Nightbreed

Nightbreed

1990

Director- Clive Barker

Cast- Craig Sheffer, Anne Bobby, David Cronenberg, Charles Haid, Hugh Quarshie, Hugh Ross, Christine McCorkindale, Doug Bradley, Catherine Chevalier, Oliver Parker, Nicholas Vince, Simon Bamford, Kim and Nina Robertson, Tony Bluto, Bernard Henry

           

     When it comes to monsters in horror movies, you can put viewers into one of two categories; those that root for the villagers and those that root for the monster. Clive Barker obviously falls into the latter group. Nightbreed (based on his book, Cabal) is Barker’s love letter to monsters, an ode to the outsider. Beyond that it’s a really enjoyable film that blends a monster movie with a slasher and dark fantasy.

            

     Aaron Boone (Craig Sheffer) is plagued by nightmares of him doing horrible things. He also has another dream, a dream of strange creatures running through the night.  He has heard of a place, Midian, where monsters live, and Boone believes that is where he belongs. He sees a psychiatrist, Dr. Decker (played by legendary horror director David Cronenberg) but the therapy is going nowhere. His only support is his girlfriend Lori (Anne Bobby).

            

       Unbeknownst to Boone, his psychiatrist is carrying on a double life. Dr. Decker ventures out into suburbia, with a frightening button eyed mask, and slaughters entire families. Decker gaslights Boone and convinces him that, even though he doesn’t remember it, he is the killer. After getting some hallucinogenic  drugs from Decker, Boone wonders out in front of a semi and ends up in the hospital.

            

       While there he meets another patient ,Narcisse, who has also heard of Midian and knows where it is. Boone, in order to get Narcisse’s help, convinces him that he has been sent by the Nightbreed. Narcisse believes him and in order to prove his worthiness, Narcisse peels off the skin from most of his face. Boone flees but Decker arrives hot on his heels. Decker interrogates Narcisse and learns the location of Midian.

            

       

    

      When Boone arrives at Midian he finds monsters called Nightbreed. Rather than being welcomed as he had hoped, he is attacked by one of the Nightbreed, Peloquin (Oliver Parker who had small roles in Hellraiser 1 and 2). Peloquin takes a bite out of Boone and he flees but runs into a trap. Decker has convinced the police that Boone is the killer and Boone is gunned down. However, death is not the end.

            

       Peloquin’s bite has transformed Boone and he rises from the dead. He makes his way back to Midian where he now receives the welcome he had hoped for. Decker tracks him down but so does his girlfriend Lori. Decker hopes to use Lori as bait to lure Boone out. In the process Decker learns about the Nightbreed. Lori, meanwhile, saves the life of one of their children. This earns her some degree of respect from the child’s mother, Rachel (Catherine Chevalier, who had a brief appearance in Hellraiser 2).

           

        Decker recruits help from a local police chief (Charles Haid, best known for Hill Street Blues) who leads a local militia. They invade Midian with the goal of killing everyone there. Boone must lead the Nightbreed in a fight for their lives.

            

      This is more than just a monster movie. Fans of Clive Barker know that he likes to incorporate religious symbolism and imagery. This is seen best in Baphomet, the Nightbreed’s god. Black skinned and dismembered, he hangs from the ceiling of his tabernacle. The Nightbreed have a tradition of prophecy that can be seen on display with the art that adorns their walls. Likewise, the religion of the humans is seen as destructive and evil as evidenced by a vision Lori has where she sees members of the Inquisition torturing and killing monsters.

           

      There are some fine performances here, most notably is David Cronenberg. His character is soft spoken and reserved, almost a cold fish. This is in stark contrast to the bloody homicides he commits. Craig Sheffer does a good job as the protagonist mixing a kind of rock and roll coolness with his desperation.

            

         Acting aside, the real stars of this film are of course the monsters. The special effects department really outdid themselves. Made before CGI, the monster are all done with good old fashioned practical effects. There is such a huge variety of monsters, even after multiple viewings you won’t have seen them all. This is the best collection of beautiful and bizarre imagery since George Lucas’ cantina scene in the original Star Wars. For a good look at over 60 Nightbreed,check out the Nightbreed Bestiary here.

           

       

       The film was not well received by the critics who, I think, just didn’t get the idea of a movie where monsters are the good guys and the humans are the villains. It didn’t make its money back. However, it developed a loyal following among fans becoming a cult favorite. Barker was not happy with the version of the film that was released (though I think it may be his best film, giving Hellraiser a run for its money). Barker cut a lot out of the movie. About 20 years after its release a concerted effort was made to track down the footage that had been cut out.  The first use of the found footage was to create The Cabal Cut that had a very limited release. Later some of the extra footage was used to make a more widely available Director’s Cut.

           

       The Director’s Cut is not simply a longer version of the theatrical release, it’s a different film. Not only were new scenes added but some old scenes were taken out. Specifically the ending of the film was also changed (and not for the better, in my opinion). I prefer the theatrical version myself. Most of the added scenes are at the beginning of the film and (to me) just slow the movie down. I can’t really compare the Director’s Cut to the Cabal Cut since I haven’t seen the latter (I checked and as of this post there were only 2 copies of the Cabal Cut available on eBay, one for $350 and one for $950, yes you read that right).

           

      The best thing would be to watch both versions, the theatrical and the director’s cut,and decide for yourself which one you like best. Currently, both versions are available on blu-ray.

         

       In addition to multiple versions of the film, the movie also inspired two different comic book series.

     

     

Fun fact- High Quarshie plays a police detective trying to track down Aaron Boone. Genre fans probably know him best as Captain Panaka from Star Wars Episode 1 but he also had a supporting role in the original Highlander film. Horror fans may also recognize him from The Church, the third film in Dario Argento produced Demons saga.

Fun fact #2- The Hellraiser connection: In addition to Oliver Parker and Catherine Chevalier there are some other Hellraiser stars appearing in this film. Craig Shaffer, who played Boone, also starred in (the less than stellar) Hellraiser Inferno. Nicholas Vince, who plays the moon faced Kinski, also played the Chattering Cenobite in Hellraiser. Simon Bamford who plays the tattooed Nightbreed named Ohnaka, played the Cenobite Butterball in Hellraiser. And of course, the leader of the Nightbreed, Lylesberg, was played by Pinhead himself, Doug Bradley. Eventually the Nightbreed and the Cenobites faced off in the comics.