occurred during a high speed getaway by some criminals. The story explains us that during the crash, a top secret chemical named "Red G" doused Ian, allowing him to live, and gave him remarkable powers of regeneration and near immortality. When we are mentioning a brilliant performances we cannot forget Lady Heavenly. Played by Ashley Bell of "The Last Exorcism". She managed to embody the role of Lady Heavenly while providing a very empathetic and charming portrayal as a heroine torn between her duties and her love for Sparks. The mystery and most of the twists very difficult to follow, and probably you will have a tough time figuring out most of what was happening, until the finale. It wasn't a bad watch, especially since it garners a great supporting performance from Clancy Brown. "Sparks" is a very original and unique spin on the superhero film, and I highly suggest it for fans of figures like "The Spirit," and "Green Hornet."

Panta O Super Reviewer
Mar 20, 2014

Cashing in on the boom in superhero films is this ... what is it? A Sin City knockoff? Most probably, with a heavy nod to the film noir of the late 1940's/early 1950's, only w/o a connection to any of that. It's like kids dressing up as Mommy and Daddy. One of those films of which description begins with the words: "its sooooo bad that ..."? Yes, all of that.

Kevin M. W Super Reviewer