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Nightbreed |
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Aaron has nightmares about monstrous creatures
chasing him in a strange place. He talks about
them with his therapist Dr. Decker, who eventually
frames Aaron for a series of murders inspired
by the dreams. Though after death, Aaron is
brought to an underworld called Midian, inhabited
by undead monsters.
With Clive Barker in the director's chair you
know what to expect, and that's not your ordinary
horror film. Like with his last film and
directional debut Hellraiser, Barker delivers
several imaginative monsters and once again
creates a hell of his own magic world, a hell
no one else could ever come up with. This time
though, as a twist, he switch sides and makes
the monsters heroes/victims while the humans
are the villains. A twist that doesn't work as
well as it should.
The story, based on Barker's own novel Calab,
is original and refreshing but is dragged out
too long and unevenly paced. Craig Sheffer's
character is obviously setup as the film's hero
but too much time is spent on his psychotic
therapist who rampages throughout the country
in search of Aaron. It gets hard to keep track
on what to follow, on what's important to the
film and occasionally interest fades as the
film turns on and off too much between the
monster underworld and the "evil humans" above.
For the goods, the film looks great with
excellent special effects. They have a campy,
likable 80s approach to them and are matched
beautifully by wonderful set design and some
really colourful (and funny) monster makeup.
Craig Sheffer is a good leading man (though his
role is underwritten) but really impressive is
cult director David Cronenberg (The Brood,
Scanners, The Fly, etc.) as the evil therapist,
providing an eerily calm and chilliness. (That
creepy mask helps a lot, too.)
Otherwise, this is a good attempt at creating
something new and fresh, and as a horror film it
works well (even though, just like Hellraiser,
it's not for everyone) but it feels like Barker
tried for something more deep and meaningful.
A magic satire on racism, hate and fear for the
unknown perhaps. And as that it becomes too
shallow, with the effects drowning any subtext
or dramatic message. Also playful references to
classic horror tales (like werewolves and
vampires) often feels like plain clichés.
Don't count on any Hellraiser-like bloodbath.
Some knife slashings, slit throat, a severed
head, a man drags the skin of his head off and
a guy is bitten in the shoulder, shot several
times and stabbed! The climax features some
violent (if not overly gory) carnage, with a
man melting into sand being the best effect
(and scene).
Danny Elfman. Enough said. He's the king.
Refreshingly original Clive Barker tale, with
excellent special effects, set design, monster
makeup and an impressive performance by David
Cronenberg. Unfortunately the story doesn't work
as more as just a plain horror film (for the
Hellraiser audience that is).
Review By: Slicer-Dicer
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