The Brood Reviews

In less competent hands The Brood could easily have become a cheesy, ridiculous, throw-away horror film. Instead, Cronenberg has crafted this film into a dark, haunting tale that viewers won't soon forget. This is due in part to the way the director handles the dramatic aspects of the movie with as much care and credence as he does the horror elements. Rarely in the horror genre do we find a character as complex, menacing, and difficult to read as the experimental psychiatrist, played expertly by Oliver Reed. And equally challenging is the way the mother-figure is portrayed in this film. Cronenberg breaks many rules in the way Samantha Eggar's character is written. Creepy, trecherous, and utterly insane by turns, she somehow evokes the audiences pity, even as we assault her with our dark wishes and ill-will. The concept behind the actual physical threat in this film is downright chilling, even if a bit clunky and awkward. All in all The Brood is a satisfyingly creepy, brave film that stands out from the crowd.