David Cronenberg has long been considered one of the true great masters of horror. While other Directors preoccupied themselves with the horror that comes from the outside world, he was the first to focus on the horror that comes from within. In his early years, he played dual roles as both Writer and Director. While 2 of his most commercially successful films ("The Dead Zone") and ("The Fly") were films based on stories written by others, he wrote a few truly amazing films of his own. "The Brood" was his 3rd installment and by far his best. I believe it is one of the greatest and truly most shocking- yet intelligent- films of this genre.
A beautiful, (though totally insane) woman named Nola (Samantha Eggar), is institutionalized in a mental hospital for the child abuse of her daughter Candy. This subject was nothing new to Nola for she herself was a victim years earlier, (abused by her dysfunctional mother). Her daughter Candice now lives within the custody of her husband Frank (Art Hindle). Candy is allowed to visit her mother on weekends at the hospital by court order. That quickly changes though when her father discovers wounds on his daughter's back after her returns. He wants answers, and that is where we start our wild journey.
It appears that this hospital has a new experimental therapy by a modern day "mad doctor" named Ragland (Oliver Reed) It's called "Psychoplasmics". It allows patients to externalize the manifestations of their inner rage, often resulting in welts on their skin. The theory is the welts will heal, and the inner rage eliminated. Problem is, Nola has responded so well to this therapy that it takes our viewing horror to a whole new level.
As the story goes along, Cronenberg splits narratives between Nola's therapy sessions with Dr. Ragland at the hospital, and her husband and Candy's personal life on the outside. Frank sees a lawyer, wanting full custody of Candy because he believes those wounds to his daughter's back are further signs of Nola's abuse. It turns out they're not, and our story strings us along as we witness a number of strange incidents about to take place.
There are a series of brutal murders which occur in this film beyond the understanding of all the characters. It seems they are carried out by deformed children against people with ties to Nola. Her abusive mother, her father who she feels never provided her protection, and a school teacher who she believes her husband is having an affair with.
Pretty soon, we connect the dots to find that Nola has perfected this new therapy so well, she actually gives birth to a brood of children who act out based on her inner rage, and without her knowledge. After the 3rd murder, her daughter is taken hostage by two of Nola's "brood" and is brought back to the hospital. It's up to her husband Frank to figure out this mystery and get his child back.
To kill Nola's brood means killing Nola. Frank does, and gets back his daughter back. Candy is safe for now, but forever traumatized, and in the closing shots, we see bumps and welts on Candy's young body which implies that Candy too will eventually have a brood of her own. Thus, the cycle of child abuse continues.
The film has shocking scenes. The murders are graphic in nature and during the finale, there is a legendary scene that is easily the most shocking scene in the history of horror films.
The acting by two of the leads is excellent. Eggar is mesmerizing as the insane mother from hell, all the more effective by her contrasting beauty. She evens gets our sympathy on occasion. This is Eggar's greatest performance of her career - beautiful, and yet so terrifying and convincing -showing her great range as an actress. The late great Oliver Reed is powerful and intense as Dr. Ragland. These two take this film to another level, and rarely do you find acting of this quality in this genre. The sound effects are ominous, and the pacing of Cronenberg creates a tremendous emotional impact. He creates an other worldly feel to the film, with characters that have unusual names and equally unusual actions.
What impresses me the most about this incredible film is that rarely does a horror film carry such a strong message that has any socially redeeming value. In this film, its the sensitive subject of child abuse, and how easy it is passed down from generation to generation. Cronenberg called it a horror version of a more conventional film at the time- "Kramer vs Kramer". Cronenberg was also going thru a divorce at the time.
If you haven't seen it, do so. Its a hidden gem. Catch it on Blue Ray. Do not see it on commercial television. Of the films he both wrote and directed, this is his best, not Videodrome.
A beautiful, (though totally insane) woman named Nola (Samantha Eggar), is institutionalized in a mental hospital for the child abuse of her daughter Candy. This subject was nothing new to Nola for she herself was a victim years earlier, (abused by her dysfunctional mother). Her daughter Candice now lives within the custody of her husband Frank (Art Hindle). Candy is allowed to visit her mother on weekends at the hospital by court order. That quickly changes though when her father discovers wounds on his daughter's back after her returns. He wants answers, and that is where we start our wild journey.
It appears that this hospital has a new experimental therapy by a modern day "mad doctor" named Ragland (Oliver Reed) It's called "Psychoplasmics". It allows patients to externalize the manifestations of their inner rage, often resulting in welts on their skin. The theory is the welts will heal, and the inner rage eliminated. Problem is, Nola has responded so well to this therapy that it takes our viewing horror to a whole new level.
As the story goes along, Cronenberg splits narratives between Nola's therapy sessions with Dr. Ragland at the hospital, and her husband and Candy's personal life on the outside. Frank sees a lawyer, wanting full custody of Candy because he believes those wounds to his daughter's back are further signs of Nola's abuse. It turns out they're not, and our story strings us along as we witness a number of strange incidents about to take place.
There are a series of brutal murders which occur in this film beyond the understanding of all the characters. It seems they are carried out by deformed children against people with ties to Nola. Her abusive mother, her father who she feels never provided her protection, and a school teacher who she believes her husband is having an affair with.
Pretty soon, we connect the dots to find that Nola has perfected this new therapy so well, she actually gives birth to a brood of children who act out based on her inner rage, and without her knowledge. After the 3rd murder, her daughter is taken hostage by two of Nola's "brood" and is brought back to the hospital. It's up to her husband Frank to figure out this mystery and get his child back.
To kill Nola's brood means killing Nola. Frank does, and gets back his daughter back. Candy is safe for now, but forever traumatized, and in the closing shots, we see bumps and welts on Candy's young body which implies that Candy too will eventually have a brood of her own. Thus, the cycle of child abuse continues.
The film has shocking scenes. The murders are graphic in nature and during the finale, there is a legendary scene that is easily the most shocking scene in the history of horror films.
The acting by two of the leads is excellent. Eggar is mesmerizing as the insane mother from hell, all the more effective by her contrasting beauty. She evens gets our sympathy on occasion. This is Eggar's greatest performance of her career - beautiful, and yet so terrifying and convincing -showing her great range as an actress. The late great Oliver Reed is powerful and intense as Dr. Ragland. These two take this film to another level, and rarely do you find acting of this quality in this genre. The sound effects are ominous, and the pacing of Cronenberg creates a tremendous emotional impact. He creates an other worldly feel to the film, with characters that have unusual names and equally unusual actions.
What impresses me the most about this incredible film is that rarely does a horror film carry such a strong message that has any socially redeeming value. In this film, its the sensitive subject of child abuse, and how easy it is passed down from generation to generation. Cronenberg called it a horror version of a more conventional film at the time- "Kramer vs Kramer". Cronenberg was also going thru a divorce at the time.
If you haven't seen it, do so. Its a hidden gem. Catch it on Blue Ray. Do not see it on commercial television. Of the films he both wrote and directed, this is his best, not Videodrome.