“The Brood” (1979) is a horror film about a woman whose personal demons manifest themselves as monstrous children. The movie takes viewers on a tense and disturbing journey through the traumas of the protagonist’s past, as well as her present-day struggles to keep her family together in the face of overwhelming fear and violence. Featuring chilling performances and haunting imagery, “The Brood” is a classic example of psychological horror at its finest.
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Review
The Brood is a movie that has pleased the eyes of many and has shocked them at the same time. This movie is not for the faint-hearted but for those that have an appetite for horror and suspense. A story written and directed by David Cronenberg that leaves you with chills down your spine even after the end credits. It is a plot with a touch of reality leaving you wondering how far a person can go while seeking justice.
The storyline takes us through the life of Nola Carveth, a wife going through psychiatric treatment because of her past and current issues. She is under the guidance of Dr Raglan who uses a technique called “Psychoplasmics.” In this technique, the patient’s emotions take shape in physical form which helps them deal with their past trauma in a unique way.
Being one of those films that signify their era regarding themes in cinema, The Brood demonstrates critiques about organization, therapy, feminism, domesticity, violence, and parenting. It was released in 1979 when people were still grappling with gender equality issues.
Nola’s husband Frank becomes concerned when he noticed strange marks on their daughter Candice’s back after visiting her mother during one of her therapy sessions. Later, he discovers that these marks came from some creature that was born out of Nola while she was undergoing Psychoplasmics treatment. These creatures are duplicates of Nola’s emotion and they target anyone who threatens their existence or hers.
Cronenberg has an eye for detail when it comes to production design. One cannot help but notice how well-chosen furniture pieces combined with an excellent costume design brings out Nola’s character perfectly – cold yet nurturing mother in some moments but who can turn into something monstrous at any moment without warning! This makes it great casting since Samantha Eggar portrays this character seamlessly.
Casting aside Samantha Eggar as Nola Carveth and Oliver Reed as Doctor Hal Raglan, there are not many well-known names in the movie but this does not take anything away from the actors’ performances. Lloyd Bochner as Frank Carveth brings out the complexity of a husband who has to deal with his wife’s mental health issues which later turn into something beyond his control.
The Brood received mixed reviews upon its release. Some critics found it to be disturbing and criticised Cronenberg for being too graphic with his depiction of violence and gore. Others found it to be an excellent example of body horror genre, a niche that Cronenberg is known for. It also generated controversy due to its portrayal of feminism, mental health issues, and child abuse which were not commonly discussed during that time.
The movie’s score by Howard Shore is haunting but beautiful at the same time. It adds a lot of emotion to certain scenes such as when Frank is walking through a blizzard looking for Nola and their daughter Candice after they disappeared. The music brings out the vulnerability and desperation in that scene perfectly.
The cinematography in The Brood was done by Mark Irwin, who had worked on other Cronenberg films such as Videodrome and Scanners. He uses his camera work in this film effectively to create tension and suspense by choosing angles that help bring out the characters’ emotions.
The film’s special effects are some of the best done for its time. They add an extra layer of horror making it seem more realistic than just another creature feature flick from the 70s.
One cannot talk about The Brood without mentioning its iconic final scene where Nola gives birth to her final offspring – a giant creature with no distinct shape or form which goes on a killing spree through Dr Raglan’s clinic while raging against anyone who tries to harm him/it – showcasing an unparalleled level of body horror that remains unparalleled even today!
In conclusion, The Brood is an excellent film for any horror or Cronenberg fan. It deals with themes that were ahead of its time and still relevant today. It is a well-crafted movie that will leave you entertained and shocked at the same time. Cronenberg created a masterpiece that is still being discussed almost forty years after its release, cementing his place in cinematic history as one of the most daring and innovative filmmakers of all time.
Technical Data
- Runtime : 92
- Release : 1979-05-25
- Genre : Horror, Science Fiction
- Cast : Oliver Reed as Dr. Hal Raglan, Samantha Eggar as Nola Carveth, Art Hindle as Frank Carveth, Henry Beckman as Barton Kelly, Nuala Fitzgerald as Juliana Kelly
- Crew : Jack H. Young as Makeup Effects, David Cronenberg as Director, David Cronenberg as Writer, Howard Shore as Original Music Composer, Mark Irwin as Director of Photography
- Popularity 12.811
- Budget : $1,355,000
- Revenue : $5,000,000
- Company : Canadian Film Development Corporation (CFDC), Elgin International Films, Victor Solnicki Productions
- Summary : A man tries to uncover an unconventional psychologist’s therapy techniques on his institutionalized wife, while a series of brutal attacks committed by a brood of mutant children coincides with the husband’s investigation.
- Tagline : The Ultimate Experience in Inner Terror.
