The Brood (1979)

A man tries to uncover an unconventional psychologist's therapy techniques on his institutionalized wife, while a series of brutal attacks committed by a brood of mutant children coincides with the husband's investigation. 

The Brood is a 1979 science fiction horror film written and directed by David Cronenberg, starring Oliver Reed, Samantha Eggar, and Art Hindle.  Another brilliant early David Cronenberg horror film, subtly stuffed with sexual obsessions and social criticism.  Cronenberg's own and intelligently written script once again focuses on humans' defining "inner-evil" and blends real-life issues like child abuse and psychiatric patients with adorable low-budget horror topics such as mad scientists and eerie mutant killers.  It has some moments that will stick with you for a while.

The plot in a nutshell - In the care of an eccentric therapist (Oliver Reed), a woman (Samantha Eggar) undergoes an experimental form of anger management; while parallel to her treatment are a serious of bizarre and questionable murders. At the heart of the story is her husband (Art Hindle), who is in desperate search of the truth behind the strange goings on.

The Brood is an examination of emotions (rage in particular)

 The performances are excellent. The late Oliver Reed is splendidly sinister as the odd psychotherapist. Samantha Eggar does a haunting performance as the disturbed mother of 'the brood'. Art Hindle is good as always as Eggar's understandably worried husband. The supporting cast is also good.

The story is told in a very classical sense, almost like Poe with a slow beginning, a sense of doubt and confusion in the middle, and a shocker and a kicker of an ending.  Cronenberg's direction is well-polished creating a haunting atmosphere and the special makeup FX are unforgettably good. The violence however is occasionally graphic so it's not for all tastes. In short, The Brood isn't for the squeamish. The eerie musical score by Howard Shore creates an extra degree of tension to the unfolding events.

The Brood is scary and disturbing and should be seen by all horror film fans. I find it to be a sadly neglected classic. It's certainly a frightening journey that won't be forgotten. One of Cronenberg's greatest films!

These kids don't play nice.

Trivia:

David Cronenberg wrote the film following the tumultuous divorce and child-custody battle he waged against Margaret Hindson. Cronenberg also said that Samantha Eggar's character, Nola Carveth, possessed some of the characteristics of his ex-wife.

This film is one of the last mediums through which to see the interior of the old Toronto Police Headquarters on 590 Jarvis Street in Toronto, as the Headquarters was re-located to a new building in 1988 and the older building (shown in the film) was torn down to make room for condominiums in 2007.