Telluride 2008 Festival
Advertisement

The Brood
  • 0
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • Rate this movie.

Buy it now on DVD
Starting at $10.59

Rent it, watch it, find it

Advertisement

Synopsis
Canadian director David Cronenberg followed his graphic vampire variation Rabid with this multi-layered, speculative horror film which addresses the way the repressed demons of the psyche can force their way to the surface. Psychologist Dr. Raglan (Oliver Reed), director of the controversial Psychoplasmic Institute and author of the book "The Shape of Rage," encourages his patients to outwardly manifest their anger and fear (aided by some experimental drugs), which then takes physical shape as actual sores, cancers or strange new organs. One of Raglan's more successful patients (from his point of view, anyway) is Nola Carveth (Samantha Eggar), who is undergoing therapy following a painful divorce from her husband Frank (Art Hindle). When Frank discovers evidence that Nola may have injured their daughter Candice (Cindy Hinds), he begins to suspect Raglan's techniques but is unprepared for the most horrifying by-product of her rage: a progeny of sexless, dwarflike mutants who are born for the sole purpose of acting out her violent fantasies of revenge. Containing only enough energy to carry out their murderous tasks, the brood is dispatched to kill Nola's parents, then a woman she believes is having an affair with Frank. By the time Frank discovers the origins of the tiny offspring, they have already abducted Candice and taken her to the institute, where Frank must confront Nola in person. Although it contains one of the most visceral and nauseating scenes in movie history (during the film's climax), this nevertheless remains the most subtle of Cronenberg's early horror projects, with a strong subtext about the devastating effects of divorce. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide

Cast

Henry Beckman Barton Kelly
Nicholas Campbell Chris
Samantha Eggar Nola Carveth
Nuala Fitzgerald Juliana Kelly
Art Hindle Frank Carveth
Cindy Hinds Candice Carveth
Susan Hogan Ruth Mayer
Michael McGhee Inspector Mrazek
Gary McKeehan Mike Trellan
Oliver Reed Dr. Hal Raglan
Rainer Schwartz Birkin
Felix Silla Creature

Production Crew

Don White ADR Recordist
Carol Spier Art Director
Tom Mather Boom Operator
Mark Irwin Cinematographer
Howard Shore Composer (Music Score)
Nancy Eagles Continuity
David Cronenberg Director
Alan Collins Editor
Pierre David Executive Producer
Victor Solnicki Executive Producer
John Board First Assistant Director
Jock Brandis Gaffer
Carlo Campana Grip
Maris H. Jansons Key Grip
Shonagh Jabour Makeup
Dennis Pike Makeup Special Effects
Jack H. Young Makeup Special Effects
Claude Heroux Producer
Gwen Iveson Production Manager
Peter Lauterman Properties Master
David Cronenberg Screenwriter
Libby Bowden Second Assistant Director
Angelo Stea Set Dresser
Bryan Day Sound/Sound Designer
Joe Grimaldi Sound/Sound Designer
Allan Cotter Special Effects
Year: 1979
Runtime: 92
Country: Canada
MPAA Rating: R
Category: Feature


Produced by
New World