Based on Cabal by Clive Barker, Nightbreed takes on the story of Boone, a young man who is drawn to this place called Midian where the monsters live. While he takes his leap to find it, his girlfriend is left behind wondering what is going on and his therapist is up to something.
As mentioned, this film is based on the novel Cabal by Clive Barker, who adapted it for the screen and directed it. This version is the director cut which is 20 minutes longer than the original theatrical release, with an extra 25 ninutes or so of material swapped out as well. As explained in an intro that can be found on the blu ray release from Scream Factory. The film itself gains some from the added and swapped footage, something fans of the story will notice right away. As it is, the reviewed version here is the director’s cut. Barker with this film shows that he is perhaps the only person who should be allowed to bring his work to the big screen. His work on his feature directorial debut Hellraiser and on his follow-up to Nightbreed, Lord of Illusions, show along with this film that his eye for storytelling and his writing are better suited to his own works. That meaning that no one adapts Clive Barker’s written work for the screen better than Clive Barker himself. Here, for Nightbreed, he brings his own characters, his own story to the screen beautifully, showing that is a master of horror and a master of monsters. This allows the film to be its own entity from the book, allowing changes to make sense and to be more in sync with the world they represent than if they were guided by someone else’s creativity. His directing here shows that he knows what he wants on the screen and how to get it.
The cast for Nightbreed is led by Craig Sheffer as Aaron Boone aka Cabal, the lead here, looking for this world of otherness, this world where he can be himself, a world where everyone can be who they truly are, a world of acceptance and support. Sheffer here is good as Boone, giving him layers of being, giving him life and showing emotions that work great for the part. Playing his girlfriend Lori is Anne Bobby who comes off a bit more innocent here, she’s the open-minded yet not fully knowledgeable supporter, she shows exactly what she needs and she supports and supports no matter what. Her work is possibly a bit more emotional, but never too much. Playing the therapist, Dr. Philip K. Decker is David Cronenberg who brings a coldness to the part, giving the not-so-good Doctor an evil glimpse in his eye. He is cold and calculated, something Cronenberg brings to the screen quite well. The cast that bring the monsters to the screen includes Hugh Ross, Doug Bradley, Nicholas Vince, Catherine Chevalier, Oliver Parker, and many more. They each bring their characters to the screen in a way that makes the monsters more human than humans, that makes the monsters something to not necessarily be afraid of. They make them characters worth visiting, worth spending time with, something that is both from their performances and from Barker’s creation. These monsters are who should be protected here, they are the ones to identify with.
The music here is by Danny Elfman, who should no longer need an introduction, who gives the film a mood that is on point. The theme at the start and the end is strong and brings a mood of dark fairytale, something his music seems to be perfect for no matter what. The music for Nightbreed is the right kind, hitting the right notes, and connecting emotions for the characters and viewers. In terms of pairings, Elfman and Barker is kind of a no-brainer, especially for the tale of Cabal.
Nightbreed is an excellent film that has aged a bit yes, but the overall story is strong enough to withstand the test of time and to offer the viewer something to connect with. The exploration of otherness, how it can embrace a newcomer, is something that is still very current and the way the monsters, the others, are made to be the ones to identify with is something that has and will have staying power for years to come.