Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Graphic
- nightmarish
- grotesque
- transgressive
- late night horror viewing
- cult film marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly admired the imaginative world-building, Gothic production design, and creature effects while finding the plotting and characterization clumsy and uneven.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Midian's creatures are framed as a hidden community with empathy and solidarity while human authorities and the serial killer embody cruelty.
The varied monsters of Midian receive distinctive makeup, costumes, and characterization that invite fascination and identification.
Dr. Decker's serial-killer scheme positions Aaron Boone as a scapegoat and undermines the apparent explanation of his visions and behavior.
Midian is a mythical refuge where supernatural beings evade human persecution and gather as a community.
Films like Nightbreed, and why
The Shape of Water
dark fantasy horror, sympathetic monsters, elaborate creature makeup, and subversive morality
Pan's Labyrinth
gothic creature design, outsider protagonists, supernatural communities, and horror-fantasy atmosphere
The Fly
body horror, grotesque practical effects, and a monstrous outsider confronting violent humanity
Hellraiser
cult horror, serial-killer menace, graphic practical effects, and transgressive supernatural imagery
Movie Details
- Director
- Clive Barker
- Release Date
- 1990-02-16
- Runtime
- 102 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (564)
Cast
- Craig Sheffer
- Anne Bobby
- David Cronenberg
- Charles Haid
- Hugh Quarshie
- Hugh Ross
- Doug Bradley
- Catherine Chevalier
- Malcolm Smith
- Bob Sessions
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Philo, Shudder, Night Flight Plus, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel, Cineverse Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Nightbreed about?
- A persecuted young man finds refuge among Midian’s compassionate monsters while a murderous psychiatrist turns him into a human scapegoat.
- What is Nightbreed like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Nightbreed as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Nightbreed violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Nightbreed as graphic.
- What did critics think of Nightbreed?
- Critics broadly admired the imaginative world-building, Gothic production design, and creature effects while finding the plotting and characterization clumsy and uneven.
- Which films are like Nightbreed?
- Films with a similar feel include The Shape of Water, Pan's Labyrinth, The Fly, and Hellraiser.
- How long is Nightbreed?
- Nightbreed runs 102 minutes.
- Where can I watch Nightbreed?
- In United States, Nightbreed streams on Amazon Prime Video, Philo, Shudder, Night Flight Plus, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel, Cineverse Amazon Channel.
