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Nightbreed
1990 121 min United States of America R 18+
★6.2
Horror, Fantasy
Director: Clive Barker
🎭 Based on
«Cabal»
byClive Barker
Trailers
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Description
A troubled young man is drawn to a mythical place called Midian where a variety of friendly monsters are hiding from humanity. Meanwhile, a sadistic serial killer is looking for a patsy.
Budget:
$11M
US Gross:
$8.86M
Worldwide:
$8.86M
Starring
Craig Sheffer
Actor
David Cronenberg
Actor
Anne Bobby
Actor
Awards
Saturn Awards 2015
— Best Special Blu-ray/DVD Edition
Saturn Awards 1991
— Best Director
Saturn Awards 1991
— Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Saturn Awards 1991
— Best Horror Film
Key opinion
Nightbreed is widely regarded as a visually imaginative and ambitious dark fantasy that suffers from disjointed storytelling and significant studio interference. While many critics and fans champion its unique world-building and practical effects, opinions vary on whether the film's narrative coherence survives these technical constraints.
| Production | The practical effects, creature makeup, and production design are exceptional, creating a vivid and iconic bestiary of monsters. | |
| Acting | David Cronenberg’s performance as the antagonist is a standout, providing a menacing and memorable anchor for the film. | |
| Theme | The film effectively uses its supernatural premise to explore thematic depth regarding xenophobia, the persecution of outsiders, and the nature of monstrosity. | |
| Editing | The theatrical cut is widely criticized as a compromised, incoherently edited slasher, while the Director’s Cut is viewed as a necessary restoration that clarifies the plot and Barker’s original vision. | |
| Screenplay | The narrative structure and character development are points of contention; some praise the imaginative world-building, while others find the storytelling clumsy, linear, or overly thin compared to the source material. |