Review of Nightbreed (1990) by Phil M — 09 Sep 2009

Clive Barker at his best. A surreal and underrated classic by one of the true masters of the horror genre (both in film and fiction).

Troubled twenty-something, Aaron Boone (Craig Sheffer), finds himself on the run after being blamed for the brutal murders of several families (who were actually carried out by none other than his psychiatrist, Doctor Decker- master of the strange himself, David Cronenberg). having had dreams of a place named Midian, he assumes that they're just dreams, but, after taking opiates prescribed to him by Decker and being struck down by a truck in the process, Boone awakes to find himself in a hospital bed with a stranger standing at a nearby window, rambling about Midian as he paces up and down. Boone and the man, Narcisse, bond almost instantly and agree to travel there together, although what transpires forces the two to travel separately.

As the film continues and with the police, Decker, and Lori (his girlfriend), hot on his heels, Boone becomes bitten by an immortal being named Peloquin (think along the lines of Medusa but without the ability to turn people to stone) and becomes immortal himself. With this new found power, he is accepted into the family of assorted oddities and superior beings that call Midian their home. Towards the end of the film, an epic battle takes place above ground between the "Tribes Of The Moon" (the Nightbreed) and "The Sons Of The Free" (the police and a group of rogue mercenaries called in to help). The creator of Midian (a modern day deity), Baphomet, sees that slowly but surely his community is crumbling around him and calls upon Boone to find a new place for the Nightbreed to seek refuge. Upon winning the battle, but ultimately losing their home, the "monsters" have no choice but to place their trust in their new "saviour", and follow him and Lori to a new settlement (which, to me looked like no more than a large barn). when all is well and everyone is settled, Boone leaves the Nightbreed and drives off into the night, his girlfriend held tightly in his arms.

This film, unlike many of today that focus heavily on gore and jump-out-of-your-seat moments, actually succeeds in transcending a good portion of them by imparting a moral as the story unfolds: That while everyone is different, we have NO right to judge, discriminate or hate based on someone's appearance or beliefs.

Rachel (played by Catherine Chevalier) says it best in a conversation to Lori (Anne Bobby), once in the catacombs of the underground town Midian...

Rachel: "We're shapeshifters...freaks. Remains of races that your tribe has almost driven to extinction.".

Lori: "So you're not immortal?".

Rachel: "Far from it. The sun can kill some of us. Like Babette, some of us can be shot down. Others can survive that, because they've gone beyond death.".

Lori: "This is too weird!".

Rachel: "To be able to fly. To be smoke or a wolf. to know the the night and live in it forever. That's not so bad. You call us monsters, but when you dream, you dream of flying and changing and living without death.".

I can say, without doubt, that if you were to watch this film, you will fall in love with it. I did! :).