Film Review: Nightbreed (1990)

Clive Barker is the most prominent author of British horror fiction and many of his works were adapted to big screen. The best known of such adaptations was Hellraiser, directed by Barker himself and later spawning long-standing film series. Three years later Barker tried to repeat that feat with his next film Nightbreed, but the result was failure, although the it later gained reputation as one of the more interesting failures in the history of the genre.

The plot, based on Barker’s novella Cabal, begins in Calgary where young man named Aaron Boone (played by Craig Sheffer) is plagued by recurrent dreams and nightmares about bizarre-looking creatures living in the city of Midian. Boone’s girlfriend Lori Winston (played by Anne Bobby) sends him to see psychotherapist Dr. Philip K. Decker (played by David Cronenberg) who is actually vicious serial killer. Dr. Decker sees troubled young man as perfect scapegoat for his crimes and manipulates him into believing that he is perpetrator. Boone manages to escape from hospital and goes to the cemetery in rural town under which he finds Midian, underground city inhabited by Nightbreed, race of bizarre-looking shapeshifters who had been persecuted for centuries before finding shelter there. Boone is nevertheless tracked by Dr. Decker who manipulates police into shooting him. Boone was, however, bitten by one of Nightbreed and, as a result, became one of them and took ability to survive bullet wounds. His disappearance and apparent resurrection troubles Captain Eigerman (played by Charles Haid), local police chief who would ultimately launch all-out attack against Midian.

Made with large budget for horror films at the time, Nightbreed was Barker’s most ambitious projects which was supposed to do for horror what Star Wars had done for science fiction. Film had intriguing idea – monsters in the film weren’t monsters at all and true villains were humans. Barker, however, made a serious mistake by deciding to direct film himself, forgetting that Hellraiser had been limited more-or-less limited to single location and didn’t demand that much directorial skills. Nightbreed with its grand epic scope was bigger challenge, further complicated by complex plot that in Barker’s hands became next to incomprehensible. What began as somewhat standard slasher film transformed into something quite different, with its genre closer to dark fantasy. Barker paid great attention to the look of its monsters, whose leader (or “lawgiver”) is played by Doug Bradley, iconic Pinhead from Hellraiser, but in the end they look more like a freak show than something ordinary humans would feel afraid of. Barker indulges himself in displaying various monstrosities, created with the help of large amounts of make-up, often at the expense of plot and characterisation. All that culminates in final battle scene that is overlong, just like the equally overlong and incomprehensible epilogue which suggests a sequel which never got made.

Nightbreed also has problems with cast. Craig Sheffer is quite bland, and his presence is affected by often ridiculous-looking make up. Anne Bobby leaves much better impression as his girlfriend. The most impressive is David Cronenberg, famous director in one of his rare acting performances, where he shines as soft-spoken but creepy psychiatrist. Charles Haid is, on the other hand, wasted as one-dimensional villain. Danny Elfman provides musical score which is adequate, but not particularly memorable.

The result at the box office was poor and critics were mixed. Barker blamed the fiasco on studio, its interference and lack of understanding. Nightbreed nevertheless found its share of fans and developed something of a cult status. Decades later the fans succeeded into having two versions – so called “Cabal cut” and Directors’ Cut – released, with the latter adding twenty minutes of running time, changing the ending and closing some of the plot holes. Nightbreed can be recommended to horror fans, but mostly to those who like unusual films regardless of their ultimate quality.

RATING: 4/10 (+)

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