Spontaneous Combustion (film)

Spontaneous Combustion is a 1990 American science fiction horror film directed by Tobe Hooper. It was written by Tobe Hooper and Howard Goldberg, based on a story by Hooper, and is a co-production between Henry Bushkin, Sanford Hampton, Jerrold W. Lambert, Jim Rogers and Arthur M. Sarkissian.

It was nominated for best film in the 1991 Fantasporto International Fantasy Film Awards.

Plot
Sam learns that his parents were part of an atomic bomb experiment. As an adult, Sam discovers he has the power of pyrokinesis. He is able to control fire and electricity, but with terrible consequences to his body afterwards.

Cast

 * Brad Dourif as Sam Kramer/David Bell
 * Cynthia Bain as Lisa Wilcox
 * Jon Cypher as Dr. Marsh
 * William Prince as Lew Orlander
 * Melinda Dillon as Nina
 * Dey Young as Rachel
 * Stacy Edwards as Peggy Bell
 * Brian Bremer as Brian Bell
 * Barbara Leary as Amy Whitaker
 * Michael Keys Hall as Dr. Cagney
 * Joe Mays as Dr. Persons
 * John Landis as Radio Technician
 * André de Toth as Vandenmeer (uncredited)
 * Mark Roberts as Dr. Simpson
 * Dick Warlock as Mr. Fitzpatrick
 * Paul Barresi as hospital security Guard
 * Tegan West as Springer

Production
Spontaneus Combustion was produced by Henry Bushkin, a former manager and partner of Johnny Carson.

Critical reception
Spin magazine, while writing, "no one makes bad movies as deliriously entertaining as Tobe Hooper, whose career continues its spectacular downward slide with Spontaneous Combustion", gave the film an overall favorable review. John Kenneth Muir, in his book Horror Films of the 1980s, wrote, "Spontaneous Combustion commences on a high note of creativity and wit, but then promptly goes down in flames." Writing for DVD Talk, critic Kurt Dahlke described the film as "a weird bit of burn injury pornography (so to speak) that otherwise comes off as an oddball Cable TV drama," noting a "lack of attachment to the characters, little in the way of dynamic tension, a needless and off-putting cameo by director John Landis [...] Spontaneous Combustion is, to put it mildly, painfully stupid." Critic Loron Hays wrote in movie review site Reel Reviews that the film's story "is all Hooper. So, too, are the faults in the film," and noted that Dourif's performance was "unhinged" and "watching Dourif completely spiral out of control as he flexes power over electricity is one enjoyment of the film." Writing in RogerEbert.com, Simon Abrams described Dourif's performance as "unhinged in a way that makes this otherwise stillborn 1990 post-atomic-age creature feature fitfully compelling."