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Oliver Reed, Samantha Eggar, Art Hindle, Cindy Hinds, Henry Beckman ... see more see more... , Nuala Fitzgerald , Susan Hogan , Michael McGhee , Gary McKeehan , Felix Silla , Rainer Schwartz , Nicholas Campbell , Robert A. Silverman , Christopher Britton , Michael Magee , Joseph Shaw , Jerry Kostur , Elijah Siegler , Larry Solway , Mary Swinton , John Pyper Ferguson

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 th... read more read more...eir 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, Rovi

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14 critics

R, 1 hr. 32 min.

Directed by: David Cronenberg

Release Date: May 25, 1979

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DVD Release Date: August 26, 2003

Stats: 635 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (635)

  • rubystevens
    October 31, 2011
    rubystevens
    significant similarities with zulawski's 'possession' of 2 years later, particularly the misogyny, even more pronounced here. seems both of these films were born of nasty divorce. ollie reed is always a treat, samantha eggar has an unexplained british accent, and the guy who play... read mores her husband is at least inoffensive, more than i can say for sam neill in zulawski's film. i think i enjoyed this one more cuz the creepy kids were so much fun to watch. this was part of a wave of backlash against women's lib in horror films of the 70s-80s, that included 'alien' and 'rosemary's baby', but the tone here is very angry, with eggar's character having no redeeming qualities whatsoever, so just too much black/white. still one of cronenberg's best early works so worth checking out
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    June 24, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    One of David Cronenberg's earlier films dealing with the body horror genre. Cronenberg's concept for the film is intriguing and bizarre. The Brood features some of Cronenberg's earliest attempts at the body horror genre are clearly seen here. The film manages to be quite creepy, ... read moreand its also interesting to see Cronenbverg's genius come to fruition. Cronenberg has assembled a terrific cast of actors here. Actor Oliver Reed, Art Hindle and Samantha Eggar deliver strong performances. The Brood is not one of Cronenberg's best films, but it certainly isn't the worst. This is a terrific horror film that like I said, was Croneberg's earliest attempt at the body horror genre, and it succeeds. We see hints of where David Cronenberg would take his career in the 80's. The Brood is a creepy film with a terrific cast of actors. David Cronenberg has made some groundbreaking films in his career, his imagination has changed the face of horror forever. Looking at The Brood you see the work of a confident director that would, in his later films, change the genre, and ultimately create the now famous body horror genre. Cronenberg has pioneered the genre, and The Brood is probably one of the first films to deal with this type of horror. The Brood is an awesome work of early body horror.
  • ajv2688
    January 7, 2011
    ajv2688
    Another brilliantly creepy, disturbing, and disgusting movie from Cronenberg. It's really scary and surprising in the end, I really liked it, and if you're a fan of his you should see it too.
  • puffchunk
    December 18, 2009
    puffchunk
    Wow. What an effed up movie. Gotta love the scary red head mom licking bloodly mutant baby scene. I imagine the little girl from this movie was permanently screwed up just for being a part of it.
  • ythelastman89
    December 4, 2009
    ythelastman89
    Completely bizarre, yet approached in such a calm fashion. This is a horror movie that doesn't feel like a horror movie at all, it's a completely different experience. The style is definitely David Cronenberg, but it's horrific on a completely different level. It isn't just some ... read moreridiculous plot about killer kids, it's more about a psychotic divorce between a loving father and a complete nut-job wife.
  • hobster1
    October 29, 2009
    hobster1
    Unnerving exploration of the psyche follows a controversial therapist who is treating the ex-wife of a husband who seeks to take custody of their daughter. Eerie, deliberately paced rumination on rage and its manifestations culminates in a memorable climax that is truly horrifi... read morec. The graphic degeneration of the human body is a common theme in director David Cronenberg's work and this film is no exception. His script is clearly influenced by the messy real life divorce from his first wife and the subsequent custody battle for their daughter.
  • DrZeek
    October 27, 2009
    DrZeek
    Juliana Kelly: Thirty seconds after you're born you have a past and sixty seconds after that you begin to lie to yourself about it.

    An early Cronenberg horror flick. Basically that means that not only will the gore be well handled, but presented in a fucked up way. Low and beh... read moreold, following mostly a lot of boring plot and characters, the last 15 minutes of this film are insane with disgusting actions involving a terrible birthing process of some crazy children.
  • RCCLBC
    October 15, 2009
    RCCLBC
    An interesting premise.

    While it's a little slow on the uptake...if you hold out, it redeems itself in the end.
  • matertenebraum
    August 25, 2009
    matertenebraum
    A very personal film for Cronenberg who was going through a divorce during the time of its making, The Brood has all the Cronenbergian motifs, plus great characterisation and a great performance from all involved.

    Dr. Raglan (Oliver Reed) who is experimenting with metaphysical r... read moreage runs the Summerfree Institute. There he encourages his patience to indulge in allowing their inner anger to materialise in warts and blisters on their body. One of his patience is the demented Nola (Samantha Eggar) who has taken Raglan's therapy to the next stage. Her rage is apparently so potent that it results in The Brood, a savage group of dwarfs that emerge from the cysts on Nola's body. Unfortunately, Nola has another child, Candy and when her ex-husband, Frank (Art Hindle) finds that his wife is too unstable to look after their child he suppresses parental access. Nola goes even more insane and the brood ventures out to kill all those she believes have or may cause her harm. Although the carnage isn't excessively violent, the scene where Nola produces one of the dwarfs from a bloody sack and licks it clean leaves a nasty aftertaste.

    Cronenberg has long been associated with fear of biological change, but is surprising that not many have picked up on his fascination, or dread of organisations. There's the Starliner Towers (Shivers), Keloid Clinic (Rabid), Summerfree Institute (The Brood), ConSec (Scanners), Spectacular Optical (Videodrome), Bartok Industries (The Fly), The Mantle Clinic (Dead Ringers), PildrImage Manufacturers (eXsistenZ).
  • LoughnerWasLucid
    May 27, 2009
    LoughnerWasLucid
    frankly i dont know what to make of this film

View All The Brood Reviews

Critic Reviews

Roger Ebert
October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The Brood is an el sleazo exploitation film, camouflaged by the presence of several well-known stars but guaranteed to nauseate you all the same. Full Review

Anton Bitel
July 29, 2005
Anton Bitel, Movie Gazette

it's Cronenberg's Kramer Vs. Kramer - although Benton's film never featured dwarfish homicidal psychopaths amongst its methods for bridging irreconcilable differences. Full Review

Jon Niccum
July 15, 2005
Jon Niccum, Lawrence Journal-World

Another terrifying gem from Cronenberg's early years

Nick Schager
May 3, 2005
Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness

May be the most damning movie ever made about psychiatry. Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson
October 25, 2004
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

One of the great filmmaker's best films, and a stylistic -- if not budgetary -- breakthrough. Full Review

Walter Chaw
March 9, 2003
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central

A definitive metaphor for the coldness and cruelty of acrimonious divorce. Full Review

Ken Hanke
October 22, 2002
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

One of Cronenberg's most compelling and unsettling works. Full Review

Scott Weinberg
July 26, 2002
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com

One of Cronenberg's earliest and ickiest explorations of our fragile flesh.

Jim Ridley
April 26, 2001
Jim Ridley, Nashville Scene

Canadian splatter-movie auteur David Cronenberg was a lot more interesting when he made movies for drive-ins instead of arthouses, and this visionary horror film ranks among his most disturbing, provo... Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
January 1, 2000
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

A stunningly original film, but one that is hardly plausible. Full Review

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