Blu-ray Review: Spontaneous Combustion (1990)

Sam (Brad Dourif playing the role to the hilt…as usual) is just you normal, average, every-man type; the kind of guy who’s parents volunteered to be test subjects in nuclear experiments as they conceived him and then self immolated right after he was born…and who is now manifesting the power of psychokinesis; an ability to create and control fire (with a side order of electric discharge) whenever he gets pissed off…which is often. Besides having super powers; Sam is rapidly falling apart, as every use of his powers results in blood spurting fissures to appear on his body that subsequently start blastin’ forth massive amounts of freaky fire. Add to that a bitchy ex-wife, and a new girlfriend (Cynthia Bain) who may not be all she appears to be…not to mention a shady government organization, and you have a ticking time bomb on two legs!
Following hot on the heels from legendary director Tobe Hooper’s (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Poltergeist) stint at the infamous Cannon Films (where he made some of my favs including Lifeforce, Invaders From Mars, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2)…well, after a short stint directing episodes of various genre TV shows…Spontaneous Combustion was the flick that brought him back to the silver screen…and it’s a doozy! Where else can you get Shakespearean recitations, psychokinesis, giant neon telephones, radio psychics, John Landis eating a Twinkie  and belching fire, blood spurtin’ gore and charred bodies, all in the same fright flick? Equally as unique are some of the ways the story is presented including fake newsreels and faux home movie style footage…it creates a wonderful sense of world building and adds to the fun of a flick that is equal parts comic book cool and 50′ science run amok sci-fi!
The only negative with this Blu-ray release from MVD Entertainment is that it contains absolutely zero special features. A film as off-the-rails insane and one-of-a-kind as Spontaneous Combustion deserves the deluxe special edition treatment in the not so humble opinion of your’s cruelly.
If you are looking for a great throwback to ’50’s drive-in fare, but with a “modern” twist including impressive opticals and gore; Spontaneous Combustion is the flick for you…and just be sure to ignore all those misguided fools out there that claim this isn’t a great film in Hooper’s filmography…c’mon; who are ya gonna trust, those folks, or Mister Horror Biz Daniel XIII? Don’t answer that…just watch this flick, ‘kay?