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Nightbreed is a dark fantasy horror film from 1990, written and directed by Clive Barker and adapted from his 1988 novella Cabal.
The film uniquely blends elements of horror, fantasy, and action, focusing on a secret society of monstrous creatures known as the Nightbreed, who are persecuted by humans. The story follows Aaron Boone (played by Craig Sheffer), a troubled man who is manipulated by his psychotic psychiatrist, Dr. Philip K. Decker (played by David Cronenberg), into believing that he is responsible for a series of brutal murders. After escaping from a mental institution, Boone is drawn to Midian, a hidden underground city inhabited by the Nightbreed – mutants and outcasts who seek refuge from the human world.
However, when Decker follows him there, he orchestrates a massacre against the Nightbreed, leading to a climactic battle between the creatures and human forces.
The Nightbreed Are Likable… Kind of
One of the strengths of Nightbreed is that the Nightbreed are neither all good nor all evil. Sure, people say similar things about the Cenobites from Hellraiser, partly because of Pinhead’s line that they are “demons to some, angels to others” (right before tearing your soul apart), but it’s easier to make a case that most of the Nightbreed aren’t outright villains.
In fact, it’s the humans who seem worse in this movie, whether it’s their sadistic streak embodied by Decker, redneck vigilantism displayed by the cops, or the questionable and shifting allegiance of Father Ashbury (Malcolm Smith). Nighbreed can be bad, but humans seem worse.
Nightbreed explores themes of identity, persecution, and the idea that true monsters are often human rather than supernatural. The film draws on Barker’s fascination with outsider communities, gothic horror, and mythology, portraying the Nightbreed as tragic yet noble beings rather than traditional horror monsters.
Production & Release Issues
The film faced significant interference from the studio (20th Century Fox), which marketed it as a standard slasher film rather than the dark fantasy epic Barker envisioned.
To be fair, Decker does provide some truly creepy slasher elements, and the film was probably never going to be as big as the “Skywalker Saga,” but it’s not the simplest horror film thematically. Some viewers expecting something like Jason or Freddy were bound to be disappointed (though some could be pleasantly surprised, if open-minded enough).
The studio also forced major edits, leading to a disjointed theatrical release that underperformed at the box office. Basically, this sounds like another example of “studio intervention” doing more harm than good, and it’s my opinion that the director’s version (AKA “The Cabal Cut”) genuinely is the better version – and I swear that’s not just loyalty to Clive Barker talking. In fact, if I though this movie sucked, I’d outright tell you!
Despite not being a runaway freight train of success, Nightbreed gained a cult following over the years, and it took some time to restore Barker’s original vision and provide us with the more epic finale. Actually, it wasn’t until 2014 that Nightbreed: The Director’s Cut was released by Scream Factory, restoring lost footage and reshaping the narrative closer to Barker’s original intent.
This version was well-received by fans and critics, improving upon the theatrical cut’s pacing and character development, and the story doesn’t feel as rushed.
Closing Thoughts
Despite its troubled history, this flick remains a beloved cult classic in horror and fantasy circles, celebrated for its imaginative creature designs, world-building, and subversive take on the horror genre. Oh, and the movie also stars Anne Bobby, Charles Haid, Hugh Quarshie, Hugh Ross, and Doug Bradley (most famous for playing Pinhead).
Are you a fan of Clive Barker’s work, or are you just discovering Nightbreed? Rail against mankind in the comments!
